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Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Two medium-sized, 7-year-old dogs, with no previous history of pain, presented with acute neurologic symptoms consistent with intervertebral disk disease. Both cases had...
Two medium-sized, 7-year-old dogs, with no previous history of pain, presented with acute neurologic symptoms consistent with intervertebral disk disease. Both cases had CT, where cervical pathology was identified. In one dog, the diagnosis was singular extensive cervical disk herniation with possible epidural hemorrhage and in the other, the diagnosis was multiple-site cervical disk herniation. The first dog, a Shar-Pei, underwent treatment with two standard adjacent ventral slots between the C4-C5 and C5-C6 intervertebral disk spaces and a fenestration between the C3 and C4 intervertebral disk spaces. The second case, a beagle, underwent a double adjacent standard ventral slot between the C5-C6 and C6-C7 intervertebral disk spaces. Both dogs recovered uneventfully after the surgery and showed no signs of recurrence during a 2-year follow-up period. This is the first detailed report of the use of a double adjacent ventral slot as a treatment for spinal decompression in medium-sized dogs with multiple-site spinal cord compression.
PubMed: 38828368
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1346816 -
Archives of Razi Institute Dec 2023Bacteriocins are a kind of antimicrobial peptides that kill or inhibit the growth of bacterial strains. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial...
Bacteriocins are a kind of antimicrobial peptides that kill or inhibit the growth of bacterial strains. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effect of on several pathogenic bacterial strains. Bacteriocin produced by was purified by chromatography with Sephadex G-75 column, and its antibacterial effect on gram-negative bacteria, including ATCC 700928, PTCC 1707, PTCC 1621, PTCC 1693, and PTCC 1755, were evaluated by the disk diffusion method. The structure of bacteriocin was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The interaction of bacteriocin with the antigen 43 (Ag43) of was evaluated by the molecular docking method. Bacteriocin extracted from bacterial isolates had antibacterial activity on strains but not on other studied strains. Bioinformatics analysis also showed bacteriocin docking with Ag43 with an energy of -159.968 kJ/mol. Natural compounds, such as bacteriocin, can be an alternative to common chemical compounds and antibiotics. To reach a definite conclusion in this regard, there is a need for further research and understanding of their mechanism of action.
Topics: Serratia marcescens; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteriocins; Escherichia coli; Molecular Docking Simulation
PubMed: 38828162
DOI: 10.32592/ARI.2023.78.6.2694 -
Journal of Medical Physics 2024To explore the influence of initial guess or estimate (uniform as "ones" and "zeros" vs. filtered back projection [FBP] image) as an input image for maximum likelihood...
PURPOSE
To explore the influence of initial guess or estimate (uniform as "ones" and "zeros" vs. filtered back projection [FBP] image) as an input image for maximum likelihood expectation-maximization (MLEM) tomographic reconstruction algorithm and provide the curves of error or convergence for each of these three initial estimates.
METHODS
Two phantoms, created as digital images, were utilized: one was a simple noiseless object and the other was a more complicated, noise-degraded object of the section of lower thorax in a matrix of 256 × 256 pixels. Both underwent radon transform or forward projection process and the corresponding sinograms were generated. For filtering during tomographic image reconstruction, ramp and Butterworth filters, as high-pass and low-pass ones, were applied to images. The second phantom (lower thorax) was radon-transformed and the resulting sinogram was degraded by noise. As initial guess or estimate images, in addition to FBP tomographic image, two uniform images, one with all pixels having a value of 1 ("ones") and the other with all having zero ("zeros"), were created. The three initial estimates (FBP, ones, and zeros) were reconstructed with iterative MLEM tomographic reconstruction (with 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 iterations). The difference between the object and the updated slice was calculated at the end of each iteration (as error matrix), and the mean squared error (MSE) was computed and plotted separately or in conjunction with the MSE curves of other initial estimates. All computations were implemented in MATLAB software.
RESULTS
The results of ones and zeros seemed strikingly similar. The curves of uniform ones and uniform zeros were so close to each other that overlap near-perfectly. However, in the FBP slice as an initial estimate, the resulting tomographic slice was similar with a much higher extent to the object even after 1 or 2 iterations. The pattern of convergence for all three curves was roughly similar. The normalized MSE decreased sharply up to 5 iterations and then, after 10 iterations, the curves reached a plateau until 32 iterations. For the phantom of the lower thorax section with its noise-degraded sinogram, similar to the pattern observed for simple disk-shaped phantom, the curves (normalized MSE) fell sharply up to 10 iterations and then rapidly converged thereafter until 64 iterations.
CONCLUSION
Similar results are observed when choosing different initial guesses or estimates (uniform vs. FBP) as the starting point, based on the error calculation using MSE. The algorithm converges almost similarly for all initial estimates. Therefore, selecting a uniform initial guess image can be an appropriate choice and may be preferred over an FBP image. Reducing the processing time can be a valid reason for this choice.
PubMed: 38828068
DOI: 10.4103/jmp.jmp_110_23 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2024Spinal cord injury is a condition affecting the central nervous system, causing different levels of dysfunction below the point of nerve damage. A 50-year-old woman...
Case report: Virtual reality-based arm and leg cycling combined with transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation for early treatment of a cervical spinal cord injured patient.
Spinal cord injury is a condition affecting the central nervous system, causing different levels of dysfunction below the point of nerve damage. A 50-year-old woman suffered a neck injury as a result of a car accident. After undergoing posterior cervical C3-C6 internal fixation with titanium plates on one side and C7 lamina decompression, the patient, who had been diagnosed with C3-C7 cervical disk herniation and spinal stenosis causing persistent compression of the spinal cord, was transferred to the rehabilitation department. After implementing the combined therapy of Virtual Reality-based arm and leg cycling along with transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the spinal cord, the patients experienced a notable enhancement in both sensory and motor abilities as per the ASIA scores. The patient's anxiety and depression were reduced as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety and Hamilton Depression Tests. As evaluated by the SCIM-III, the patient's self-reliance and capacity to carry out everyday tasks showed ongoing enhancement, leading to the restoration of their functionality. Hence, the use of Virtual Reality-based arm and leg cycling along with transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation has potential to positively impact function in patients with spinal cord injury. However, as this is a case report, the small number of patients and the fact that the intervention was initiated early after the injury, we were unable to separate the recovery due to the intervention from the natural recovery that is known to occur in the initial weeks and months after SCI. Therefore, further randomized controlled trials with a large sample size is necessary.
PubMed: 38826775
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1380467 -
Research Square May 2024one of the pathogens strongly implicated in hospital infections. Data on the resistance and molecular characteristics of this bacterium are rare in Mali.
BACKGROUND
one of the pathogens strongly implicated in hospital infections. Data on the resistance and molecular characteristics of this bacterium are rare in Mali.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic resistance patterns, virulence factors of isolates from pleural fluid infections in hospitalized patients.
METHODS
Pleural effusion samples were obtained by thoracentesis for bacteriological examination from October 2021 to December 2022 at the "Hôpital du Mali" teaching hospital. Comorbidities such as HIV/AIDS and diabetes were assessed. Standard microbiological procedures were used for bacterial identification. The disk diffusion method was used to identify methicillin-resistant . The PCR amplification method was used to detect the following genes: , , , , and .
RESULTS
This study analyzed 6096 samples from inpatients and found a pooled frequency of bacterial pleuritis of 526 (8.6%) in thoracic surgery and pediatric wards. was isolated in 52 (9.88%) cases, of which 39 (75%) isolates were MRSA. There was no significant difference between the sexes (). The median age of the patients was 30 years. All isolates showed resistance to penicillin-G. The leucocidin toxin was detected in 7.7% of thoracic surgery patients, but , , , and toxins were not found.
CONCLUSION
In this study, we found a high frequency of (and MRSA) in pleurisy patients at the "Hôpital du Mali". Only the leukocidin was found. The empirical treatment protocol for pleurisy may need revision. Clindamycin, linezolid, teicoplanin, daptomycin, fosfomycin, vancomycin, moxifloxacin and fusidic acid were the most active antibiotics on our isolates in this study. Infection prevention measures, active surveillance, and effective therapeutic options are recommended.
PubMed: 38826428
DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3579825/v1 -
Ecology and Evolution Jun 2024While morphological abnormalities have been widely reported in batomorphs, ontogenetic deformities of the posterior pectoral fin are rare. In this paper, we present two...
While morphological abnormalities have been widely reported in batomorphs, ontogenetic deformities of the posterior pectoral fin are rare. In this paper, we present two individuals of the bluespotted ribbontail ray, (Forsskål, 1775), with symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fins. Both individuals were observed through aerial imagery on a coastal sandflat in the central Red Sea (22.30° N, 39.09° E). The similarity of this symmetrical deformity in both individuals indicates it likely has a genetic base. However, lacking access to the specimens, the ultimate cause of the abnormality remains uncertain. The incomplete disk closure did not seem to affect survival, as both individuals had reached a disk width of 22 cm, well above the typical birth size of the species. Our observations constitute both the first report of a morphological abnormality in and the first record of a batomorph with a symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fin.
PubMed: 38826169
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11399 -
Journal of AAPOS : the Official... May 2024A nearly 3-year-old boy on nightly dialysis presented emergently with sudden loss of vision. On examination, his visual acuity was light perception in the right eye and...
A nearly 3-year-old boy on nightly dialysis presented emergently with sudden loss of vision. On examination, his visual acuity was light perception in the right eye and no light perception in the left eye. There was bilateral optic disk edema, diffuse pallor of posterior poles, and a cherry red spot in the left fundus. The patient was subsequently found to be hemodynamically unstable and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with presumed septic shock. Optical coherence tomography revealed paracentral acute middle maculopathy lesions in the right eye and diffusely thick retina in the left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography of the brain and vessels did not reveal any acute findings. The patient's presentation was most consistent with bilateral nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy and unilateral central retinal artery occlusion. On repeat evaluation 9 months later, vision was largely unchanged.
PubMed: 38825070
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2024.103948 -
Scientific Reports May 2024In the animal kingdom, threat information is perceived mainly through vision. The subcortical visual pathway plays a critical role in the rapid processing of visual...
In the animal kingdom, threat information is perceived mainly through vision. The subcortical visual pathway plays a critical role in the rapid processing of visual information-induced fear, and triggers a response. Looming-evoked behavior in rodents, mimicking response to aerial predators, allowed identify the neural circuitry underlying instinctive defensive behaviors; however, the influence of disk/background contrast on the looming-induced behavioral response has not been examined, either in rats or mice. We studied the influence of the dark disk/gray background contrast in the type of rat and mouse defensive behavior in the looming arena, and we showed that rat and mouse response as a function of disk/background contrast adjusted to a sigmoid-like relationship. Both sex and age biased the contrast-dependent response, which was dampened in rats submitted to retinal unilateral or bilateral ischemia. Moreover, using genetically manipulated mice, we showed that the three type of photoresponsive retinal cells (i.e., cones, rods, and intrinsically photoresponsive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs)), participate in the contrast-dependent response, following this hierarchy: cones > > rods > > > ipRGCs. The cone and rod involvement was confirmed using a mouse model of unilateral non-exudative age-related macular degeneration, which only damages canonical photoreceptors and significantly decreased the contrast sensitivity in the looming arena.
Topics: Animals; Rats; Mice; Male; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Photic Stimulation; Female; Contrast Sensitivity; Behavior, Animal; Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Visual Perception; Fear; Retina; Visual Pathways
PubMed: 38822033
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63458-1 -
Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy May 2024Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) patients may experience retinal microvascular changes. However, current diagnostic methods for PMN are not accurate in analyzing...
BACKGROUND
Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) patients may experience retinal microvascular changes. However, current diagnostic methods for PMN are not accurate in analyzing these modifications. In the present study, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used for quantitative measurement of microvascular changes in the eyes of PMN patients.
METHODS
A total of 26 patients with PMN and 26 healthy control (HC) were evaluated in this cross-sectional study. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCTA were used to collect retinal thickness (RT) and microvascular parameters in the macula and optic disk in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) of all subjects. Clinical data were collected from the PMN group. The OCT and OCTA data for PMN and HC group were compared, and the correlation between the OCTA and clinical data in the PMN group was determined.
RESULTS
Vascular density (VD) and perfusion density (PD) in the macular area of the PMN group were significantly lower than those of the HC group, especially in the temporal quadrant. No significant difference in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), optic disc microvascular parameters, RT, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was observed between the two groups. Correlation was noted between VD and PD in the macular area and clinical indicators, such as serum creatinine, serum urea nitrogen, 24 h urine volume and urinary protein concentration.
CONCLUSION
Microvascular alterations in PMN patients occurred before ocular symptoms. The present quantitative study proposed a measurement method for detecting early retinal vascular injury in PMN patients.
PubMed: 38821236
DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2024.104230 -
Current Microbiology May 2024Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by disk diffusion provides an accurate image of bacterial growth, enabling the detection of culture purity, heterogeneous...
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by disk diffusion provides an accurate image of bacterial growth, enabling the detection of culture purity, heterogeneous growth, and antibiotic interactions. However, this manual method is time-consuming and visual interpretation is prone to errors. To overcome these disadvantages, the Radian® In-Line Carousel (Copan, Brescia, Italy) was launched, which is a WASPLab® module dedicated to full automation of (pre)-analytical steps as well as interpretation of disk diffusion AST. However, until now, no evaluation of Radian® against manual disk diffusion has been performed. We assessed the categorical agreement (CA) between standardized disk diffusion (reference method) and Radian® using EUCAST 2021 breakpoints. We tested 135 non-duplicate strains, selected from the National EUCAST challenge panel, clinical strains, and external quality controls. The strains included Enterobacterales (n = 63), Enterococcus faecalis (n = 3), Enterococcus faecium (n = 10), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 16), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 19), coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 4), and Streptococcus spp. (n = 20). Furthermore, we explored antibiotic disk thermolability in the WASP Radian® carousel by testing 10 ATCC® strains up to 7 days. The observed CA was 95.3%, 96.3%, 93.8%, 97.3% and 98.0% for Enterobacterales, Enterococcus spp., P. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp., respectively, resulting in an acceptable overall CA for all groups. (Very) major error rates were ≤ 5% for all antibiotics. Antibiotic disk thermostability was confirmed up to 4 days in the WASP Radian® In-Line Carousel. The Radian® In-Line Carousel provides a fully automated solution for accurate disk diffusion AST, reducing workload and improving standardization and traceability. In addition, our study demonstrated the thermostability of antibiotic disks up to 4 days in the WASP Radian® In-Line Carousel.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; Bacteria; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Automation, Laboratory
PubMed: 38816509
DOI: 10.1007/s00284-024-03710-z