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Texas Heart Institute Journal Jan 2021Papillary fibroelastomas are benign tumors that usually originate from cardiac valves but may have other endocardial origins. We report the cases of 2 patients in whom...
Papillary fibroelastomas are benign tumors that usually originate from cardiac valves but may have other endocardial origins. We report the cases of 2 patients in whom left atrial appendage masses were initially diagnosed as thrombus. They were treated for embolic stroke and their symptoms resolved; however, their left atrial appendage masses did not regress. After surgery, histologic analysis of the resected masses revealed papillary fibroelastoma in both cases. We discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas encountered in patients with papillary fibroelastomas and cardiac masses other than thrombus.
Topics: Aged; Atrial Appendage; Cardiac Papillary Fibroelastoma; Diagnosis, Differential; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Heart Neoplasms; Humans; Male; Papillary Muscles; Photomicrography
PubMed: 33946109
DOI: 10.14503/THIJ-19-7088 -
Polimery W Medycynie 2020Plant-extract-reduced metal nanoparticles provide means of overcoming microbial resistance. Incorporating them into appropriate pharmaceutical formulations will enhance...
BACKGROUND
Plant-extract-reduced metal nanoparticles provide means of overcoming microbial resistance. Incorporating them into appropriate pharmaceutical formulations will enhance their portability and ease of administration.
OBJECTIVES
To synthesize silver nanoparticles using methanol extracts of the seeds of Blighia sapida as capping agents and formulating the products in antimicrobial films.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Phytochemical screening of the methanol extract of Blighia sapida K.D. Koenig (ackee) seeds was performed and its antioxidant properties were determined using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay. The green synthesis of ackee seed extract silver nanoparticles (ASAgNPs) was accomplished with reacting 1 mM of aqueous silver nitrate (AgNO3) and the methanol extract in a flask; the bioreduction was performed at 37°C for 72 h. The resulting nanoparticles were lyophilized and characterized using UV-visible spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photomicrography. The nanoparticles were further formulated into films using starch and carboxymethyl cellulose using the solvent evaporation method. The extract, biosynthesized nanoparticles and film formulations were screened for antimicrobial activity against several pathogens using the agar well diffusion method.
RESULTS
The methanol seed extracts of the ackee fruit contained saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and anthraquinones. The extract exhibited significant antioxidant properties. The nanoparticles and film formulations had a broader range of activity against microbes than the plant extract, exhibiting significant activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 700728, Salmonella typhi ATCC 14028, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Activity was also observed with Candida krusei, C. albicans, and Penicillium sp. It is noteworthy that this last organism showed resistance to fluconazole.
CONCLUSIONS
Ackee seed extract silver nanoparticles exhibited a synergistic antimicrobial activity against several pathogens. Film formulations of the nanoparticles retained this antimicrobial activity and allowed the product to be presented in a consumer-ready form.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Blighia; Metal Nanoparticles; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pichia; Plant Extracts; Seeds; Silver; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
PubMed: 33768737
DOI: 10.17219/pim/130388 -
Data in Brief Apr 2021From samples of the Paleozoic Tamatán Group (Huizachal-Peregrina Anticlinorium, Tamaulipas, Mexico), petrographic (qualitative and modal) and geochemical analyses...
From samples of the Paleozoic Tamatán Group (Huizachal-Peregrina Anticlinorium, Tamaulipas, Mexico), petrographic (qualitative and modal) and geochemical analyses (major, trace, and rare earth elements) were conducted. The first U-Pb geochronological data on detrital zircons of the Tamatán Group were generated using four samples. The data presented here contains a broad overview of photomicrography, recalculated modal point-count data, raw geochemical data, and simple statistics of selected geochemical parameters. The data presented in this article are interpreted and discussed in the research article titled "Provenance and tectonic setting of the Tamatán Paleozoic sequence, NE Mexico: Implications for the closure of the Rheic Ocean at the northwestern part of Gondwana" [1].
PubMed: 33718541
DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.106846 -
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences Feb 2021Loranthaceae family includes hemiparasitic members which are seen invading a wide range of commercial crops. (Desv.) Danser is very common on mango trees. Though...
Loranthaceae family includes hemiparasitic members which are seen invading a wide range of commercial crops. (Desv.) Danser is very common on mango trees. Though parasitic in nature, this mistletoe is also medicinally important as fetoprotective, against vesicular calculi and kidney infections. This study is an attempt to document macro-microscopical features of parasitic root, fruit and host-mistletoe tissue interaction in the haustorium of growing on mango stems. Collection, preservation, sectioning, staining and photomicrography of the root, fruit and host-mistletoe union were done as per standard methodologies of anatomical studies. Though there is resemblance to the normal roots in morphology as well as anatomy, the microscopic finding of large number of branched stone cells in the roots is interesting. The morpho-anatomical features recorded would help in understanding the infection biology of this mistletoe. The eradication during the earlier stages of its establishment from seed or from the root creeping over the surface of the host can help in controlling this parasite infection on commercially important host plants.
PubMed: 33613053
DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.11.080 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Dec 2020Trypanosoma rangeli is a non-pathogenic protozoan parasite that infects mammals, including humans, in Chagas disease-endemic areas of South and Central America. The...
Trypanosoma rangeli is a non-pathogenic protozoan parasite that infects mammals, including humans, in Chagas disease-endemic areas of South and Central America. The parasite is transmitted to a mammalian host when an infected triatomine injects metacyclic trypomastigotes into the host's skin during a bloodmeal. Infected mammals behave as parasite reservoirs for several months and despite intensive research, some major aspects of T. rangeli-vertebrate interactions are still poorly understood. In particular, many questions still remain unanswered, e.g. parasite survival and development inside vertebrates, as no parasite multiplication sites have yet been identified. The present study used an insect bite transmission strategy to investigate whether the vector inoculation spot in the skin behave as a parasite-replication site. Histological data from the skin identified extracellular parasites in the dermis and hypodermis of infected mice in the first 24 hours post-infection, as well as the presence of inflammatory infiltrates in a period of up to 7 days. However, qPCR analyses demonstrated that T. rangeli is eliminated from the skin after 7 days of infection despite being still consistently found on circulating blood and secondary lymphoid tissues for up to 30 days post-infection. Interestingly, significant numbers of parasites were found in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes of infected mice during different periods of infection and steady basal numbers of flagellates are maintained in the host's bloodstream, which might behave as a transmission source to insect vectors. The presence of parasites in the spleen was confirmed by fluorescent photomicrography of free and cell-associated T. rangeli forms. Altogether our results suggest that this organ could possibly behave as a T. rangeli maintenance hotspot in vertebrates.
Topics: Animals; Central America; Chagas Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Insect Vectors; Lymph Nodes; Mice; Rhodnius; Sepsis; Skin; South America; Spleen; Trypanosoma rangeli
PubMed: 33370305
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009015 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2020The present investigation aimed to determine the fungal toxicity of (My-It) against the dengue mosquito vector L. and its non-target impact against the aquatic...
The present investigation aimed to determine the fungal toxicity of (My-It) against the dengue mosquito vector L. and its non-target impact against the aquatic predator . Lethal concentrations (LC and LC) of My-It were observed in 2.27 and 2.93 log ppm dosages, respectively. The sub-lethal dosage (My-It-1 × 10 conidia/mL) displayed a significant oviposition deterrence index and also blocked the fecundity rate of dengue mosquitos in a dose-dependent manner. The level of major detoxifying enzymes, such as carboxylesterase (α-and β-) and SOD, significantly declined in both third and fourth instar larvae at the maximum dosage of My-It 1 × 10 conidia/mL. However, the level of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) declined steadily when the sub-lethal dosage was increased and attained maximum reduction in the enzyme level at the dosage of My-It (1 × 10 conidia/mL). Correspondingly, the gut-histology and photomicrography results made evident that My-It (1 × 10 conidia/mL) heavily damaged the internal gut cells and external physiology of the dengue larvae compared to the control. Moreover, the non-target toxicity against the beneficial predator revealed that My-It at the maximum dosage (1 × 10 conidia/mL) was found to be less toxic with <45% larval toxicity against . Thus, the present toxicological research on showed that it is target-specific and a potential agent for managing medically threatening arthropods.
PubMed: 33003327
DOI: 10.3390/jof6040196 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Aug 2020There is still considerable controversy regarding the possibility of submitting replanted teeth to orthodontic movement (OM). The purpose of the present study was to...
There is still considerable controversy regarding the possibility of submitting replanted teeth to orthodontic movement (OM). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the tissue response after orthodontic movement on replanted teeth. Sixty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups ( = 15): G1, replantation without OM after 30 days; G2, replantation with OM after 30 days; G3, replantation without OM after 60 days, and G4, replantation with OM after 60 days. The maxillary left central incisors were extracted and the teeth were stored in milk media. After 30 min, the teeth were replanted and fixed with non-rigid immobilization. All specimens were observed after 30 and 60 days of replantation and then subdivided into two subgroups (with OM or without OM). The animals were euthanized after seven days of the OM started, and the maxillary bone blocks were processed for histological evaluation. The histological results showed periodontal ligament repair in both periods studied without OM; however, ankylosis and root resorption was seen in all orthodontically moved teeth. The orthodontic movement did not favor tissue response in all replanted teeth, regardless of the experimental periods.
Topics: Animals; Incisor; Models, Animal; Periodontal Ligament; Photomicrography; Postoperative Complications; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Root Resorption; Tooth Avulsion; Tooth Movement Techniques; Tooth Replantation; Tooth Root
PubMed: 32825215
DOI: 10.3390/medicina56090421 -
Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure 2020Modern light microscopes are available with built-in illuminator and facility of photomicrography. This enables the microscopy to be ready for telemedicine. However,...
INTRODUCTION
Modern light microscopes are available with built-in illuminator and facility of photomicrography. This enables the microscopy to be ready for telemedicine. However, resource-limited settings still find difficulty in procuring those microscopes.
AIM
The aim of this study was to upgrade a light microscope to a smartphone-connected digital microscope with minimal cost to make it ready for telemedicine.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A commercially available (price: ₹389) Universal Serial Bus (USB) web camera was set on the eyepiece and fixed with the help of an aluminum sheet. Light emitting diodes (LEDs), covered with an optical diffuser, were set below the condenser. The camera was connected to an Android smartphone with an application for capturing image and video. Sixteen faculty members provided their opinion about the new device.
RESULTS
The smartphone-connected microscope was successfully used to focus and capture image and video of various slides. The images and videos were stored in the smartphone and shared via E-mail and other channels (e.g., WhatsApp and Telegram). This camera was also successfully connected to a laptop for projecting the real-time microscopic field on a screen. According to faculty members, focusing an object and capturing the image are the best features of the device; however, development of the device received lowest score.
CONCLUSION
A light microscope was upgraded to telemedicine ready microscope with nominal cost and moderate effort. It can also be used in medical teachings as it can project real-time images of a slide under the microscope. As it is equipped with LEDs, powered by the same smartphone, it can be operated without daylight or during a power outage.
PubMed: 32766118
DOI: 10.4103/JMAU.JMAU_35_19 -
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary... May 2020In recent years, a new concept has emerged at the forefront of slide-based diagnosis and telepathology. This is the concept of whole slide imaging. This has very...
CONTEXT
In recent years, a new concept has emerged at the forefront of slide-based diagnosis and telepathology. This is the concept of whole slide imaging. This has very recently also been tried with smartphones using complex software for photo analysis and stitching. This study is aimed to evaluate and compare the use of Jenoptik photomicrograph camera and smartphone camera-based whole slide imaging (WSI) for various microscopic preparations and slides. The study also uses a commonly available IOS smartphone device, a commonly available phone to microscope attachment, and the most commonly used Adobe Photoshop software for all stitching purposes.
AIM
To evaluate and compare smartphone and photomicrography-based whole slide imaging.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
The study was conducted at the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology in Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere. The samples included in this study are 10 slides of routine hematoxylin and eosin stain slides and 10 ground section slides of teeth and bone samples. Continuous photographs of the entire slide were captured using an IOS device and a Jenoptik camera attached research microscope at 10× magnification. The photographs were stitched using Adobe Photoshop 2017 software to obtain a whole slide image. Then, two observers analyzed the whole slide image for a possible diagnosis and thus compared the efficiency of both the methods.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED
The statistical Chi-square test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) H test were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 2010 Software.
RESULTS
Percentage of measure of agreement was 79.5%, 83.7% and 86.3%, 89.1% for the whole slide images taken in the smartphone and photomicrograph and analyzed by Observer 1 and Observer 2, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, it can be seen that the WSI by research microscopes is better than that with a smartphone and a compound microscope but still both the methods are equally good and can be followed with accurate results.
PubMed: 32754495
DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_18_20 -
Parasitology Oct 2020Parasitic castration of bivalves by trematodes is common, and may significantly reduce the reproductive capacity of ecologically important species. Understanding the...
Parasitic castration of bivalves by trematodes is common, and may significantly reduce the reproductive capacity of ecologically important species. Understanding the intensity of infection is desirable, as it can indicate the time that has passed since infection, and influence the host's physiological and reproductive response. In addition, it is useful to know the developmental stage of the trematode, to understand trematode population trends and reproductive success. However, most existing methods (e.g. visually estimating the degree of infection) to assess intensity are approximate only and not reproducible. Here, we present a method to accurately quantify the percentage of bivalve gonad filled with digenean trematode tissue, based on small squashes of gonad tissue rapidly photographed under light microscopy. A maximum of 15 photographs is required to determine the percentage of the whole gonad occupied by trematodes with a minimum of 90% confidence, with smaller mussels requiring fewer. In addition, the stage of trematode infection can be assessed because full sporocysts, spent sporocysts and free cercariae are clearly distinguishable. Although variation exists in the distribution of trematodes in gonad tissue, and thus in the estimate of percentage of the gonad filled with trematodes, this method represents a marked improvement on current coarse assessments of infection which typically focus on binary presence/absence measures. This technique can be used to facilitate a more sophisticated understanding of host-parasite interactions in bivalves, and can inform the conservation and reproductive biology of environmentally crucial species.
Topics: Animals; Bivalvia; Castration; Cercaria; Gonads; Life Cycle Stages; Photomicrography; Trematoda; Trematode Infections
PubMed: 32729439
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182020001213