The Toxicity of Polyester Fibers in Xenopuslaevis

Microplastics are practically ubiquitous and pose a serious survival challenge for many species. Most of the exposure experiments for determining the toxicological effects of microplastics were performed with a microplastic varying little in shape and size (often purchased microplastic beads), but few studies deal with non-homogeneous samples. We analyzed the effect on Xenopuslaevis larva on the early development of polyester fibers, PEFs, taken from a dryer machine in which 100% polyester fabrics were dried after washing. Three concentrations were tested. The results showed that the gastrointestinal tract, GIT, was the most affected system by PEFs which modified the normal shape of the intestine with an EC50 96 h value of 6.3 µg mL−1. Fibers were observed to press against the digestive epithelium, deforming the normal architecture of the gut, sometimes pushing deep into the epithelium until piercing it. Physical GIT occlusion was observed in a concentration-dependent manner. However, no other damages were registered. No mortality was observed, but PEF-exposed larvae showed a significant reduction in their mobility. The results of the present paper suggest that environmental samples with their heterogeneity may have adverse effects on X. laevis development.

Management of the Two Dental Developmental Anomalies in Two Maxillary Incisors for Improved Esthetic Appearance: A Case Report

Introduction: The presence of a developmental dental anomaly in maxillary incisors usually affects esthetic appearance. Therefore, gemination and supernumerary teeth are considered anomalies and need a careful and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Case Description: This clinical report presents a 10-year-old girl complaining of the esthetic appearance of her anterior maxillary teeth. Clinical and radiographical examinations revealed a maxillary geminated permanent left central incisor and a supplemental supernumerary permanent right lateral incisor. The treatment has been performed in different stages, including preventive, conservative, surgical, and orthodontic treatments. Thus, the large geminated incisor has been restored to its normal shape, and the problem of anterior incisor crowding resolved through alignment. Conclusion: Dental anomalies in the anterior segment are common and need time during treatment. Selective grinding for the large geminated incisor and the extraction of the supplemental tooth followed by orthodontic treatment may be the right decisions that a dental practitioner may consider during the management of such cases.

Overview of Subaxial Cervical Spine Fractures and Dislocations

Injuries of the subaxial cervical spine are among the most common and potentially most devastating injuries involving the axial skeleton. The lower cervical spine can suffer minor bony or ligamentous injury that nevertheless results in severe neurologic injury. Plain radiography, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are all part of the standard imaging regimen. The delayed timing of dislocation reduction and cost-effectiveness are two issues with routine use of MRI in the diagnosis of cervical facet dislocations. Serval treatment options and approaches can be used. However Orthopedic treatment can be used to reduce the fracture or dislocation returns the vertebral canal to its normal shape and dimensions and decompresses the spinal cord. Immediate treatment should be started if there are signs of spinal cord injury or any factor that could lead to such injuries. In this review we will be looking at epidemiology, causes, evaluation and treatment of such cases.

Study on the application of King’s combined uterine suture for hemostasis during cesarean section

Introduction Postpartum hemorrhage is a serious complication of childbirth and is still the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Lower uterine segment hemorrhage during cesarean section is an important cause of postpartum hemorrhage. Our objective is to expore the efficacy and safety of King’s combined uterine suture for hemostasis during cesarean section. Methods We examined 48 cases: 16 cases of pernicious placenta previa (including one case of twins), 11 cases of central placenta previa (including one case of twins), 18 cases of uterine scarring (including two cases of twins), as well as one case of twin pregnancy, two cases of breech presentation, and one case of pulmonary hypertension. The “King’s combined uterine suture” method for hemostasis was used in patients with lower uterine segment hemorrhage during cesarean section. Results The results showed that all patients had successful hemostasis during surgery, and there were no cases of hysterectomy. Conclusion We have concluded that King’s combined uterine suture is a fast and safe hemostasis method for cesarean section that can effectively reduce blood loss and restore the normal shape of the lower uterine segment. Furthermore, this suture method can reduce postpartum hemorrhage and hysterectomy rate, as well as improve maternal prognosis.

Nonsurgical Correction of Cryptotia in Newborn: A Case Report

Objective: To report on the result of nonsurgical correction of deformational auricular anomaly (cryptotia) using moulded silicone as a splint. Methods: Congenital auricular anomalies can be categorized as either malformed or deformational. Cryptotia as a deformational anomaly is defined as an ear having normal chondrocutaneous components with an abnormal architecture; therefore, it can be manipulated digitally into normal shape. Auricular deformation commonly affect the helix and antehelix. Since neonatal auricle is extremely pliable, we used early splinting to correct deformational ear anomalies. These splints are made from silicone, moulded into a small bar and held in place with the Steri-Strips™. The type of the auricular anomaly was documented both clinically and photographically before and two months after the cessation of treatment. Assessment of the result was made by comparing the pre- and post-treatment photograph. Result: In this case report, we applied this method to two newborn with cryptotia and the correction was achieved completely in two months after application of the silicone bar. The parents felt that auricular splinting is worthwhile. Conclusion: Deformational congenital auricular anomaly can be corrected nonsurgically using splinting therapy. The treatment is effective if initiated in the first three months of life. Patients and parents persistence is essential to reach satisfactory outcome. Adherence to treatmenr is crucial to negate the need for surgical treatment of congenital auricular anomalies.

Key Signaling Pathways Regulate the Development and Survival of Auditory Hair Cells

The loss of auditory sensory hair cells (HCs) is the most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). As the main sound transmission structure in the cochlea, it is necessary to maintain the normal shape and survival of HCs. In this review, we described and summarized the signaling pathways that regulate the development and survival of auditory HCs in SNHL. The role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphoinositide-3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), Notch/Wnt/Atoh1, calcium channels, and oxidative stress/reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathways are the most relevant. The molecular interactions of these signaling pathways play an important role in the survival of HCs, which may provide a theoretical basis and possible therapeutic interventions for the treatment of hearing loss.

Mechanical properties of large-scale composite structures according to process conditions

The purpose of this study is to determine the correct estimation of the concept design and laminating pattern for composites. In this study, the effect of carbon tow prepreg on the composite structure has been investigated. Also, this work evaluated the structural safety according to the laminating pattern and process technique by computer simulation. The laminating pattern of three kinds was designed through the normal shape. Also, process technique of two kinds were carried out in dry and wet method to produce composites structure. The result of FEA showed that the structural safety of carbon tow prepreg is not significantly superior to that of the structure with wet method material. However, considering the benefits of working environment and the reduction of the number of process, the possibility of replacing materials and process technique will be sufficient for composite structure.

A Nonparametric Procedure to Assess the Accuracy of the Normality Assumption for Annual Rainfall Totals, Based on the Marginal Statistics of Daily Rainfall: An Application to the NOAA/NCDC Rainfall Database

We develop a nonparametric procedure to assess the accuracy of the normality assumption for annual rainfall totals (ART), based on the marginal statistics of daily rainfall. The procedure is addressed to practitioners and hydrologists that operate in data-poor regions. To do so we use 1) goodness-of-fit metrics to conclude on the approximate convergence of the empirical distribution of annual rainfall totals to a normal shape and classify 3007 daily rainfall time series from the NOAA/NCDC Global Historical Climatology Network database, with at least 30 years of recordings, into Gaussian (G) and non-Gaussian (NG) groups; 2) logistic regression analysis to identify the statistics of daily rainfall that are most descriptive of the G/NG classification; and 3) a random-search algorithm to conclude on a set of constraints that allows classification of ART samples on the basis of the marginal statistics of daily rain rates. The analysis shows that the Anderson–Darling (AD) test statistic is the most conservative one in determining approximate Gaussianity of ART samples (followed by Cramer–Von Mises and Lilliefors’s version of Kolmogorov–Smirnov) and that daily rainfall time series with fraction of wet days fwd < 0.1 and daily skewness coefficient of positive rain rates skwd > 5.92 deviate significantly from the normal shape. In addition, we find that continental climate (type D) exhibits the highest fraction of Gaussian distributed ART samples (i.e., 74.45%; AD test at α = 5% significance level), followed by warm temperate (type C; 72.80%), equatorial (type A; 68.83%), polar (type E; 62.96%), and arid (type B; 60.29%) climates.

Ameliorative Effect of Turmeric and Cocoa Extract against Acute Second hand Exposure of Tobacco Smoking on Hepatocytes and Enterocytes in Albino Rats: Ultra structural Study

Background and aims: Smoking posse’s serious health problems because there is no specific substance alleviate its toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effective plant extract containing antioxidants(turmeric and cocoa), that may reduce the cytotoxicity induced by secondhand exposure of cigarettes and waterpipe smoking. Material and Methods: Seventy-two adult male albino rats were equally divided into 9 group (n=8 per group). Extracts were delivered to each group intraperitoneal, and the exposure to cigarette and waterpipe smoking was performed using a smoking machine for a period of 30 days. After the exposure period, tissues of interest (liver and small intestine) were removed and processed for transmission electron microscopy. Results: Oral treatment of turmeric and cocoa extract with smoking exposure showed less vacuolization and better cellular architecture with regular nuclear envelope of hepatocytes, reduce or absence of blebbing, retain the normal shape and size of mitochondria, increase the proportion of euchromatic chromatin in nuclei,but turmeric extract showed better enhancement in term of reducing vacuolization. turmeric or cocoa crude extract preserve the typical length of microvilli with a uniform organization from the apical part of enterocytes and decreased vacuolization in the cytosol of enterocytes. However, mitochondria appeared less polymorphic in shapes with distinct cristae and matrix in enterocytes of the turmeric treated group than the cocoa once. Conclusion: Tobacco smoking-induced adverse effects on hepatocytes and enterocytes, this study showed that treatment with turmeric and cocoa attenuatethe toxicity of tobacco smoking.

Odontogenesis-associated phosphoprotein truncation blocks ameloblast transition into maturation in OdaphC41*/C41* mice

Mutations of Odontogenesis-Associated Phosphoprotein (ODAPH, OMIM *614829) cause autosomal recessive amelogenesis imperfecta, however, the function of ODAPH during amelogenesis is unknown. Here we characterized normal Odaph expression by in situ hybridization, generated Odaph truncation mice using CRISPR/Cas9 to replace the TGC codon encoding Cys41 into a TGA translation termination codon, and characterized and compared molar and incisor tooth formation in Odaph+/+, Odaph+/C41*, and OdaphC41*/C41* mice. We also searched genomes to determine when Odaph first appeared phylogenetically. We determined that tooth development in Odaph+/+ and Odaph+/C41* mice was indistinguishable in all respects, so the condition in mice is inherited in a recessive pattern, as it is in humans. Odaph is specifically expressed by ameloblasts starting with the onset of post-secretory transition and continues until mid-maturation. Based upon histological and ultrastructural analyses, we determined that the secretory stage of amelogenesis is not affected in OdaphC41*/C41* mice. The enamel layer achieves a normal shape and contour, normal thickness, and normal rod decussation. The fundamental problem in OdaphC41*/C41* mice starts during post-secretory transition, which fails to generate maturation stage ameloblasts. At the onset of what should be enamel maturation, a cyst forms that separates flattened ameloblasts from the enamel surface. The maturation stage fails completely.