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Veterinary Medicine and Science Jul 2024Bersama abyssinica Fresen is a plant that is used in folk medicine for the treatment of mastitis and other infectious diseases.
BACKGROUND
Bersama abyssinica Fresen is a plant that is used in folk medicine for the treatment of mastitis and other infectious diseases.
OBIECTIVE
The antibacterial activity of methanol crude extract of plant was evaluated against three common bacterial pathogens, including Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).
METHODS
The antibacterial activities and minimum inhibitory concentration of B. abyssinica crude extracts were evaluated using agar-well diffusion and broth dilution methods according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS).
RESULTS
A significant difference in the antibacterial activity of crude extracts was observed among different levels of concentration against tested isolates. A higher mean inhibition zone diameter was recorded in E. coli (29.2 ± 1.5 mm), followed by S. aureus (27.8 ± 1.1 mm) and P. aeruginosa (18.0 ± 0.7 mm) at a concentration of 100 mg/mL. The antibacterial activity of crude plant extract at 100 mg/mL was comparable with that of a standard antibiotic (27.6 ± 2.6) against S. aureus and E. coli isolates. The findings indicated that bacterial growth inhibition increased as the concentration of the crude extracts increased. E. coli and S. aureus isolates showed significantly higher susceptibilities to crude extracts than P. aeruginosa at all concentrations. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of extracts against S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa isolates were 0.78 mg/mL, 1.56 mg/mL and 1.56 mg/mL, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
All tested pathogenic bacterial species were susceptible to plant leaf extract and broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The study recommends further fractionation of the B. abyssinica plant that contributes to its antibacterial activity and understands the mode of action of this plant against bacteria and other microbes.
Topics: Plant Extracts; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Escherichia coli; Staphylococcus aureus; Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PubMed: 38896065
DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1498 -
Ecology and Evolution Jun 2024Colonial nesting waterbirds in agricultural landscapes have historically received limited research attention, especially in South Asia. For example, the Asian openbill...
Colonial nesting waterbirds in agricultural landscapes have historically received limited research attention, especially in South Asia. For example, the Asian openbill () is a colonial species that extensively utilizes agricultural landscapes, yet there is a notable lack of substantial studies despite increasing urbanization across these landscapes. We investigated the factors affecting the breeding ecology of Asian openbills in eastern Nepal. We used a grid-based approach to locate stork colonies and monitored them throughout the breeding season from May to November for three consecutive years (2020-2022). Altogether, we observed a total of 67 active colonies, comprising 4020 active nests, which successfully fledged a total of 7566 chicks. Additionally, most of the colonies were located within areas of human settlements (40%), followed by community forests (33%) and agricultural land (27%). The Asian openbills primarily preferred large trees, such as (72%), for nesting. The mean height of nesting trees was approximately 4 m taller, the diameter at breast height was twice as large, and the canopy cover area was three times greater than that of non-nesting trees. The canopy cover area of trees positively influenced the colony size, while colony size positively influenced the fledgling's success. Our study underscores the significance of large trees in providing sufficient space for accommodating a substantial number of openbill nests and fledglings. These findings have significant implications for conservation efforts to protect large trees along with wetlands and agricultural lands, as crucial measures to ensure the sustainable breeding of this nationally vulnerable species.
PubMed: 38895574
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11504 -
Journal of Inflammation Research 2024To evaluate the predictive capacity of the nutritional-inflammatory index and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC)...
PURPOSE
To evaluate the predictive capacity of the nutritional-inflammatory index and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) receiving total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT).
METHODS
Data from 127 patients with LARC receiving TNT from January 2017 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinicopathological characteristics with different TNT-induced responses were compared. The Chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney test were used to analyze the association between pre-TNT factors and TNT-induced responses. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to construct a predictive model.
RESULTS
In the cohort of 127 patients with LARC who underwent total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), the mean age was 54.1 ± 11.4 years; 88 (69.3%) were male. Seventy patients (55.1%) exhibited a favorable response to TNT, while 57 patients (44.9%) demonstrated a poor response. Tumor characteristics, including diameter, distance from the anal verge, pre-TNT lymphocyte, pre-TNT hemoglobin, CA199, PLR, and HALP, exhibit correlations with TNT-induced tumor regression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified large tumor diameters (> 5.0 cm; = 0.005, HR 2.958; 95% CI 1.382-6.335) and low HALP (≤ 40; = 0.002, HR 0.261; 95% CI 0.111-0.612) as predictors of TNT-induced poor responses. Additionally, low levels of HALP were associated with an increased risk of recurrence in patients with LARC with TNT, but this was not statistically significant ( = 0.087, HR 2.008, 95% CI 0.906-4.447).
CONCLUSION
A large tumor diameter and low HALP predict poor tumor regression induced by the CAPOX-based TNT regimen in patients with LARC.
PubMed: 38895140
DOI: 10.2147/JIR.S462985 -
Journal of Pain Research 2024Pain leads to activation of the autonomic nervous system and thus, among other things, to pupillary reflex dilation (PRD). Previous studies have already confirmed a...
BACKGROUND
Pain leads to activation of the autonomic nervous system and thus, among other things, to pupillary reflex dilation (PRD). Previous studies have already confirmed a correlation between the perception of pain and the pupillary reaction, measured using pupillometry. However, the previous study populations were under the influence of medication for analgesia in perioperative setting or suffered from pain. This study examines the relationship between pupillary reaction and pain perception in healthy controls and addresses the question of whether endogenous pain inhibition, clinically tested by conditioned pain modulation (CPM), can be quantified using pupillometry.
METHODS
Forty-two healthy volunteers (21 females, 21 males, mean age 27.9 ± 5.8 years, range 20-39 years) were included in this study. The PRD, as a measure of the pupillary reaction (variance from the base diameter in percent), was investigated during baseline, heat application and during CPM testing and results compared to the reported pain intensity on the numerical rating scale (NRS).
RESULTS
The volunteers showed higher variances under painful conditions compared to the measurement at rest corresponding to higher sympathetic activity during pain. Volunteers with a higher variance, ie a stronger pupillary reaction, gave higher pain ratings than subjects with a lower pupil variance. However, there was no correlation between the NRS and PRD. PRD and pain ratings during CPM were significantly lower compared to heat pain application alone. However, there was no correlation between the calculated CPM effect and the PRD.
CONCLUSION
Pupillometry is capable of objectively reflecting the pain response, eg pain relief through CPM testing. However, the CPM effect calculated from the subjective pain ratings and the objective PRD measurements is not associated suggesting that both measure different aspects of pain perception. It must be discussed whether the CPM effect can be the correct measure for the functionality of the pain system.
PubMed: 38894860
DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S461906 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024Most recent clinical practice guidelines addressing the management of infantile hemangiomas (IHs) recommend oral propranolol, a non-selective beta-adrenergic...
Most recent clinical practice guidelines addressing the management of infantile hemangiomas (IHs) recommend oral propranolol, a non-selective beta-adrenergic antagonist, as first-line treatment. However, few reports have provided continuous follow-up data regarding cardiac evaluations. Sixty-four patients diagnosed with IHs and treated with oral propranolol before 2 years of age at the Department of Pediatrics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital (Seoul, Republic of Korea), with regular examinations between 2017 and 2021, were included. Cardiac evaluations, including electrocardiography, Holter monitoring, chest X-ray, and echocardiography, were performed. Sixty-four patients with IHs successfully underwent continuous follow-up cardiac evaluations. The median age at diagnosis was 2 weeks (1 day to 34.3 weeks). The median age at treatment initiation was 13.6 weeks (2.4-87.9 weeks), the mean longitudinal diameter of hemangioma at diagnosis was 2.8 ± 2.1 cm (0.3-12.0 cm), and the mean percentage of size decrease after 1 year of oral propranolol treatment was 71.8%. None of the 64 patients experienced severe adverse side effects during propranolol treatment. There was no statistically significant differences in echocardiographic function and electrocardiographic data after treatment. Propranolol treatment ≥6 months was effective and safe without significant cardiac toxicity in the treatment of patients with infantile hemangiomas.
PubMed: 38893043
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113332 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine May 2024A growing body of evidence highlights the effects of air pollution on chronic and acute cardiovascular diseases, such as associations between PM and several...
A growing body of evidence highlights the effects of air pollution on chronic and acute cardiovascular diseases, such as associations between PM and several cardiovascular events. However, evidence of the impact of fine air pollutants on the development and progression of peripheral arterial aneurysms is not available. Data were obtained from the multicenter PAA outcome registry POPART and the German Environment Agency. Means of the mean daily concentration of PM, PM, NO and O concentrations were calculated for 2, 10, and 3650 days prior to surgery for each patient. Additionally, weighted ten-year averages were analyzed. Correlation was assessed by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients, and regression analyses were conducted as multiple linear or multiple logistic regression, depending on the dependent variable. For 1193 patients from the POPART registry, paired air pollution data were available. Most patients were male (95.6%) and received open surgical repair (89.9%). On a regional level, the arithmetic means of the daily means of PM between 2000 and 2022 were neither associated with average diameters nor runoff vessels. Negative correlations for mean PAA diameter and mean NO, as well as a positive correlation with mean O, were found; however, they were not statistically significant. On patient level, no evidence for an association of mean PM exposure over ten years prior to inclusion in the registry and PAA diameter or the number of runoff vessels was found. Weighted PM NO and O exposure over ten years also did not result in significant associations with aneurysm diameter or runoff vessels. Short-term air pollutant concentrations were not associated with symptomatic PAAs or with perioperative complications. We found no indication that long-term air pollutant concentrations are associated with PAA size or severity, neither on a regional nor individual level. Additionally, short-term air pollution showed no association with clinical presentation or treatment outcomes.
PubMed: 38892961
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113250 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine May 2024: The surgical resection of pulmonary metastases is considered a therapeutic option in selected cases. In light of this, we present the results from a national...
: The surgical resection of pulmonary metastases is considered a therapeutic option in selected cases. In light of this, we present the results from a national multicenter prospective registry of lung metastasectomy. : This retrospective analysis involves data collected prospectively and consecutively in a national multicentric Italian database, including patients who underwent lung metastasectomy. The primary endpoints were the analysis of morbidity and overall survival (OS), with secondary endpoints focusing on the analysis of potential risk factors affecting both morbidity and OS. : A total 470 lung procedures were performed (4 pneumonectomies, 46 lobectomies/bilobectomies, 13 segmentectomies and 407 wedge resections) on 461 patients (258 men and 203 women, mean age of 63.1 years). The majority of patients had metastases from colorectal cancer (45.8%). In most cases (63.6%), patients had only one lung metastasis. A minimally invasive approach was chosen in 143 cases (30.4%). The mean operative time was 118 min, with no reported deaths. Morbidity most frequently consisted of prolonged air leaking and bleeding, but no re-intervention was required. Statistical analysis revealed that morbidity was significantly affected by operative time and pulmonary comorbidities, while OS was significantly affected by disease-free interval (DFI) > 24 months ( = 0.005), epithelial histology ( = 0.001) and colorectal histology ( = 0.004) during univariate analysis. No significant correlation was found between OS and age, gender, surgical approach, surgical extent, surgical device, the number of resected metastases, lesion diameter, the site of lesions and nodal involvement. Multivariate analysis of OS confirmed that only epithelial histology and DFI were risk-factors, with -values of 0.041 and 0.031, respectively. : Lung metastasectomy appears to be a safe procedure, with acceptable morbidity, even with a minimally invasive approach. However, it remains a local treatment of a systemic disease. Therefore, careful attention should be paid to selecting patients who could truly benefit from surgical intervention.
PubMed: 38892816
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113106 -
PloS One 2024To investigate the relationship between corneal diameter and internal corneal span determined from angle-to-angle distance using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in an... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Observational Study
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between corneal diameter and internal corneal span determined from angle-to-angle distance using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in an observational cross-sectional patient population comprised of 54 eyes (28 healthy control eyes, ages 0.1 to 11.3 years; 26 eyes with primary congenital glaucoma, ages 0.1 to 3.5 years) from 41 pediatric participants ages 0.1 to 11.3 years (mean age: 3±3 years, median age: 2 years).
METHODS
Forty cornea photographs with reference ruler and 110 UBM images were obtained. Three observers measured horizontal and vertical corneal diameter and angle-to-angle distance in each cornea photo and UBM image using ImageJ and the average values were used. Main outcome measures were Pearson correlation coefficient, linear regression, mean difference between corneal diameter and angle-to-angle distance, and intra-class correlation coefficients among measurements from all three observers for each parameter.
RESULTS
Corneal diameter and angle-to-angle distance had a strong positive correlation horizontally (Pearson r = 0.89, p<0.001) and vertically (r = 0.93, p<0.001). Correlation was consistent regardless of presence of primary congenital glaucoma and participant age. Regression analysis demonstrated a linear relationship between the parameters for horizontal (CD = 0.99*AA+0.28, R2 = 0.81, p<0.001) and vertical (CD = 0.91 *AA+1.32, R2 = 0.85, p<0.001) dimensions. Overall, reliability was good-excellent, ranging from an ICC of 0.76 for vertical corneal diameter to 0.90 for horizontal angle-to-angle distance.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the strong positive correlation found between corneal diameter and angle-to-angle distance in our study population, UBM image analysis can be used to accurately estimate corneal diameter from angle-to-angle distance in children with healthy eyes and primary congenital glaucoma. UBM may provide a useful intraocular alternative for estimating corneal diameter and monitoring diseases that affect the cornea in infants and children, such as congenital glaucoma.
Topics: Humans; Child, Preschool; Cornea; Child; Microscopy, Acoustic; Male; Female; Infant; Cross-Sectional Studies; Glaucoma
PubMed: 38889111
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305624 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024This study explores tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) through a case series and literature review, assessing the diagnostic potential of F-AlF-NOTA-octreotide (F-OC)... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
This study explores tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) through a case series and literature review, assessing the diagnostic potential of F-AlF-NOTA-octreotide (F-OC) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).
METHODS
We analyzed TIO patients who underwent F-OC PET/CT. Parameters such as tumor dimension, the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), the mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV) were meticulously assessed. Clinical features and imaging characteristics pertinent to TIO were reviewed.
RESULTS
6 patients with clinical suspicion of TIO exhibited hypophosphatemia (0.25 to 0.64 mmol/L), elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels (142 to 506 U/L), and increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels (92.9 to 281.7 pg/mL). Of these patients, two underwent FGF-23 testing, with results of 3185.00 pg/ml and 17.56 pg/ml, respectively. Conventional imaging modalities depicted widespread osteoporosis, with several cases demonstrating fractures indicative of osteomalacic and associated pathological fractures. Subsequent F-OC PET/CT facilitated the accurate localization of causative tumors, with histopathological examination confirming the diagnosis of phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor (PMT). The interval from initial clinical presentation to definitive TIO diagnosis spanned approximately 2.5 years (range: 1 - 4 years), with tumors varying in size (maximum diameter: 7.8 to 40.0 mm), SUVmax (5.47 to 25.69), SUVmean (3.43 to 7.26), and MTV (1.27 to 18.59 cm).
CONCLUSION
The implementation of whole-body F-OC PET/CT imaging emerges as a critical tool in the identification of occult tumors causing TIO. Future investigations incorporating a broader cohort are imperative to further delineate the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of F-OC PET/CT in managing TIO.
Topics: Humans; Fibroblast Growth Factor-23; Fluorine Radioisotopes; Heterocyclic Compounds; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; Neoplasms, Connective Tissue; Octreotide; Osteomalacia; Paraneoplastic Syndromes; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Radiopharmaceuticals
PubMed: 38887276
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1400751 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Endothelial dysfunction is a key factor promoting atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications. Hemodialysis patients typically show various cardiovascular...
Endothelial dysfunction is a key factor promoting atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications. Hemodialysis patients typically show various cardiovascular complications and impaired retinal venular dilation has been described as a risk factor for mortality. Non-invasive retinal vessel analysis provides insight into the microvasculature and endothelial function. Static retinal vessel analysis determines arteriolar and venular vessel diameters and dynamic retinal vessel analysis measures microvascular function by flicker-light induced stimulation, which results in physiological dilation of retinal vessels. We measured 220 healthy individuals and compared them to our preexisting cohort of hemodialysis patients (275 for static and 214 for dynamic analysis). Regarding static vessel diameters, hemodialysis patients and healthy individuals did not significantly differ between vessel diameters. Dynamic retinal vessel analysis showed attenuated dilation of the arteriole of hemodialysis patients with 1.6% vs 2.3% in healthy individuals (p = 0.009). Case-control matching for age (mean 65.4 years) did not relevantly diminish the difference. Hemodialysis patients also exhibited reduced venular dilation after matching for age (3.2% vs 3.8%, p = 0.019). Hemodialysis patients showed microvascular dysfunction compared to healthy individuals when using dynamic retinal vessel analysis. Further studies should focus on dynamic retinal vessel analysis which can add insights into the microvascular function and risk factors in multimorbid patients.
Topics: Humans; Renal Dialysis; Male; Female; Retinal Vessels; Middle Aged; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Endothelium, Vascular; Adult; Risk Factors; Venules
PubMed: 38886448
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64581-9