The Mini-Cross Prefenestration for Endovascular Repair of Aortic Arch Pathologies

Objective: To examine the feasibility, integrity, efficacy, and safety of endovascular repair of the aortic arch pathologies with the mini-cross prefenestration (MCPF) on stent grafts.Methods: First, to prove the feasibility of the MCPF, an in-vitro prefenestration experiment was conducted. Second, to examine the integrity of the MCPF stent grafts, a fatigue test was conducted. Then, the membranes and metal structures of stent grafts were examined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Third, a clinical experiment was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of this novel technique (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04544579).Results: All the 12 branch stents were successfully implanted and flared in vitro. After the fatigue test stimulating a 5-year cardiac cycle, no obvious disintegration or fracture was found in light microscopy or SEM. From December 2017 to February 2020, 26 patients with left subclavian arteries and/or left common carotid arteries involved received the novel technique. The endovascular repair with the MCPF was successfully performed on all the 26 (100%) patients. Eighteen (69.2%) patients underwent the reconstruction of the left subclavian artery (LSCA) only. The fenestrations of both the LSCA and left common carotid artery (LCCA) were conducted in 8 (30.8%) patients. Median operative time was 120 [interquartile range (IQR), 95–137.5] min and median revascularization time of the LSCA and LCCA was 30.5 (IQR, 22.8–42.0) s and 20.0 (IQR, 18.0–32.0) s separately. During the median follow-up duration of 38.9 (range, 18.8–44.2) months, one case needed an open surgery because of retrograde type A aortic dissection 3 months after implantation and no other complications or mortality occurred. The maximum aortic diameters were significantly decreased in patients with thoracic aortic dissection and thoracic aortic aneurysm (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The existing evidence demonstrated the safety, rapid branch artery revascularization, and positive aortic remodeling of the novel technique. Long-term observation is warranted to prove the durability.

FREQUENCE OF JUXTAGLOMERULAR GRANULATED CELIS IN DEHYDRATED AND SODIUM-LOADED MICE

Fifteen albino mice were subjected to three days dehydration and fifteen albino mice were given 1% NaCl in their drinking water. Control animals were given drinking water All animals were sacrificed and kidneys were fixed in different fixatives and processed for light microscopy Section were stained for juxtaglomerular cells demonstration and the juxtaglomerular index (GI) and percentage of granulated nephron(%GN) were calculated. Kidneys from dehydrated and sodium-loaded animals showed significant decrease in both JGI and % GN and was discussed in relation to renin secretion and release.

Evaluating performance of multiplex real time PCR for the diagnosis of malaria at elimination targeted low transmission settings of Ethiopia

Background Malaria incidence has declined in Ethiopia in the past 10 years. Current malaria diagnostic tests, including light microscopy and rapid antigen-detecting diagnostic tests (RDTs) cannot reliably detect low-density infections. Studies have shown that nucleic acid amplification tests are highly sensitive and specific in detecting malaria infection. This study took place with the aim of evaluating the performance of multiplex real time PCR for the diagnosis of malaria using patient samples collected from health facilities located at malaria elimination targeted low transmission settings in Ethiopia. Methods A health facility-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in selected malaria sentinel sites. Malaria-suspected febrile outpatients referred to laboratory for malaria testing between December 2019 and March 2020 was enrolled into this study. Sociodemographic information and capillary blood samples were collected from the study participants and tested at spot with RDTs. Additionally, five circles of dry blood spot (DBS) samples on Whatman filter paper and thick and thin smear were prepared for molecular testing and microscopic examination, respectively. Multiplex real time PCR assay was performed at Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) malaria laboratory. The performance of multiplex real time PCR assay, microscopy and RDT for the diagnosis of malaria was compared and evaluated against each other. Results Out of 271 blood samples, multiplex real time PCR identified 69 malaria cases as Plasmodium falciparum infection, 16 as Plasmodium vivax and 3 as mixed infections. Of the total samples, light microscopy detected 33 as P. falciparum, 18 as P. vivax, and RDT detected 43 as P. falciparum, 17 as P. vivax, and one mixed infection. Using light microscopy as reference test, the sensitivity and specificity of multiplex real time PCR were 100% (95% CI (93–100)) and 83.2% (95% CI (77.6–87.9)), respectively. Using multiplex real time PCR as a reference, light microscopy and RDT had sensitivity of 58% (95% CI 46.9–68.4) and 67% (95% CI 56.2–76.7); and 100% (95% CI 98–100) and 98.9% (95% CI 96–99.9), respectively. Substantial level of agreement was reported between microscopy and multiplex real time PCR results with kappa value of 0.65. Conclusions Multiplex real-time PCR had an advanced performance in parasite detection and species identification on febrile patients’ samples than did microscopy and RDT in low malaria transmission settings. It is highly sensitive malaria diagnostic method that can be used in malaria elimination programme, particularly for community based epidemiological samples. Although microscopy and RDT had reduced performance when compared to multiplex real time PCR, still had an acceptable performance in diagnosis of malaria cases on patient samples at clinical facilities.

Morphology of pollen grains of Weigela floribunda (Caprifoliaceae): application in taxonomy

The aim of this research was to provide detailed quantitative and qualitative characteristics on pollen grains of Weigela floribunda (Siebold & Zucc.) K. Koch (Caprifoliaceae) as applied for taxonomy. Pollen morphology of W. floribunda was studied using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen grains are 3-porate, rarely 4-porate, suboblate to spheroidal (P/E=0.80–1.05); in equatorial view elliptic or circular, in polar view circular or subcircular; medium- or large-sized (P=42.56–61.18 µm, E=42.56–66.50 µm). Pores are circular with distinct or indistinct margins and distinct annuli. Exine sculpture is echinate-microechinate-nanoechinate. Pollen grains of W. flori- bunda were analyzed for the first time in the present study.

Pollen Morphological Investigations of Salvia L. In Southeastern of Turkey and Its Taxonomic Implication

In this study, the pollen morphology and exine structure of nine species of the genus Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) were investigated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Six micromorphological characters (pollen shape, polar length, equatorial width, exine and intine thickness, colpus length and colpus width) of pollen grains of Salvia have been identified. The palynological observations revealed that pollen grains of most studied taxa of Salvia were suboblate shape and possess hekzacolpate aperture. Tectal surface sculpture was a good criterion to identify particular taxa from Salvia. The pollen of which is characterized by reticulate, the pollen ornamentation was similar in all studied taxa. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 28(2): 395-403, 2021 (December)