scholarly journals Assessment of albumin and aspartate levels as a simple indicator of the efficacy of cryopreservation

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
Sushrutha C. S. ◽  
Sandhya K. ◽  
Savitha Karlwad ◽  
Elango E. M.
Keyword(s):  
Cell Viability ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
The Other ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Synthetic Function ◽  
Cell Stability ◽  
Basic Parameters ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Simple Indicator

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The process of hepatocytes cryopreservation is standardised by most of the laboratories. However there is a variation with respect to the Protocols, media and equipments used amongst the laboratories. Similarly, the tests available to evaluate the efficacy also varies. They are expensive and sometimes might not measure the parameter required for a particular research study. Hence we propose a methodology to study the few basic parameters like cell viability, synthetic function of the cell and cell stability. We have also used a simple percentile calculation to know the efficacy of cryopreservation. This shall help in functional validation of the cell after cryopreservation. The same can also be used to compare the quality of hepatocytes between different batches. The objective of the study was to characterisation of the cells to determine the efficacy of cryopreservation.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Two step collagen isolation method was used to isolate the hepatocytes. Initial cell viability was calculated. A sample of cells were taken for characterisation and the remaining cells cryopreserved. The sample cells were divided into two batches one for pre cryopreservation culture and the other for post cryopreservation. The pre cryopreservation culture was done on monolayer using collagen coated 6 well plate. The other sample was placed in the cryovials for cryopreservation for 1week. After 1 week the cryopreserved cells were thawed and the post cryopreservation viability calculated, followed by post cryopreservation culture. During the process of culture (both pre cryopreservation and post cryopreservation) for 5days Albumin was measured daily and average calculated, peak Aspartate (AST) at 24 hours was recorded. The percentile difference of the obtained values between the pre cryopreservation and post cryopreservation culture was calculated.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 12 specimen were enrolled for the study. The mean pre cryopreservation viability of the cells was 66.58%. The post cryopreservation, viability of the cells was 36.43%. The mean difference was -30.170%. The pre cryopreservation albumin values had a mean of 150ng/ml. The post cryopreservation albumin values had a mean of 135.83ng/ml. The mean difference was -14.170ng/ml. The pre cryopreservation peak Aspartate values had a mean of 234.17 IU/ml. The post cryopreservation peak aspartate values had a mean of 230 IU/ml. The mean difference was -4.176 IU/ml.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This simple method can validate the cells after cryopreservation by measurement of cell viability, synthetic function of the cell and cell stability.</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Corneal Biomechanical Parameters and Central Corneal Thickness in Glaucoma Patients, Glaucoma Suspects, and a Healthy Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2637
Author(s):  
Mª. Ángeles del Buey-Sayas ◽  
Elena Lanchares-Sancho ◽  
Pilar Campins-Falcó ◽  
María Dolores Pinazo-Durán ◽  
Cristina Peris-Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Central Corneal Thickness ◽  
Corneal Thickness ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
The Other ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
Diagnostic Categories ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Biomechanical Parameters ◽  
The Mean

Purpose: To evaluate and compare corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), and central corneal thickness (CCT), measurements were taken between a healthy population (controls), patients diagnosed with glaucoma (DG), and glaucoma suspect patients due to ocular hypertension (OHT), family history of glaucoma (FHG), or glaucoma-like optic discs (GLD). Additionally, Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg) and corneal-compensated IOP (IOPcc) were compared between the different groups of patients. Methods: In this prospective analytical-observational study, a total of 1065 patients (one eye of each) were recruited to undergo Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) testing, ultrasound pachymetry, and clinical examination. Corneal biomechanical parameters (CH, CRF), CCT, IOPg, and IOPcc were measured in the control group (n = 574) and the other groups: DG (n = 147), FHG (n = 78), GLD (n = 90), and OHT (n = 176). We performed a variance analysis (ANOVA) for all the dependent variables according to the different diagnostic categories with multiple comparisons to identify the differences between the diagnostic categories, deeming p < 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: The mean CH in the DG group (9.69 mmHg) was significantly lower compared to controls (10.75 mmHg; mean difference 1.05, p < 0.001), FHG (10.70 mmHg; mean difference 1.00, p < 0.05), GLD (10.63 mmHg; mean difference 0.93, p < 0.05) and OHT (10.54 mmHg; mean difference 0.84, p < 0.05). No glaucoma suspects (FHG, GLD, OHT groups) presented significant differences between themselves and the control group (p = 1.00). No statistically significant differences were found in the mean CRF between DG (11.18 mmHg) and the control group (10.75 mmHg; mean difference 0.42, p = 0.40). The FHG and OHT groups showed significantly higher mean CRF values (12.32 and 12.41 mmHg, respectively) than the DG group (11.18 mmHg), with mean differences of 1.13 (p < 0.05) and 1.22 (p < 0.001), respectively. No statistically significant differences were found in CCT in the analysis between DG (562 μ) and the other groups (control = 556 μ, FHG = 576 μ, GLD = 569 μ, OHT = 570 μ). The means of IOPg and IOPcc values were higher in the DG patient and suspect groups than in the control group, with statistically significant differences in all groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study presents corneal biomechanical values (CH, CRF), CCT, IOPg, and IOPcc for diagnosed glaucoma patients, three suspected glaucoma groups, and a healthy population, using the ORA. Mean CH values were markedly lower in the DG group (diagnosed with glaucoma damage) compared to the other groups. No significant difference was found in CCT between the DG and control groups. Unexpectedly, CRF showed higher values in all groups than in the control group, but the difference was only statistically significant in the suspect groups (FHG, GLD, and OHT), not in the DG group.

scholarly journals Effect of Hope-oriented group counseling on mental health of infertile women with failed IVF cycles: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roya Rahimi ◽  
Shirin Hasanpour ◽  
Mojgan. Mirghafourvand ◽  
Khalil Esmaeilpour
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Group Counseling ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background Considering the prevalence of infertility in the community and the consequences of failure of infertility treatments on women’s mental health, interventions that can control stress, anxiety and depression in infertile women with a history of IVF failure will be very helpful. This study aimed to determine the effects of hope-oriented group counseling on mental health (primary outcome) and quality of life (QoL) (secondary outcome) of women with failed IVF cycles. Method This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 women with failed IVF cycles visiting Infertility Clinic at Al-Zahra Teaching Hospital of Tabriz- Iran. Participants were allocated to the intervention group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) based on a randomized block design. Hope-oriented group counseling was provided to the intervention group in six 45–60 min sessions (once a week). The control group only received routine care to undergo another IVF cycle. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the SF-12 Quality of Life Scale were filled out by interviewing the participants before the intervention and one week and one month after the intervention. After intervention 26 participants in each group were included in the analysis. Results There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the socio-demographic profile of participants (P > 0.05). The post-intervention mean score of stress (adjusted mean difference = − 1.7, 95% confidence interval: − 3.2 to − 0.3, P = 0.018) and depression (adjusted mean difference = − 1.3, 95% confidence interval: − 4.7 to − 1.5, P < 0.001) was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control. Although the mean anxiety score was lower in the intervention group compared to the control, the difference between them was not statistically significant (adjusted mean difference = − 1.1, 95% confidence interval: − 2.6 to 0.4, P = 0.153). The mean score of QoL was significantly higher in the intervention group than that of the control group (adjusted mean difference = 6.9, 95% confidence interval: 5.1 to 8.8, P < 0.001). Conclusion Hope-oriented group counseling was effective in reducing stress and depression and improving QoL in women with failed IVF cycles. It is recommended to use this counseling approach, along with other methods, to improve the mental health of women with failed IVF cycles. Trial registration TCT Registration Number: TCTR 20191017003, registered on October 17, 2019.

scholarly journals Phenotypic Variation in Fruit Morphology among Provenances ofSclerocarya birrea(A. Rich.) Hochst.

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Idah Mkwezalamba ◽  
Chimuleke R. Y. Munthali ◽  
Edward Missanjo
Keyword(s):  
Seed Weight ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fruit Traits ◽  
Fruit Length ◽  
Sclerocarya Birrea ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Quality Of Products ◽  
Selection Of

Sclerocarya birrea(A. Rich.) Hochst. is a multipurpose fruit tree which is very useful in providing food security and meeting nutritional and economic needs. This study was conducted to assess eighteen provenances ofSclerocarya birreaplanted in Mangochi, Malawi. The trial was assessed for fruit traits at fifteen years of age. There were significant (P<0.001) variations among the provenances in number of fruits, fruit weight, pulp weight, seed weight, fruit length, and diameter. Magunde provenance from Mozambique had the highest mean number of fruits, 2196 ± 200. Mangochi and Moamba provenances from Malawi and Mozambique were the most outstanding in the other parameters measured attaining the mean fruit weight of 20.89 ± 0.25 g and 25.67 ± 0.67 g, pulp weight of 25.70 ± 0.08 g and 21.55 ± 0.83 g, seed weight of 4.81 ± 0.35 g and 4.12 ± 0.18 g, fruit length of 2.61 ± 0.14 cm and 2.33 ± 0.07 cm, and fruit diameter of 2.33 ± 0.15 cm and 1.97 ± 0.08 cm, respectively. There was no significant (P>0.05) correlation between number of fruits and the other fruit traits. However, there were significant (P<0.05) and strong positive relationships between fruit weight and pulp weight (r=0.987) and fruit length and diameter (r=0.775). This suggests that fruit weight can be used indirectly for selection of pulp. Further studies should investigate fruit taste quality of products from the fruits.

Development of Blue-Yellow and Red-Green Discriminations in Infants during the First Year of Life

Perception ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 26 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 235-235
Author(s):  
L I Leushina ◽  
V M Bondarko ◽  
A A Nevskaya
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Emotional Reaction ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
The Other ◽  
First Year ◽  
Colour Discrimination ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Mean ◽  
First Year Of Life

Colour discrimination was investigated in infants aged 4 – 14 months. 250 healthy subjects and 80 subjects with slight defects in basic visual functions (the risk group) participated. A coloured toy was moved in front of the subject and disappeared behind a screen, reappearing after 2 – 3 s at the other side. Sometimes when the toy was hidden, the experimenter replaced it with another one that differed only in colour: yellow was replaced by blue or vice versa (Y/B switch), or red by green or vice versa (R/G switch). The form and size of the toy remained constant. The emotional reaction of surprise showed whether the infant discriminated these colour pairs. The brightness of the stimuli was slightly varied make sure that the infant reacted to the change in colour rather than brightness. About 75% of healthy 4 – 5-month-olds showed good expressive reactions to the Y/B switch, and practically all children did so at 7 – 8 months. The discrimination of red and green develops more slowly: only at 12 months did practically all children show good reactions to the R/G switch. In all children, Y/B discrimination preceded R/G discrimination. The mean difference between the numbers of children discriminating these two pairs was 7.6%. The infants of the risk group were as good as their healthy age-mates in Y/B discrimination, but performed significantly less well on R/G: the mean difference between the numbers discriminating the former but not the latter was 17.0%. Possible reasons for the retardation of chromatic discrimination in the risk group are discussed.

PROBLEMS OF TRIBOLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION OF SHOE – WALKING SURFACE FRICTION PAIRS

Tribologia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 282 (6) ◽  
pp. 125-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacek PRZEPIÓRKA ◽  
Marian SZCZEREK
Keyword(s):  
Friction And Wear ◽  
Friction Pair ◽  
Surface Friction ◽  
The Other ◽  
Tribological Characteristics ◽  
Footwear Industry ◽  
Energetic Condition ◽  
Basic Parameters

Tribological characteristics of shoe sole in a friction pair with the walking surface are important parameters due to the safety of shoe exploitation and time of its durability. The footwear industry methods of analysing friction coefficient are obsolete, and, on the other hand, modern tribological equipment that allows credible results requires long data processing. The authors suggest using a previously developed formula that binds tribological characteristics with energetic condition of the walking surface. By doing so, this formula evaluates the force of friction and wear of shoe – walking surface pair. It may shorten the time needed to evaluate the basic parameters of shoe exploitation in variable conditions of their utilization and, thus, contribute to the formulation of material resolutions aiming to improve the quality of shoe usage while reducing the costs of performing required examinations.

scholarly journals Potencial forrajero de híbridos de maíz (Zea mays L.) en la Comarca Lagunera.

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Jesús Arreola ◽  
Cristina Vega ◽  
Enrique Navarro ◽  
Gustavo Burciaga
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Zea Mays L ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
The Other ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Proximal Analysis ◽  
Chemical Traits

The objectives of this work were to evaluate the forage performance of several hybrids in relations with six checks. The farmer hybrids were realised by "Instituto Mexicano del Maíz", located at Saltillo, Coahuila. The agronomic traits taken into account were: grain yield and some chemical traits and their relationships with production and quality of forage in corn. Their work was divided in two parts, the first one under the field conditions in Gómez Palacio, Durango, (1992) where 25 hybrids were evaluated with a population density of 62,500 plants/ha. The analysis of variance showed no significance for production of green forage. However, one hybrid overcame the best check for more than 4 t. The second phase was carried out in the quality forage laboratory during 1992 - 1993, where each plant representing an entry was divided in three parts; later, a proximal analysis was performed and two variables were analized for green forage and ensilage. For percentage of fat, some experimentals hybrids had lower vulner than commercial hybrids in both green forage and ensilage, whereas for protein content six experimental hybrids overcame, the mean of the best checks. However, it is important to mention that the value was higher vulner of the entries for protein content were highest on ensilage than those shown for green forage whose group means were 6.91 and 6.12 respectively. In the other hand, it was posible to detect some experimental material with low vulner of fiber, mainly, in the phase of ensilage. We observed that the midde part of the plant was the richest for protein content in both ensilage and green forage. Finally, we observed the superiority of some experimental hybrids as for the parameters of contents of organic matter, portein, amount of ensilage and green forage.

scholarly journals P0938HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN A CHILEAN POPULATION OF DIALYSIS PATIENTS

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Tiscornia ◽  
Francisca Peña ◽  
Lucia Del vecchio ◽  
Samuel Duran ◽  
Hugo Poblete ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Functional Impairment ◽  
The Other ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Dialysis Modality ◽  
Dialysis Patients ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background and Aims A growing number of patients treated with maintenance dialysis are older, frail and have functional impairment. In many instances, functional impairment is a more powerful predictor of adverse outcomes than traditional disease-based measures. The Kidney Disease Quality of Life 36-item short form survey (KDQOL-36) is widely used in dialysis patients; its scores are important predictor of outcome. Aim of the study is to evaluate the associations of KDQOL-36 scores with diabetes, dialysis modality, nutritional status and age in a cohort of dialysis patients from Chile. Method observational, multicenter, cross-sectional study performed in the region of Valparaiso, Chile. 207 adult patients on dialysis from more than 3 months (140 in HD, 67 in PD: mean age 58.9 ± 14.5 years with 37% &gt;= 65 years, M/F 119/88) were asked to fill in the Spanish translation of the KDQOL-36 questionnaire (administered by a trained caregiver). The responses to the SF-36 questions were used to determine scores for the mental component summary (MCS), physical component summary (PCS), burden of kidney disease (BKD), symptoms and problems of kidney disease (SPKD), effects of kidney disease (EKD). The scores went from 0 to 100; the higher scores the better the quality of life. 50 was set as a cut-off level. Nutritional parameters were collected (BMI; mean 27.16 ± 4.7 kg/m2, brachial muscular or fat areas (&lt; 25th percentile for age and sex defined as malnourished). All the patients signed an informed consent. Results Overall, mean scores and percentage of patients with values &lt;50 on the PCS, MCS, BKD, SPKD, and EKD subscales were 45.54 ± 18.82 (60.9%), 57.38 ± 19.41 (36.2%), 73.43 ±18.33 (65.2%), 79.03 ±11.59 (1.9%), and 36.02 ± 34.74 (11.6%), respectively. The mean score of the combination of MCS and PCS was 51.46 ± 16.77 (52.2%). Compared to younger patients, those who were 65 or more years old had significantly higher score of EKD (79.91 ± 16.63 vs 69.59 ± 18.26, p&lt;0.0001), with only 12% of older patients having a score below 50 (Χ2 7.79, p=0.005); the other subscales did not differ significantly. Ninety-one (43.5%) patients were diabetics. They were more likely of being older, having a higher BMI and lower signs of malnutrition (borderline significance). In comparison to non-diabetics, they had lower mean scores on BKD scale (30.42 ± 35.12 vs 40.4 ± 33.87, p=0.04) with a higher number having BKD scores &lt; 50 (66/91 vs 69/116, Χ2 3.82, p=0.035). Moreover, they were more likely of having scores &lt; 50 for the SPKD and EKD subscales. A significant reduction of the muscular and fat brachial areas (&lt;25th percentile) were found in 88 (42.1%) and 49 (23.4%) of the patients, respectively. Mean scores of all subscales did not differ significantly between the groups of muscular and fat brachial areas. The dialysis modality had a significant impact on some subscales. in comparison to PD, a higher number of HD patients had scores &lt; 50 for BKD (Χ2 18.24, p &lt; 0.0001). On the other hand, PD patients were more likely of having lower MNS scores (Χ2 5.69, p &lt; 0.013) and of the combination of PCS and MCS subscales (Χ2 12.82, p &lt; 0.0001). Similar findings were obtained when analysing the scores as continuous variables. Conclusion This is the first formal evaluation of the performances of the KDQOL-36 questionnaire in a cohort of dialysis patients in Chile. Overall, the mean scores of PCS and EKD were well below the reference value of 50. General and kidney-related subscales were affected differently by age, dialysis modality and diabetes. In particular diabetic patients were more likely to perform poorly at kidney-related subscales, with no significant difference for general ones. Interestingly, dialysis modality had an impact on both BKD and MCS with opposite trends. The nutritional status seems to little affect patient quality of life.

Heterosis and combining ability effects on cotton. II. Heterosis

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 991 ◽  
Author(s):  
NJ Thomson ◽  
DJ Luckett
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Commercial Production ◽  
River Valley ◽  
The Other ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Commercial Cultivars ◽  
The Mean

The yield and quality of a diverse range of cotton hybrids was measured in one, or more, of a number of experiments conducted in the Ord River valley, Western Australia (15�S.) and the Namoi River valley, New South Wales (30�S.). Two of the experiments were diallels, one involving nine parents, the other thirteen parents. In both the plant and subsequent ratoon crops, mean yield of the hybrids was significantly greater than the mean yield of the parents, and the hybrids had significantly longer and stronger fibre. A few hybrids in both diallels significantly outyielded commercial controls by between 15 and 35% in both the plant and ratoon crops. Subsequently, in other experiments including one with near-commercial large plots, the high performers from the diallel experiments were inconsistent for yield, usually exhibiting little or no heterosis above that of the best commercial cultivars. Other hybrids tested in these experiments also generally failed to outyield the commercial controls, although a number had higher-quality fibre. It was concluded the heterosis for yield is not consistent enough under high-yielding Australian conditions to warrant the commercial production of hybrid cotton seed. Some hybrids, however, especially the interspecific G. hirsutum x G. barbadense ones, have the stronger, finer fibre that appears better suited to cotton spinning equipment now being developed, and this aspect could justify reappraisal of this conclusion in the future.

Effect of Pure and Crossed Dextrality on Marksmanship Skill

1985 ◽  
Vol 61 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1171-1174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Sheeran
Keyword(s):  
Mean Difference ◽  
The Other ◽  
Advanced Training ◽  
Training Camp ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Score Range ◽  
Training Corps ◽  
Reserve Officers Training Corps

This research examined the effects of pure and crossed dextrality on the marksmanship scores of cadets in the Reserve Officers Training Corps at their respective institutions. 34 male, right-handed (dextral) subjects (M age = 21.5 yr.) were classified on the basis of eyedness. During summer advanced training camp, subjects fired M-16A1 rifles for marksmanship qualifying scores (score range 0 to 40). Of the 34 subjects, 17 were classified as pure dextrals (right-hand, right-eye), while the other 17 were labeled crossed dextrals (right-hand, left-eye). The mean difference between the two groups was significant, suggesting that pure dextrals are better marksmen than crossed dextrals early in training. Also, the interrelation of eyedness and handedness on marksmanship scores is important but has been largely ignored.

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