Ventricular pneumocephalus and septic meningoencephalitis secondary to dorsal rhinotomy and nasal polypectomy in a dog

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 4-year-old sexually intact female French Bulldog was evaluated because of lethargy, anorexia, and chronic rhinitis-sinusitis. The dog had nasal discharge of 18 months' duration; dorsal rhinotomies were performed 3 months and 2 weeks prior to referral. CLINICAL FINDINGS: On initial evaluation, intraventricular pneumocephalus and sinusitis were diagnosed; CSF analysis revealed high total protein concentration and mononuclear pleocytosis. The dog's condition improved with treatment. Two weeks after discharge, it was treated by a local veterinarian because of upper airway obstruction; 3 days later, the dog was referred because of seizures. Computed tomography revealed a large fluid-filled, left lateral ventricle and a soft tissue mass protruding through a cribriform plate defect. The mass was histologically consistent with brain tissue. Findings of clinicopathologic analyses were unremarkable. Results of cytologic examination of a CSF sample were indicative of septic, suppurative inflammation, and bacteriologic culture of CSF yielded Escherichia coli. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Amputation of the herniated olfactory bulb and antimicrobial treatment resolved the septic meningoencephalitis, but neurologic deficits recurred 6 weeks later. Definitive correction of the cribriform plate defect with bone and fascial grafts was attempted. Postoperative rotation of the bone graft resulted in cerebral laceration and hemorrhage, and the dog was euthanized. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings suggest that following dorsal rhinotomy and nasal polypectomy surgery, the dog developed herniation of the left olfactory bulb, intra-ventricular pneumocephalus, and septic meningo-encephalitis because of a cribriform plate defect. Care must be taken to prevent rotation of bone grafts used in cribriform defect repair.     

Schisandrin B protects against solar irradiation-induced oxidative injury in BJ human fibroblasts

The effects of schisandrin B (Sch B) and its analogs on solar irradiation-induced oxidative injury were examined in BJ human fibroblasts. Sch B and schisandrin C (Sch C) increased cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) level and protected against solar irradiation-induced oxidative injury. The photoprotection was paralleled by decreases in the elastases-type protease activity and matrix-metalloproteinases-1 expression in solar-irradiated fibroblasts. The cytochrome P-450-mediated metabolism of Sch B or Sch C caused ROS production. The results suggest that by virtue of its pro-oxidant action and the subsequent glutathione antioxidant response, Sch B or Sch C may offer the prospect of preventing skin photo-aging.     

Coldness index does not indicate the upper limit of evergreen broad-leaved forest on a subtropical island

Many ecologists in East Asia consider that Kira’s coldness index (CI) of ?10 °C month agrees well with the northward and upward limits of evergreen broad-leaved forest (EBLF). It is of interest to establish whether CI is an effective indicator of the upper limit of EBLF in a tropical-to-temperate transitional island. A case study in Taiwan was conducted through a comparison of CI layers with field vegetation information. The results from spatial analysis revealed that the location of CI = ?10 isotherm was approximately 3,381 m a.s.l., within the Abies zone. The analysis of plots showed that vegetation near CI = ?10 isotherm was evergreen coniferous pure forest with 99.9 % relative dominance. The CI = 0 isotherm lay at approximately 2,594 m a.s.l., close to the boundary between the Tsuga–Picea and upper Quercus zones, with the CI = 0 isotherm in the transformation zone between evergreen coniferous and broad-leaved trees. However, the vegetation near CI = 0 isotherm tended more toward coniferous forest showing a total relative dominance of 78.26 %. The two-way cluster dendrogram of vegetation plots revealed identical results. The preceding evidence, combined with the spatial pattern of 3,564 plots along CI and elevation gradients, made it clear that CI did not indicate the upper limit of EBLF in Taiwan. Other information on the CI criterion are discussed. To explore the differentiation of altitudinal vegetation, further research should be made to connect ecoclimatic factors such as effective warmth index with information from vegetation plots.     

Systemic trichomoniasis in a squab operation.

Systemic trichomoniasis was responsible for severe morbidity and mortality in a commercial squab operation. Squabs of 1 to 3 weeks of age were primarily affected. Extensive caseous necrosis of the liver, heart, lung, and intestinal mesentery was observed grossly. Histologically, extensive heterophilic inflammation surrounded the necrotic areas and was observed perivascularly in areas that were uninvolved grossly. Numerous trichomonads were demonstrated in affected tissues with Bodian's silver stain.     

Three-dimensional computer-aided human factors engineering analysis of a grafting robot

The objective of this research was to conduct a human factors engineering analysis of a grafting robot design using computer-aided 3D simulation technology. A prototype tubing-type grafting robot for fruits and vegetables was the subject of a series of case studies. To facilitate the incorporation of human models into the operating environment of the grafting robot, I-DEAS graphic software was applied to establish individual models of the grafting robot in line with Jack ergonomic analysis. Six human models (95th percentile, 50th percentile, and 5th percentile by height for both males and females) were employed to simulate the operating conditions and working postures in a real operating environment. The lower back and upper limb stresses of the operators were analyzed using the lower back analysis (LBA) and rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) functions in Jack. The experimental results showed that if a leg space is introduced under the robot, the operator can sit closer to the robot, which reduces the operator's level of lower back and upper limbs stress. The proper environmental layout for Taiwanese operators for minimum levels of lower back and upper limb stress are to set the grafting operation at 23.2 cm away from the operator at a height of 85 cm and with 45 cm between the rootstock and scion units.     

Identification and anti-human glioblastoma activity of tagitinin C from Tithonia diversifolia methanolic extract

The Tithonia diversifolia methanolic extract (TDM), which showed antiproliferative activity against human glioblastoma U373 cells, with an IC50 value of 59.2±3.7 μg mL(-1), was passed through silica gel chromatography and successively eluted with different percentages of EtOAc/hexane. The 10-60% EtOAc/hexane subfractions, which exhibited a comparatively higher antiproliferative activity, were isolated, and then structural identification was proceeded with 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. The isolated compound was tagitinin C, a kind of sesquiterpenoid. The IC50 value was 6.1±0.1 μg mL(-1) in U373 treated with tagitinin C. In flow cytometric analysis and inhibition of pan-caspase, the results showed that the anti-glioblastoma effect was apoptosis-independent. In PARP, p-p38, ULK1, and LC3-II expression, the anti-glioblastoma induced by tagitinin C was likely via autophagy. In the ULK1 siRNA transfection experiment, autophagy blockade counteracted the suppression induced by tagitinin C. The result suggested that tagitinin C induces U373 cell death dependent upon autophagy under certain conditions.