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Controlled release of 5-Fluorouracil by a novel L-Lysine based polyesterurethane material synthesized from Epoxide and CO2 via a novel dicopper salen catalyst
No full textControlled release of anticancer drug 5-Fluorouracil by several delivery systems are known including porous polymeric materials. Herein we report a novel L-lysine based porous polyesterurethane material 1 which acts as a controlled release vehicle for 5-Fluorouracil. Polyesterurethane material 1 was synthesized from a green isocyanate and phosgene free synthetic route involving conversion of epoxide 2-(phenoxymethyl)oxirane and CO2 to cyclic carbonate 2 followed by ring opening with an amino acid L-Lysine to a bishydroxy compound 3 under green aqueous reaction condition. The bishydroxy compound 3 was subsequently reacted with 0.66 equivalent of trimesyl chloride in presence of triethyl amine to get the polyesterurethane material 1. The polyesterurethane material 1 was characterized via NMR, IR and MALDI analysis. From the SEM image of the polyesterurethane 1 and 5-Fluorouracil encapsulated polyesterurethane 1 it is evident that material 1 remain with porous topology which is filled by 5-Fluorouracil that is further evidenced by EDX spectroscopy with the presence of Fluorine. The controlled release of 5-Fluorouracil from the drug encapsulated 1 was monitored via UV visible spectroscopy at pH 7.4.</p
A Concordance study of CT densitometry with DXA densitometry
No full textOsteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength resulting in an increased risk of fracture [1]. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) is responsible for 60-90% of the strength of bone [1] and the current standard of assessment is by Dual-energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA). DXA generates T-scores of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, or hip by calculating the difference between the individual’s BMD and the population mean, divided by the standard deviation of the reference population. The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies osteoporosis at a T-score of or below -2.5.</p
Assessment of the ameliorative roles of Vitamin E on the histopathology of Clarias Gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) fingerlings exposed to lead nitrate
No full textPollution of aquatic ecosystems is constantly increasing with the increase in anthropogenic activities all over the world with negative effects on the constituent biota. The current study addressed the possibility of remedying the effects posed to the tissues of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (3-11g initial weight) exposed to lead nitrate over a 12 week period. The treatment groups were Pb only and PbVE (Pb+vitamin E) with T1-T4 and replicate in each case. The sub-lethal treatments of lead nitrate concentrations are as follow: 00 (control), 26mg/L (T1), 44mg/L (T2), 61mg/L (T3) and 79mg/L (T4). 26mg/L concentration of the vitamin was applied to every treatment and replicate of the PbVE group. At the end of the exposure period, gills, liver, and kidneys were excised from the samples and preserved in 10% formalin for histopathological analyses. From the results; the livers of the samples of C. gariepinus exposed to sub-lethal concentration of Pb only group displayed aggregation and lumping together of the hepatocytes, massive necrosis and shattering of the hepatocytes, vacoulation with greater severity as the concentration increased. The samples of PbVE treatment group showed preserved hepatocytes, reduced aggregation and vacoulation of the cells, gradual recovery of the cell nucleus and cytoplasm, normal tissue architecture, and hepatocytes similar to control samples in T1-T3. In the kidneys of Pb only group, there were massive necrosis and vacoulation, shattering of cells, tissue edema, and massive lumping of cells together, especially in higher concentrations. The PbVE treatments displayed reduced necrosis and cells aggregating together coupled with reduced vacoulation, preserved cells, and cells with cytoplasm returning to normal. But these were not sustained in the highest concentration. In the gills of the Pb only group, there was rarefied gill filament with ruptured lamellae, shattered gill arch, and filaments ruptured primary and secondary lamellae with greater severity in higher concentrations. The PbVE group displayed how the gill arch and filaments with the primary and secondary lamellae were gradually restored to a certain extent similar to the control. In all the organs the alteration and amelioration of the architecture were concentration-dependent. Therefore, a proportionate concentration of the vitamin can facilitate faster tissue damage recovery in heavy metal exposure.</p
Dental pathologies in the nigerian local pigs (Sus scrofa)
No full textBackground: Dental pathologies are noticeable alterations or deviations from normal dental architecture and can be influenced by genetic or environmental factors. This present study aimed to identify and report the dental pathologies in the Nigerian local pig. Materials and methods: The cleaned skulls of 47 local pigs, aged between 3-51 months were assessed for observable dental abnormalities such as missing teeth, fractured teeth, persistent deciduous teeth, dental caries, dental calculus, and tooth rotation. Results: The study revealed that 98% of the skulls had dental attrition while 96% had stained teeth. About 66% had a least a missing tooth while 78% of adult skulls had at least one persistent deciduous tooth. Fractured tooth, dental calculus, dental caries, and tooth rotation were observed in 46.8%, 74.4%, 34% and 21.3%, respectively. The most common persistent deciduous tooth was the second maxillary incisor, whereas the most commonly missed tooth was the first mandibular premolar, which was bilateral in 75% of affected skulls. Dental calculus was not observed on skulls below 6 months, while the incisor tooth was the most affected tooth by dental attrition. Conclusions: The Nigerian local pig, like other breeds, is susceptible to and has dental pathologies. The data obtained from this study will be beneficial to farmers, as early detection of dental abnormalities will promote productivity and reduces economic losses in pig husbandry. It will also be useful to researchers, especially those using pigs in Nigeria as a model for translation research and comparative dental studies.</p
The efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 antibody response after two dose mRNA vaccination in kidney and heart transplant recipients using a multiplex bead-based assay: Evaluating the factors affecting vaccine response
No full textBackground: The extent that which immunosuppressive factors contribute to the antibody response to SARS-Cov-2 vaccination in solid organ transplant patients is being better understood. This study examined antibody formation against the spike SARS-CoV-2 protein (SA) when full vaccinations were up to 2 doses and boosters were not recommended. Immunosuppressive factors that affected the vaccine responsiveness in a cohort of 100 kidney and 50 heart transplant patients were evaluated. This study utilized a novel assay to detect antibodies against 4 different domains of the spike protein and the nucleocapsid protein (NC) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on a multiplex, bead-based platform. Positive SARS-COV-2 antibodies (SA) response required identification of the receptor-binding domain and one of the three other spike protein domains. Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection could be determined by the presence of positive NC. Results: 150 patients were enrolled in the study (100 kidneys; 50 heart recipients). This study was performed when the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended only two doses of Pfizer/BioNTech [BNT162b2] and Moderna [mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2] vaccine or 1 dose of Johnson & Johnson/Janssen [Ad26.COV2.S] vaccines for full SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in transplant recipients. Patients that reported a positive COVID-19 swab or had positive NC were excluded from the review because the prior infection may impact vaccine response (n = 134). Conclusions: SA were identified in 48/134 patients (36%); 25/46 heart (54%) and 23/88 kidney transplant patients (26%) (P = 0.0012). For the patients on prednisone therapy 25/93 responded with SA (27%) while for patients not on prednisone therapy, 23/41 responded with SA (56%) (P = 0.0012). The dose of steroids (5mg a day or greater) at the time of vaccination did not adversely affect vaccine efficacy (p = 0.054). Of the patients using antimetabolite therapy, 36/113 responded with SA (32%) while 12/21 patients not on antimetabolites responded with SA (57%) (P = .027). Time since transplant was not found to affect the rate of SA production when populations were separated by type of organ transplanted. T-cell depletion induction method, calcineurin inhibitor use, and type of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were not found to be statistically significant.</p
Antimicrobial activities and phytochemical profile of the leaf extracts of Barringtonia racemosa L. (Putat) against selected pathogens: An ethnomedicinal plant species
No full textBarringtonia racemosa L. (Putat) was mostly utilized as a treatment for wound infections and other types of skin diseases locally. The leaves of B. racemosa are traditionally used to treat high blood pressure and as a depurative. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial activities and phytochemical profile of the leaf extracts of Barringtonia racemosa L. (Putat) against selected pathogens. The ethanolic extracts of the leaves were explicitly prepared and applied to two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus), whereas the Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) used the disc diffusion method based on the standard procedure. Moreover, among the test microorganisms, only the Gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to the ethanolic extracts of Barringtonia racemosa L. with the diameter of zone of inhibition ranging from 13.81±0.96 mm to 14.85±0.57 mm. The findings of this study suggested that the tribes could explicitly continue utilizing this ethnomedicinal plant as a source of treatment. Thus, the ethanol extracts of the leaves of B. racemosa were found to be effective against several pathogens used in this study, which certainly highlights the potential extremity of herbal drugs and their possible use as local medicine. Hence, there has been a continuing search for new and more potent antibiotics.</p
Diabetes and COVID-19: Biological profile of type 2 diabetic patients with COVID-19 in Pointe-Noire, Congo
No full textIntroduction: COVID-19 is new pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several factors of bad prognosis have been implicated including diabetes. Several poor prognostic factors have been associated with the severity of this disease, including diabetes. In Congo, no study to date has investigated the profile of diabetics hospitalized for COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological profile of Congolese diabetic patients admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 in Pointe-Noire.Materials and methods: This was a prospective study conducted among patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Pointe-Noire between March and November 2020. Sociodemographic, clinical and biological data, duration of hospitalization, and viral load were investigated. A total of 84 COVID-19 patients have been admitted to Louise Michel Clinic and the Adolph Sice General Public Hospital. Two groups were formed: diabetic patients and non-diabetic patients based on the history of antidiabetic medication or fasting plasma blood glucose levels at admission. Results between the two groups were compared. Results: Out of 84 COVID-19 patients, 48 were diabetic (mean age: 48.50 ± 11.98 years) versus 36 non-diabetic (mean age: 45.56 ± 8.48 years). Significant increases in fasting blood glucose, D-dimers, white blood cells, low oxygen saturation (SaPO2), and higher mortality was observed were observed in COVID-19-positive diabetics when compared to non-diabetic patients(p < 0.02). However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of clinical symptoms. An increased risk of death was associated with higher levels of D-dimers and HbA1c at admission in the diabetic group.Conclusion: An increase in D-dimer levels and high blood glucose levels at admission increased the risk of death in diabetic patients with COVID-19 in Pointe-Noire.</p
Synchronous seminoma and Langerhans cell histiocytosis with a multilocular thymic cyst: A rare case report
No full textA 28-year-old man with an anterior mediastinal mass underwent total thymectomy. The surgical specimen showed multilocular cysts and nodules. On microscopic examination, the cysts were lined by squamoid epithelium, consistent with thymic cysts and tumors showing two different histologic features were identified. One tumor component was composed of sheets of monotonous, oval-to-round nuclei with pale cytoplasm and indistinct cell borders. The other tumor component comprised sheets of grooved cells admixed with eosinophils. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed different staining patterns in each component: the former was positive for D2-40, c-kit and OCT3/4; and the latter was positive for S100 protein and CD1a. Based on these histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, we diagnosed the tumor as a synchronous seminoma and Langerhans cell histiocytosis along with a thymic cyst. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of the coexistence of these lesions in the thymus. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) that is associated with several inflammatory and vascular endothelial complications. Ocular vascular occlusive events were reported in COVID-19 patients including both Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO) and Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO). We report a case of a 34-years-old patient with right CRVO after 14 days of COVID-19 infection presenting with decreased vision. In addition, we provide a summary of both CRVO and CRAO reported in the literature.</p
Intrapulmonary percussive ventilation for children with bronchiolitis on non-Invasive Ventilation support
No full textObjective: Pediatric Intensive Care (PICU) admission of children with bronchiolitis as well as the use of Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) are increasing. The current treatment for bronchiolitis is supportive, and there are no specific studies addressing this group of severe bronchiolitis patients supported with NIV. Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation (IPV) is a lung recruitment physical therapy technique used in our PICU to augment lung aeration and improve gas exchange. We hypothesized that IPV treatment can be used to improve the clinical course of infants on NIV support suffering from bronchiolitis. Design: A prospective, open, randomized study.Setting: Single-center Pediatric ICUPatients: Children less than 2 years old admitted to our PICU between November 2016 and April 2018 with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis who were prescribed noninvasive positive pressure ventilation as their sole respiratory treatment modalityInterventions: Patients were randomly assigned to two intervention groups: IPV vs. control (standard treatment).Measurements and main results: Thirty-eight infants with bronchiolitis treated with NIV support were randomized into two groups. The probability of a superior outcome (less chance of invasive mechanical ventilation and fewer PICU days) was 62.7% (95% CI, 45%-77%, p = 0.18) in the IPV group compared to the control group. Among the IPV group, there were no failures that required intubation in comparison to three intubations (13.6%) among the control group (p = 0.24). For the IPV group, the PICU length of stay (LOS) was 4.13 ± 2.45 days, compared to 6.18 ± 4.72 for the inhalation group. This difference was not statistically significant.Conclusions: In this single-center study, the use of IPV had no adverse reactions. The study failed to show a statistically significant effect of IPV treatment on the course of hospitalization of patients with bronchiolitis on NIV support in the PICU.Trial registration: Clinical Trials.gov NCT03037801.</p
Jump-landings that supersede bone health threshold requirements for premenopausal women
No full textOsteoporosis is a disease characterized by a reduction in the density and quality of bone leading to a weakness of the skeleton and associated increased risk of fracture [1]. The most common type of osteoporosis is termed primary osteoporosis and includes both postmenopausal and age-related osteoporosis, </p