Oral adenocarcinoma observed in Boa constrictor maintained in captivity

Information on neoplasms in animals has increased over time, and these studies have helped in the management of reptiles that present tumors. There are similar incidences of neoplasms between homeothermic and ectothermic animals. Furthermore, there are usually more than one type of tumor present. The treatment of wild animals afflicted with cancer usually happens late, contributing to their low life expectancy. Thus, the present work aimed to describe an infrequent case of oral tumor in Boa constrictor. The tumor was observed in an adult female animal, raised in an exhibition area of the Zoo and Botanical Park of the Emílio Goeldi Museum, located in Belém, State of Pará, Brazil. Macroscopically, the mass presented morphologically with an irregular, multilobulated surface, color that varied from white to grey, hemorrhagic areas and its extension was 3.9 x 2.3 cm. The neoplasm was surgically removed, and the histopathological evaluation revealed an adenocarcinoma, with a papillary-like development pattern and a moderate degree of differentiation. The animal died three months after diagnosis due to starvation. The necropsy showed that there was tumor recrudescence and no metastases. Given the impossibility of surgical removal with a greater margin of safety, and adjuvant therapies, this condition favoured the resurgence of the neoplasm. This compromised the animal’s ability to feed and consequently lead to death. Malignant neoplasms in reptiles may have an unfavourable clinical evolution for the maintenance of life, requiring specific therapeutic care such as chemotherapy. Scientific contributions on tumors in these animals are essential for the medical treatment of wild animals, and the conservation of wild species.

The Placebo Response in Double-Blind Randomised Trials Evaluating Regenerative Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

In the field of stem cell technologies, exciting advances are taking place leading to translational research to develop cell-based therapies which may replace dopamine releasing neurons lost in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). A major influence on trial design has been the assumption that the use of sham operated comparator groups is required in the implementation of randomised double-blind trials to evaluate the placebo response and effects associated with the surgical implantation of cells. The aim of the present review is to identify the improvements in motor functioning and striatal dopamine release in patients with PD who have undergone sham surgery. Of the nine published trials, there was at the designated endpoints, a pooled average improvement of 4.3 units, with 95% confidence interval of 3.1 to 5.6 on the motor subscale of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Scale in the ‘OFF’ state. This effect size indicates a moderate degree of improvement in the motor functioning of the patients in the sham surgical arms of the trials. Four of the nine trials reported the results of 18 F-fluorodopa PET scans, indicating no improvements of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurones following sham surgery. Therefore, while the initial randomised trials relying on the use of sham operated controls were justified on methodological grounds, we suggest that the analysis of the evidence generated by the completed and published trials indicates that placebo controlled trials are not necessary to advance and evaluate the safety and efficacy of emerging regenerative therapies for PD.

Axin2+ PDL Cells Directly Contribute to New Alveolar Bone Formation in Response to Orthodontic Tension Force

Wnt–β-catenin signaling plays a key role in orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), a common clinical practice for malocclusion correction. However, its targeted periodontal ligament (PDL) progenitor cells remain largely unclear. In this study, we first showed a synchronized increase in Wnt–β-catenin levels and Axin2+ PDL progenitor cell numbers during OTM using immunostaining of β-catenin in wild-type mice and X-gal staining in the Axin2-LacZ knock-in line. Next, we demonstrated time-dependent increases in Axin2+ PDL progenitors and their progeny cell numbers within PDL and alveolar bones during OTM using a one-time tamoxifen-induced Axin2 tracing line ( Axin2CreERT2/+; R26RtdTomato/+). Coimmunostaining images displayed both early and late bone markers (such as RUNX2 and DMP1) in the Axin2Lin PDL cells. Conversely, ablation of Axin2+ PDL cells via one-time tamoxifen-induced diphtheria toxin subunit A (DTA) led to a drastic decrease in osteogenic activity (as reflected by alkaline phosphatase) in PDL and alveolar bone. There was also a decrease in new bone mass and a significant reduction in the mineral apposition rate on both the control side (to a moderate degree) and the OTM side (to a severe degree). Thus, we conclude that the Axin2+ PDL cells (the Wnt-targeted key cells) are highly sensitive to orthodontic tension force and play a critical role in OTM-induced PDL expansion and alveolar bone formation. Future drug development targeting the Axin2+ PDL progenitor cells may accelerate alveolar bone formation during orthodontic treatment.

Occurrence and subtyping of Blastocystis in coypus (Myocastor coypus) in China

Background Blastocystis is an anaerobic unicellular protist frequently detected in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals worldwide. However, the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis in the coypu (Myocastor coypus) population have not been reported so far. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, genetic characteristics, and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis isolates detected in coypus in China. Results A total of 308 fecal samples were collected from coypus in seven regions across China and subsequently examined. Blastocystis was detected in 44 (14.3%) specimens by nested PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene. Further DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses resulted in the identification of two zoonotic known subtypes, ST4 and ST5, and an unknown subtype. ST4 was the most predominant subtype observed in the samples. ST5 infections were only observed in three coypus. Factors that were associated with prevalence of Blastocystis included age, geographical region and subtype. Interestingly, this is the first report about a potentially novel subtype infecting coypus. Conclusions This is the first comprehensive report of Blastocystis in M. coypus across a wide geographic range of China. A moderate degree of genetic divergence was observed. The presence of zoonotic subtypes in farmed M. coypus suggests that these animals have the potential to transmit blastocystosis to both humans and domestic animals. These findings provide a better understanding of the genetic diversity of Blastocystis in rodents and contribute towards the establishment of efficient blastocystosis control strategies in the investigated areas. Graphical abstract

Knowledge and Practice Regarding Breastfeeding among Primipara Mothers of Obstetrics Ward, Birganj, Nepal

Breastfeeding is an ideal form of feeding to neonate. It is most precious gift a mother can give and is free of cost. It should be started as soon as possible after birth. Breast milk is a species-specific complete food. Human milk facilitates effortless digestion for infant and is well absorbed by the newborn. It helps in stimulating the production of breast milk, protect against infection and facilitate mother infant bonding and promotes better brain growth. For mothers breastfeeding helps in involution of uterus, delays pregnancy and lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Every year around 57,000 children below 5 years of age lose their lives, among which 54 percent die within the first month of life. The data stated that 22 percent of newborn death can be prevented through breastfeeding within 1st hour of birth. Mother play a very important roles in reducing neonatal mortality and neonatal morbidity rate by their knowledge and practice while feeding their baby. Method: Descriptive correlation study design was conducted in the month of August 2021 National Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Birganj, Nepal. Sample size was 50 primi para mothers. Purposive sampling techniques was used to select the sample. Semi structure interview schedule and observation checklist was prepared according to objectives which comprised questions related to demographic variables, Knowledge to assess breastfeeding and observational checklist to assess practice Data was collected by administering this structured questionnaire to the primipara mothers. Result: In the study 31 (62.0%) had adequate, 19 (38.0%) had moderate and none of them had inadequate knowledge regarding breastfeeding. 23 (46.0 had good, 27 (54.0%) had satisfactory and none of them had poor practice on breastfeeding. The results show that there was moderate degree positive correlation between knowledge and practice. Key words: Knowledge, practice, breastfeeding and primipara mothers.

J-shape relation of blood pressure reduction and outcome in acute intracerebral hemorrhage: A pooled analysis of INTERACT2 and ATACH-II individual participant data

Objective: The aim of this study was to better define the shape of association between the degree (“magnitude”) of early (< 1 h) reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and outcomes in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) through pooled analysis of the second Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT2) and second Antihypertensive Treatment of Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage (ATACH-II) datasets. Methods: Association of the continuous magnitude of SBP reduction described using cubic splines and an ordinal measure of the functional outcome on the modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores at 90 days were analyzed in generalized linear mixed models. Models were adjusted for achieved (mean) and variability (standard deviation, SD) of SBP between 1 and 24 h, various baseline covariates, and trial as a random effect. Results: Among 3796 patients (mean age 63.1 (SD = 13.0) years; female 37.4%), with a mean magnitude (< 1 h) of SBP reduction of 28.5 (22.8) mmHg, those with larger magnitude were more often non-Asian and female, had higher baseline SBP, received multiple blood pressure (BP) lowering agents, and achieved lower SBP levels in 1–24 h. Compared to those patients with no SBP reduction within 1 h (reference), the adjusted odds of unfavorable functional outcome, according to a shift in mRS scores, were lower for SBP reductions up to 60 mmHg with an inflection point between 32 and 46 mmHg, but significantly higher for SBP reductions > 70 mmHg. Similar J-shape associations were evident across various time epochs across 24 h and consistent according to baseline hematoma volume and SBP and history of hypertension. Interpretation: A moderate degree of rapid SBP lowering is associated with improved functional outcome after ICH, but large SBP reductions over 1 h (e.g. from > 200 to target < 140 mmHg) were associated with reduction, or reversal, of any such benefit.

Assessing the consequences of including aerosol absorption in potential Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Climate Intervention Strategies

Theoretical Stratospheric Aerosol Intervention (SAI) strategies model the deliberate injection of aerosols or their precursors into the stratosphere thereby reflecting incident sunlight back to space and counterbalancing a fraction of the warming due to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases. This cooling mechanism is known to be relatively robust through analogues from explosive volcanic eruptions which have been documented to cool the climate of the Earth. However, a practical difficulty of SAI strategies is how to deliver the injection high enough to ensure dispersal of the aerosol within the stratosphere on a global scale. Recently, it has been suggested that including a small amount of absorbing material in a dedicated 10-day intensive deployment might enable aerosols or precursor gases to be injected at significantly lower, more technologically-feasible altitudes. The material then absorbs sunlight causing a localised heating and ‘lofting’ of the particles, enabling them to penetrate into the stratosphere. Such self-lofting has recently been observed following the intensive wildfires in 2019–2020 in south east Australia, where the resulting absorbing aerosol penetrated into the stratosphere and was monitored by satellite instrumentation for many months subsequent to emission. This study uses the fully coupled UKESM1 climate model simulations performed for the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP) and new simulations where the aerosol optical properties have been adjusted to include a moderate degree of absorption. The results indicate that partially absorbing aerosols i) reduce the cooling efficiency per unit mass of aerosol injected, ii) increase deficits in global precipitation iii) delay the recovery of the stratospheric ozone hole, iv) disrupt the Quasi Biennial Oscillation when global mean temperatures are reduced by as little as 0.1 K, v) enhance the positive phase of the wintertime North Atlantic Oscillation which is associated with floods in Northern Europe and droughts in Southern Europe. While these results are dependent upon the exact details of the injection strategies and our simulations use ten times the ratio of black carbon to sulfate that is considered in the recent intensive deployment studies, they demonstrate some of the potential pitfalls of injecting an absorbing aerosol into the stratosphere to combat the global warming problem.

Effect of Trastuzumab–HER2 Complex Formation on Stress-Induced Modifications in the CDRs of Trastuzumab

Asparagine deamidation and aspartic acid isomerization in the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of monoclonal antibodies may alter their affinity to the target antigen. Trastuzumab has two hot spots for deamidation and one position for isomerization in the CDRs. Little is known how complex formation with its target antigen HER2 affects these modifications. Modifications in the CDRs of trastuzumab were thus compared between the free antibody and the trastuzumab–HER2 complex when stressed under physiological conditions at 37°C. Complex formation and stability of the complex upon stressing were assessed by size-exclusion chromatography. Deamidation of light-chain Asn-30 (Lc-Asn-30) was extensive when trastuzumab was stressed free but reduced about 10-fold when the antibody was stressed in complex with HER2. Almost no deamidation of heavy-chain (Hc-Asn-55) was detected in the trastuzumab–HER2 complex, while deamidation was observed when the antibody was stressed alone. Hc-Asp-102 isomerization, a modification that critically affects biological activity, was observed to a moderate degree when the free antibody was stressed but was not detected at all in the trastuzumab–HER2 complex. This shows that complex formation has a major influence on critical modifications in the CDRs of trastuzumab.

Features of formation somatic pathologies under chronic exposure to hydrofluoride in the manufacture of titanic alloys

Introduction. Most studies on the morbidity of workers with fluorine compounds are devoted to occupational medicine at aluminium industry enterprises. The aim of the study is to identify the exposure, gender and evolutionary features of the formation of general somatic morbidity associated with chronic occupational exposure to hydrofluoride in the production of titanium alloys. Materials and methods. The analysis of the prevalence of chronic pathology according to the medical examination of 562 workers in contact with hydrofluoride and the incidence of temporary disability according to 29949 disability sheets in comparison with non-exposed persons of the same enterprise is given. Results. With an increase in the degree of harmfulness of working conditions, there was an augmentation increase in the risk of developing pathology of the respiratory organs, eyes, musculoskeletal system, arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. In the working conditions of Class 3.1, an increased prevalence of diseases of the nervous and genitourinary systems with a moderate degree of occupational conditionality was revealed (relative risks (RR) 1.6 and 2.0, respectively, р < 0.05), class 3.2 - a high degree of professional conditionality of respiratory diseases (RR = 2.8). When working in harmful working conditions, there was an average degree of occupational conditionality of nervous system diseases in women (RR = 1.9) and a small degree of arterial hypertension in men (RR = 1.2). The prevalence of general somatic pathology in all age groups was higher than in non-exposed persons of the same age. Conclusion. Hydrofluoride in the production of titanium alloys was proved to be a trigger contributing to the formation of the pathology of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, ear, eyes, skin, blood, musculoskeletal, nervous, endocrine, and genitourinary systems.

Irrational Thoughts and Their Relationship to Emotional Stability for The Elderly in Jericho Governorate: الأفكار اللاعقلانية وعلاقتها بالاتزان الانفعالي لدى المسنين في محافظة أريحا

The aim of this study was to determine the level of irrational thoughts and emotional stability among the elderly in Governorate of Jericho, as well as the relationship between them based on gender, economic level, accommodation type, and educational level. The descriptive-analytical approach, the irrational thoughts scale, and the emotional stability scale were employed to achieve these objectives. The sample included (300) elderly people, males and females, who were chosen randomly from the elderly attending the social development centers and Grandparents’ House in Jericho. Cronbach Alpha, Pearson Correlation coefficient, t- test, one-way ANOVA were calculated using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results of this study revealed that the elderly in Jericho Governorate have a moderate degree of both irrational thoughts and of emotional stability. The results also demonstrated an inverse statistically significant relationship between irrational thoughts and emotional stability among the elderly. The results also showed no differences in the level of irrational thoughts among the elderly in the Jericho governorate due to the variables of gender or economic level. It was found that there were differences in the level of irrational thoughts due to accommodation type and educational level. The results showed that there were no differences in the level of emotional stability among the elderly based on gender, economic level, or accommodation type, while there are statistically significant differences in the level of emotional stability attributed to the educational level.