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Epidemiological Study on Rift Valley Fever Virus among Domestic Animals in Taiz Governorate (Yemen)
Full text linkRift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) is the causative agent of Rift Valley Fever (RVF), transmitted either by hematophagous insects that infect animals and humans or by direct contact with infected animals. This study was performed to preparing RVF antigen from liver of infected lamb to be used in detecting anti-RVFV antibodies by using Enzyme Linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and to study epidemiological prevalence of anti-RVFV IgM and IgG antibodies among animals which conducted in the Researches Center of Taiz University and Central Health Laboratory, Taiz Governorate, Southwestern Yemen. RVFV antigen was successfully prepared at a titer dilution of 1: 3200 by Chessboard (CB) ELISA assay. However, out of 188 samples, 147 samples were positive for ELISA assay, of which 12 (8.2 %) were positive for anti-RVFV IgM and 135 (91.8 %) for anti-IgG antibodies. The antigen was successfully produced, and successfully adhered to ELISA plates. Simple and inexpensive methods give good results. The results can be used to develop and refine predictive database for RVF transmission based on environmental and remote sensing data
Corrosion Protection Behavior of Carbon Nanotube-based Nanocomposite
Full text linkPolymer coatings have been successfully employed in corrosion protection of metals. In this article, the polymer coatings containing carbon nanotube have been focused for anti-corrosion behavior. Epoxy-based coatings have gained significant research interest owing to sufficient hydrophobicity, conductivity, water transport behavior, and corrosion resistance. According to corrosion resistance studies, incorporation of nanotube may increase the corrosion resistance owing to filling of microspores prone to corrosion attack. The anti-corrosive polymer coatings with low nanotube content have shown enhanced surface hydrophobicity and anti-rusting properties in addition to strength, conductivity, and thermal resistance
Khallaf and Sidebottom Guiding Stent for Temporomandibular Joint Arthrocentesis: A New Era for Joint Space Puncturing Techniques (Registered Technical Note)
Full text linkArthrocentesis is becoming the cornerstone of minimally-invasive surgical treatment for internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJID). Nitzan et al. first described arthrocentesis as the simplest form of surgery in the TMJID. Repeated arthrocentesis up to five times is 91% effective in treating patients with anterior disc displacement without reduction. It depends on lavage of the joint space through placement of two needles inside the superior joint space. The majority of surgeons use conventional puncturing technique (CPT), which is a blind technique for needle placement, in spite of its complications (extra-articular injection, multiple puncturing, facial nerve injury, intracranial penetration).Others use image guided puncturing techniques (CBCT,MSCT, MRI, or US) for superior joint space puncturing, which is proven to be a more accurate and precise technique with fewer complications. We fabricated a new customized guiding stent on a 3D soft and hard tissue model, printed out from MSCT, with adjusted depth and angulation for superior joint space puncturing. The puncturing using this new stent is easy and does not subject patients to imaging each time, as the confirmation of the needle positioning has already been done by the accurate measurements on MSCT. In addition, the procedure no longer requires general anesthesia or deep sedation. Clinically significant differences were noted between the use of IGPT and the present guiding stent, especially on the level of procedural time. These observations confirmed that the use of this stent was a predictable and highly efficient new approach for superior joint space puncturing
Evaluation Of Platelet-Rich Plasma Effect On Treatment Of Temporomandibular Joint Anterior Disc Displacement
Full text linkThe use of Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP) may provide a new and improved treatment option for early and late Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disc displacement. However, there are no long-term studies on its use in TMJ arthritis in the literature. The present study evaluate 28 patients with different degrees of disc displacement over a period of time. These patients had experienced no pain reduction following conservative approaches (including splint therapy) and minimally invasive arthrocentesis treatment. All patients had evidence of disc displacement associated with pain and discomfort, and sometimes clicking. The patients were without systemic joint disease, septicarthritis, or autoimmune arthritis. Only patients who had not responded to conservative therapy were included in the present study. Pain intensity was recorded for each patient using a 0-10 VAS scale. Maximum Inter-incisal Opening (MIO) was also recorded. This assessment was performed at the pretreatment stage and then examinations 3,6,9,12 months respectively after administration of two intra-articular injections of autologous PRP.The results after 12 months revealed that intra-articular injection of autologous PRP appeared to be an effective treatment method for patients with disc displacement in this study. At the 12-months follow-up, all patients improved their mouth opening significantly. The majority of the PRP patients showed decreased pain. The average pain score before PRP administration was 7.5, while 3 months after PRP administration the pain score was 4.2. The pain score continued to decrease, reaching nearly 2 after 6 months and 0.5 by the end of 12 months. In conclusion, the use of PRP was found to be an effective and predictable treatment option for disc displacement
Paraneoplastic Eosinophilia: Report of 2 Cases
Full text linkIntroduction: Eosinophilia is associated to parasitic infections, allergy, collagen-vascular and hypersensitivity diseases, while Paraneoplastic Eosinophilia is an infrequent finding associated to hematologic or solid tumors]. The physiopathological mechanism is not fully understood, despite the involvement of several growth factors.Presentation of Case:The authors present two cases of paraneoplastic eosinophilic disease: in the first case, a 52 year-old man with history of sudden onset dyspnea, weight loss and asthenia. The chest Roëntnography showed opacity in the lower two-thirds of the right hemithorax and the blood work showed an eosinophilia of 14.300/microL (AC). The patient was admitted and performed all possible diagnostic workup, without direct signs of tumor. Despite the absence of neoplastic definitive diagnostic, the eosinophilia increased to 18.800/microL (AC), chemotherapy was considered, however after unfavorable clinical development the patient died after 31 days of hospital admission.The other patient, a 60 year-old man with previous diagnostic and treatment of a colonic adenocarcinoma, clinically stable and without evidence of disease progression, was found evidence in a control bloodwork an eosinophilia of 4800/microL (AC). Despite discarded other causes of eosinophilia causes, was found evidence of neoplastic recurrence. The patient was eligible for chemotheraphy, the eosinophilia was oscillating during all the treatment, suspended by the 3rd cycle due to clinical deterioration. The patient died 2 weeks after treatment discontinuation.Conclusion:Eosinophilia secondary to solid tumors is a rare finding but usually is a sign of advanced neoplastic disease or progression of a previous condition, with poor prognosis at the time of diagnostic
Yolk Sac TumorMasquerading AsPericarditis: A Case Report
Full text linkIntroduction:Yolk sac tumor is a rare form of a germ cell tumor (GCT).This case report describes an unusual presentation of a yolk sac tumor with pericarditis, pericardial effusionand bilateral microlithiasis (MT) in a young Vietnamese male with extragonadal GCT in the anterior mediastinum. Presentation of Case:A 23-year-old Vietnamese male with one-pack year smoking history, but no other significant past medical history presented with nonproductive cough and pleuritic chest pain for 2 weeks. Chest pain was described as sharp and localized to the right-side of his substernal area. B-symptoms were present for 1 month and included: weight loss of 10lbs, night sweats and fever.Physical exam showeddiminished breath sounds on the right side of the chest w/o accessory muscle use. CT of the chest revealed a large 14 cm round mass in the right middle lobe with possible extension to the mediastinum, moderate right pleural effusion and pericardial effusion.EKG showed a pattern consistent with pericarditis. Biopsy of the mediastinal mass was consistent with yolk sac tumor. LDH was 543, AFP 7200, and β-HCG2.Testicular ultrasound did not find any testicular masses, but there was bilateral testicular microlithiasis. The patient was started on BEP (Bleomycin + Etoposide + Cisplatin) chemotherapy with subsequent thoracotomy and mass resection.Conclusion:Younger patients presenting with pleural effusions and pericarditis need a detailed history and physical examination in order to diagnosea yolk sac tumor
The Pipeline: Less is More, Slower is Better, and Smaller is Possible
Full text linkBackground and Purpose:Despite experience gained with the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED), the following remain unclear: the significance of intra-procedural aneurysm occlusion after PED placement, if PED’s should be used for treatment of smaller aneurysms, and whether multiple PED’s are needed to achieve occlusion.Methods: Between October 2009 and December 2015, 299 patients, with 342 aneurysms distributed at the internal carotid artery and posterior circulation underwent PED embolization by a single team. Data was collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. A new metric assessing flow into the aneurysm following PED placement was created: the Post Stenting Flow Scale (PSFs). It ranges from 0 (no residual flow) to 3 (no significant change in flow). Clinical complications, as well as aneurysm occlusion rates and their predictors, were calculated.Results: The overall peri-procedural clinical complication rate was 18/299 (6%) including 2.7% mortality. All mortality occurred in the giant and fusiform groups. Predictors of clinical complication were aneurysm location (posterior vs. anterior circulation) and the use of multiple PED’s. Clinical complications were more common in fusiform and giant aneurysms 15/168 (9%) than in other aneurysms 3/131 (2.2%). PSFs of 0 was a predictor of vascular complications. Occlusion rate was 77%. PSFs was its only significant predictor.Conclusions: Using a single PED for aneurysm embolization is enough. Rapid and total occlusion of the aneurysm following PED deployment is an ominous sign and warrants clinical attention. Expanding the use of PED’s to treat smaller aneurysms located at the internal carotid artery appears to be a valid strategy
Impact of Climate variability and change on agricultural productivity in the three northern regions of Ghana
Full text linkAgriculture in the three regions of the north is mainly subsistence and rain-fed with very limited irrigation facilities. Traditional approach to agriculture in the region is therefore being threatened by erratic rainfall, high temperature, drought and floods due mainly to a changing climate. This research, therefore, examines the climate in the Upper West, Upper East and Northern regions and its impacts on agriculture productivity. It began with an extensive desktop study and the collection of rainfall and temperature data from 1961-2010 from the three regions. The data was analyzed to determine the rainfall and temperature trends and their significance using XLSTAT software and basic statistical tools and subsequently tested with the Modified Mann-Kendal’s test to confirm the increasing or decreasing trends and their significance. The results showed that the climate is changing with an increasing temperature and decreasing rainfall trends across the three regions. The test also confirmed a significant increase in temperature but no trend in rainfall at 95% level of confidence. The change in the climate is also observed to have significant impact on agriculture. The knowledge in the climate variation and change will be relevant to decision and policy makers, farmers, water users, water providers, NGOs and students as a whole. The research was concluded with suggested strategies as policy options to help improve climate change adaptation and agricultural productivity
Li-Fraumeni Syndrome: Adopting a Diagnosis with an Unknown Family History
Full text linkIntroduction: Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) is a rare, autosomal dominant disease that is typically screenedfor and identified in patients with a known history of cancer and family history ofcancer.Presentation of Case: Ms. DA is an adopted 39-year-old South American female with a past medical history of iron deficiency anemia, celiac disease, and polio. She presented with ductal carcinoma in-situ with spindle cell atypia at age 35 and leiomyosarcoma of the ankle at age 36. Genetic counseling was offered due to her age and cancer types, with subsequent genetic testing revealing a TP53-R337H mutation, which was diagnostic of LFS. Given her high risk status, extensive cancer screenings at common LFS body sites were recommended, but she was lost to follow-up. Four years later, she returned after discovering a new right breast mass on self-examination. She was referred to a new breast surgeon, who was able to establish consistent and close follow-up while providing counseling and education regarding lifetime risk and cancer trajectory of classical LFS compared to the Brazilian LFS-subtype.Conclusion: The importance of having a high level of suspicion for patients with anunknown family history is crucial as seen in this case. Without a biological familyhistory, clinicians rely on their judgement to decide when further work-up is warranted.Advancements in medicine and genetic testing have increased the ability to accuratelydiagnose genetic diseases to help patients make life-saving decisions about theirhealth
Green Polymeric Nanocomposite
Full text linkGreen materials are biodegradable and renewable in nature. Green polymer composite/nanocomposite are made up of green polymer and nanofiller or polymer with green nanofiller. These composite/nanocomposite are obtained from renewable resources. Green nanocomposites are low price, light weight, strengthened, robust, heat constant, biodegradable, and recyclable materials. The compatibility between matrix and filler need to be enhanced owing to uniform dispersion and better adhesion. The properties of nanocomposites are strongly affected by the structure of composite constituents. Green polymer composites have found applications in automotive, aerospace, electronics and packaging