Outcomes of percutaneous pinning in treatment of distal radius fractures

Distal radius fractures are among the most common bone fractures all over the world. Close reduction and fixation by percutaneous pinning is a less invasive method comparing with other open surgeries. This study aims at evaluating the functional outcome of this treatment in distal radius fractures. In this prospective study, 50 patients with distal radius fractures underwent percutaneous pinning during a 16 month period in Tabriz Shohada Hospital. Follow-up for 3 months was possible in 48 (96%) patients. Possible complications (such as infection, nonunion, pin loosening and pain), functional outcomes (including range of motion, grip and pinch strengths) and radiological outcome were documented in intervals during follow-up. Forty eight patient, 22 males and 27 females with a mean age of 47.1 +/- 13.7 (19-80) years were enrolled. Local pain, infection and pin loosening were documented in 14.6, 16.7 and 2.1% of cases, respectively. Based on radiological reports, unacceptable palmar tilt, articular step, radial inclination and radial shortening were present in 6.3, 0, 2.1 and 6.3% of cases, respectively three months post-operation. The clinical outcomes according to Cooney's modification of the Green and O'Brien scheme were as excellent, good, fair and poor in 52.1, 31.3, 10.4 and 6.3% of cases, respectively. According to these results, closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of distal radius fractures is a rather successful method with minor complications.     

Preemptive analgesia with local lidocaine infiltration for single-level open disc operation

To evaluate the impact of preemptive local analgesia at the incision site for postoperative pain in patients undergoing disc operation. In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study 166 patients were assigned to either lidocaine (n = 83) or placebo (n = 83) groups. The incision site was infiltrated with either 20 mL of 2% lidocaine and 0.9% saline in lidocaine group or 0.9% saline before the incision. Morphine (5 mg) was used for postoperative pain treatment. Postoperative pain was measured with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. Data were analyzed with SPSS software, using Chi-square and t-tests. The groups were matched for age, sex, type of operation, mean length of hospital stay and mean length of operation. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in visual analog scores of pain severity at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery between lidocaine and placebo groups (6 h: 38.22 +/- 26.87 vs. 34.52 +/- 24.43, p = 0.35; 12 h: 33.26 +/- 28.83 vs. 28.01 +/- 24.71, p = 0.20; 24 h: 26.71 +/- 23.31 vs. 22.85 +/- 22.48, p = 0.27; 48 h 16.35 +/- 10.16 vs. 15.23 +/- 8.90 p = 0.45). The amount of narcotics used post operatively had no meaningful difference in the groups (lidocaine 10.07 +/- 8.24 mg vs. placebo 10.54 +/- 9.31 mg p = 0.73). Preemptive analgesia with lidocaine 2% used subcutaneously before skin incision has no effect in reducing postoperative pain, narcotics demand and duration of hospital stay.     

Comparison of ketamine and fentanyl for postoperative pain relief in children following adenotonsillectomy

Adenotonsillectomy has a high incidence of postoperative pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of either ketamine or fentanyl for postoperative pain relief in children following adenotonsillectomy. Sixty children aged 3-12 years, scheduled for adenotonsillectomy, were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind study. Patients were divided into two groups of 30 cases and received intravenous ketamine (0.5 mg kg(-1)) or fentanyl (1 microg kg(-1)). Modified Hannallah pain scale or Observational Pain Scores (OPS), nausea, vomiting, bleeding, rescue analgesia, sedation and post-anesthesia recovery scores were recorded both at first and 15th minute postoperatively. Moreover, patients receiving ketamine (group 1) or fentanyl (group 2) had comparable OPS and sedation score both on arrival and at 15th minute in the recovery room (p > 0.05). Although rescue analgesics were similarly required in both groups (p > 0.05), the time to reach rescue analgesia was shorter in group 1 (p = 0.001). Only one patient in fentanyl group had nausea and vomiting in the first 15 min that needed antiemetic in the recovery room. In conclusion, intravenous fentanyl (1 microg kg(-1)) compared with intravenous ketamine (0.5 mg kg(-1)) might provide extended time to first analgesic in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Interestingly, fentanyl and ketamine did not differ in post-operative vomiting.     

Structural and Functional Differentiation of Bundle Sheath and Mesophyll Cells in the Lamina Joint of Rice Compared with that in the Corresponding Region of the Liguleless Genotype

Abstract

The structural and functional characterization of the blade-sheath boundary region of a rice cultivar T65 and its near-isogenic line T65lg were examined by light and electron microscopy and in situ hybridization. Starch accumulation in bundle sheath cells was compared between the lamina joint of T65 and the corresponding region of T65lg and also between the lamina joint and the leaf blade. In the lamina joint of T65, starch grains were predominantly accumulated in bundle sheath cells, and the starch-containing chloroplasts within these cells were spherical in shape. On the other hand, in the blade-sheath transition region of T65lg, little starch accumulation was observed and the chloroplasts were oval in both mesophyll and bundle sheath cells. Furthermore, photosynthesis-related genes, rbcS and cab, were expressed in mesophyll cells within the blade-sheath transition region of T65lg as in the leaf blade and sheath, while no expression of these genes was found within the lamina joint of T65. These facts indicate that T65lg can not develop the lamina joint from either structural or functional aspect. The present results suggest that the control mechanism of starch accumulation in bundle sheath chloroplasts in the lamina joint differs from that in leaf blade in rice.     

Paroxetine Attenuates the Development and Existing Pain in a Rat Model of Neurophatic Pain

Background: P2X4 receptor (P2X4R), a purinoceptor expressed in activated spinal microglia, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. Spinal nerve injury induces up-regulation of P2X4R on activated microglia in the spinal cord, and blockade of this receptor can reduce neuropathic pain. The present study was undertaken to determine whether paroxetine, an inhibitor of P2X4R, could attenuate allodynia and hyperalgesia in chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain when used preemptively or after the sciatic nerve injury. Methods: Male Wistar rats (150-200 g, n = 6) were divided into 3 different groups: 1- CCI vehicle-treated group, 2- Sham group, and 3- CCI paroxetine-treated group. Paroxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 1 h before surgery and continued daily until day 14. In other part of the study, paroxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered at day 7 post injury and continued daily until day 14. von Frey filaments for mechanical allodynia and analgesia meter for thermal hyperalgesia were used to assay pain behavior. Results: In a preventive paradigm, paroxetine significantly attenuated both mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia (P<0.001). A significant decrease in pain behavior was seen with paroxetine on existing allodynia (P<0.001) and hyperalgesia (P<0.01) when initiated at day 7 post injury. Conclusion: It seems that paroxetine can attenuate pain behavior when administered before and also after sciatic nerve injury in CCI model of neuropathic pain. Key Words: Paroxetine, P2X4 receptor (P2X4R), Allodynia, Hyperalgesia     

Potato leafroll virus concentration in the vascular region of potato tubers examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

Summary Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), used in conjunction with a new rapid extraction method, showed that potato leafroll virus (PLRV) concentration in the vascular region of infected potato tubers decreases from the heel to the rose end. Lower virus concentration at the rose than at the heel end was found not only in dormant tubers but also in tubers three weeks after breaking dormancy although the difference was then less pronounced. These results were obtained from plants with both primary and secondary infection by one of two French virus isolates which behave differently in respect of either accumulation in the ants or in their serological properties or both.     

Dissection of QTLs for Hull Silicon Content on the Short Arm of Rice Chromosome 6

The QTL qHUS6 for hull silicon content in rice was previously located on the short arm of rice chromosome 6.By using an F2:3 population segregating in the RM587-RM19784 region harboring qHUS6 in an isogenic background,two QTLs for hull silicon content were detected,of which qHUS6-1 was located in the distal region and qHUS6-2 in the region proximal to the centromere.Three rice plants carrying small heterozygous segments in the target region were selected,of which two covered the qHUS6-1 region and the other...     

Establishment of a bank of positive controls for diagnosis of quarantine viruses and viroids in Brazil through PCR and RT-PCR

The analysis of plant materials such as seeds, seedlings and other units for vegetative propagation that are imported, before planting in the country, routinely transported across international borders, is essential to decrease the imminent risk of introducing exotic pathogens, considered A1 pests. However, this requires the use of reliable positive controls, to prevent any false positives and/or negative results, causing undesirable consequences. The aims of this study were to set up a bank of positive controls constituted, in most cases, by the cDNA of the viral capsid gene cloned into commercial plasmid and propose diagnostic primers for PCR and RT-PCR assays. Genomic fragments of 41 quarantine viruses and two quarantine viroids in Brazil, as well as 12 regulated non-quarantine viruses, were cloned in plasmids, to be used as a positive control in diagnostic RT-PCR and PCR tests. Besides being a safer and more economical alternative, this bank will avoid the use of virus-infected tissue or total nucleic acid, which would still be infectious. The correct usage of this kind of positive control would eliminate the risk of incidental introduction of exotic viruses in Brazil.     

Impacts of feral horses on a desert environment

Background  

Free-ranging horses (Equus caballus) in North America are considered to be feral animals since they are descendents of non-native domestic horses introduced to the continent. We conducted a study in a southern California desert to understand how feral horse movements and horse feces impacted this arid ecosystem. We evaluated five parameters susceptible to horse trampling: soil strength, vegetation cover, percent of nonnative vegetation, plant species diversity, and macroinvertebrate abundance. We also tested whether or not plant cover and species diversity were affected by the presence of horse feces.     

Central fatigue and nycthemeral change of serum tryptophan and serotonin in the athletic horse

Background  

The serotonergic system is associated with numerous brain functions, including the resetting of the mammalian circadian clock. The synthesis and metabolism of 5-HT in the brain increases in response to exercise and is correlated with high levels of blood-borne tryptophan (TRP). The present investigation was aimed at testing the existence of a daily rhythm of TRP and 5-HT in the blood of athletic horses.     

Opioid receptors of the central amygdala and morphine-induced antinociception

BACKGROUND: The amygdala is a forebrain region, which is known as a modulator of pain sensation. The amygdala, particularly the central nucleus, has high concentrations of enkephalins relative to dynorphins and has high concentrations of opioid receptors. We here studied the role of central nuclei of amygdala in morphine antinociception. METHODS: In this study, we used 130 male Wistar rats (200-250 g). Bilateral two guide cannula were inserted into central nuclei of amygdala. The drugs were administrated via intra central-amygdala and intraperitoneal. The antinociceptive effect was measured by formalin test. RESULTS: Bilateral microinjections of morphine (50 and 100 microg/rat) into the central nuclei of amygdala elicited powerful suppression of nociceptive behaviors in both phases of formalin test. The intraperitoneal administration of naloxone (1 and 2 mg/kg) decreased significantly the antinociception induced by the intra-amygdaloid injection of morphine. Our data also showed that microinjection of naloxone (50 and 100 microg/rat) into the central nuclei of amygdala could reduce the analgesic effects of systemic morphine (7 mg/kg). On the other hand, bilateral neurotoxic lesions of the central nuclei of amygdala attenuated the antinociception induced by subcutaneous or intra-amygdaloid injection of morphine. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that morphine analgesia in the formalin test depends on ascending connections to the forebrain, probably the amygdala.     

Tetrodotoxin-bupivacaine-epinephrine combinations for prolonged local anesthesia

Currently available local anesthetics have analgesic durations in humans generally less than 12 hours. Prolonged-duration local anesthetics will be useful for postoperative analgesia. Previous studies showed that in rats, combinations of tetrodotoxin (TTX) with bupivacaine had supra-additive effects on sciatic block durations. In those studies, epinephrine combined with TTX prolonged blocks more than 10-fold, while reducing systemic toxicity. TTX, formulated as Tectin, is in phase III clinical trials as an injectable systemic analgesic for chronic cancer pain. Here, we examine dose-duration relationships and sciatic nerve histology following local nerve blocks with combinations of Tectin with bupivacaine 0.25% (2.5 mg/mL) solutions, with or without epinephrine 5 μg/mL (1:200,000) in rats. Percutaneous sciatic blockade was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats, and intensity and duration of sensory blockade was tested blindly with different Tectin-bupivacaine-epinephrine combinations. Between-group comparisons were analyzed using ANOVA and post-hoc Sidak tests. Nerves were examined blindly for signs of injury. Blocks containing bupivacaine 0.25% with Tectin 10 μM and epinephrine 5 μg/mL were prolonged by roughly 3-fold compared to blocks with bupivacaine 0.25% plain (P < 0.001) or bupivacaine 0.25% with epinephrine 5 μg/mL (P < 0.001). Nerve histology was benign for all groups. Combinations of Tectin in bupivacaine 0.25% with epinephrine 5 μg/mL appear promising for prolonged duration of local anesthesia.     

Molecular identification of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in nasal swabs samples from horses suffering respiratory infections in Iran

The objective of this study was to evaluate the existence of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus as probable agents associated with naturally occurring infection of the equine upper respiratory disease in Mashhad area. Nasal swabs samples from thirty horses with upper respiratory tract infections were collected. The bacteria isolated and identified were Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (1 isolate), Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (25 isolates), Pasteurella sp. (11 isolates), Staphylococcus sp. (17 isolates), Bacillus sp. (4 isolates), Pseudomonas sp. (4 isolates), Proteus sp. (1 isolate), Neisseria sp. (1 isolate) and E. coli (1 isolate). All 25 isolates of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus and the isolate of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi were characterized by biochemical tests and molecular techniques. For molecular identification of the subspecies S. equi and S. zooepidemicus two genomic region SeM and sodA were amplified. This study is the first report of molecular identification of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in Iran.     

Effect of season on the immunity of newly hatched broiler chicks reared in arid-hot climate

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the environmental temperature on the immune response of exotic broiler chicks reared in arid-hot climate zone (the Sudan). Twenty eight broiler chicks (Lohman) were challenged with 1 mL of 10% sheep red blood cells suspension (10% SRBCs) at day 2 and day 13 during summer (June) and winter (January) seasons. At day 13 and day 20 sera were harvested and subjected to hemagglutination test to measure antibody titers against 10% SRBCs for primary and secondary immune response, respectively. In winter season the antibody titers (GMT) against 10% SRBCs for the secondary immune response was so high compared to that in summer season. Nevertheless, the antibody titers for primary immune response during winter and summer seasons were, somehow, identical although it was a little bit higher during winter season. The weights of the lymphoid organs (spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius) were significantly higher in the winter season compared to summer season irrespective of the age.     

A Bayesian approach to assess the accuracy of a diagnostic test based on plant disease measurement

The proportion of diseased plant organs measured before chemical treatment is often used to make an assessment of the need for crop protection in agricultural plots, but such diagnostic tests are not perfect and sometimes lead to incorrect decisions. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is a popular index of the overall performance of a test. It can be interpreted as the probability that the test value for a randomly chosen diseased subject will exceed that of a randomly chosen disease-free subject. In this paper, we present a Gaussian/Binomial model to assess the accuracy of diagnostic test based on a measured proportion of diseased plant organs. The model parameters were estimated from a real dataset and the model was used to analyse the accuracy of a diagnostic test based on a measured proportion of oilseed rape flowers contaminated by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The results showed that the accuracy of the test depends on the number of collected flowers, but that it is not necessary to collect more than 40 flowers per plot. A simulation study showed that the bias of the estimator of the area under the ROC curve was near zero for all size of dataset and that its mean-square error decreased in function of the number of experimental plots used in the ROC analysis. A major interest of our approach is that it allows one to study the effect of the sample size of the organs on the accuracy of the test. It can also be used to estimate the probability of disease occurrence, and to determine a decision threshold according to the sensitivity and specificity values.     

大豆分子标记遗传图谱的整合及其应用

图谱整合是弥补单个作图群体因分子标记多态性的局限性而难以构建高密度图谱的有效方法.利用具明显农艺性状差异的大豆品种间杂交组合(科丰1号×南农1138-2、南农87-23×NG94-156、苏88-M21×新沂小黑豆和皖82-178×通山薄皮黄豆甲)所衍生的重组自交系群体分别构建了含有560,223,195,133个分子标记的遗传连锁图谱.以各图谱共有SSR标记作为锚定标记,使用JoinMap3.0进行图谱整合,得到一张包含20个连锁群,795个分子标记,总遗传距离2 772.9 cM,平均间距3.49 cM的整合图谱.各连锁群的标记个数在24～69之间,遗传距离在77.1～224.7 cM之间.与Song等的公共图谱比较,标记在连锁群上的分布和位置高度吻合,并增加了5个公共图谱上没有的SSR标记,另有6个SSR标记定位在不同的连锁群上.通过整合图谱可将关联分析所获基因/QTL定位到连锁群区间;便于不同群体定位结果间的比较;并找寻与之连锁更紧密的邻近标记.鉴于本图谱所用作图群体的亲本与国内育种常用材料的遗传来源相近,将更便于国内育种性状的QTL定位研究.     

Transmission of potato leafroll virus to or from tuber slices by aphids feeding through a membrane

Summary Eye-bearing slices, cut from healthy potato tubers and placed between Parafilm membranes, were inoculated with potato leafroll virus (PLRV) byMyzus persicae. PLRV was detected by ELISA and by transmission tests in tuber slices and in plants grown from the slices of the susceptible cv. Désirée, but not in those of the resistant cv. Arkula. These results suggest that PLRV replication and transport within tuber phloem is controlled by specific mechanisms of resistance.M. persicae was also able to acquire and transmit PLRV toPl floridana from slices cut from tubers of infected plants. The aphids effectively transmitted PLRV from slices cut from the sprouting rose end but they failed to transmit it from slices cut from the heel end of tubers.     

西藏城市化发展的战略思考

城市化是人类经济、社会发展的产物，是人类文明进步的标志，也是完成从落后农业国向发达工业国转变，实现跨越式发展的必由之路。从现阶段西藏经济发展的实际看，城市化发展的滞后，已经越来越成为制约西藏经济和社会可持续发展的主要因素，因此，积极稳妥地推进城市化进程势在必行。本文分析了西藏城市化发展的现状和制约因素，提出未来推进西藏城市化进程的思路和建议。     

Comparison of four induced molting methods based on subsequent performance and welfare of Single Comb White Leghorn hens

A total of 400 Single Comb White Leghorn hens at 80 weeks of age were used in present study. Four treatment groups that were consisted of six replications with 10 hens per each replication were considered. In the first treatment, food and water were removed for the first 2, 4, 6 and 8 days. However, on days 3, 5, 7, 9 and on day 10 until day 28 hens were fed 45 g of food per hen (ON-OFF group). In the second and third groups, food was withdrawn for 10, 14 days, respectively and oyster shell and water were provided for ad libitum until day 28 (California and North Carolina treatments (CAL, NC groups)). The last group (full-food treatments (FF group)) was the hens that were non-food-deprived and were fed corn molt diet for 28 days ad libitum. In all treatment groups at day 29, hens were returned to a full food layer ration and received 16 h of light day(-1). Body weight, egg production, egg weight, relative eggshell weight, internal egg quality, egg specific gravity and mortality were determined. Differential leukocyte count and antibody response were also measured. The results demonstrated that induced molting increased egg production according to pre-molt egg production. There was not a significant difference in the rate of egg production during the peak period of post molt production for treatments. No significant differences were detected in differential leukocyte counts and antibody response against Sheep Red Blood Cell (SRBC) between treatments at pre molt and post molt of the experiment. This study indicated that diets with high corn level (FF groups) are effective and simplified nonfood removal procedure for welfare molting hens.     

Multivariate analysis and genetic diversity for morphometric and root textural quality traits in ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal)

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an important medicinal plant and its dried roots are used in traditional systems of medicine. The market price of roots is determined by physical (textural) quality. Brittle roots with high starch and low fiber are considered to be superior because of ease in grinding. Genetic diversity studies based on root textural parameters have not been done so far. So the present study was designed to assess genetic diversity for morphometric traits and root textural quality parameters among two morphologically distinct groups: Poshita and Nagore. The PCA separated the morphometric and root texture variables distinctly into two different principal components: PC-1 and PC-2 respectively, indicating that both are negatively associated. All the morphotypes in Poshita group showed high positive loadings in PC-1 indicating that component genotypes are high root yielding. Nagore morphotypes were low yielding but the root texture was good. Clustering of morphotypes grouped Poshita and Nagore separately with high inter-cluster distances indicating that both groups are highly divergent from each other, suggesting that there is sufficient scope for varietal improvement through hybridization.