Efficacy of Serial Ultrasonographic Examinations in Predicting Return to Play in Agility Dogs with Shoulder Lameness

The aim of this study is to investigate the use of shoulder ultrasound as a method of predicting the likelihood of returning to competition in agility dogs with shoulder teno-muscular injuries after a standardised rehabilitation protocol. Thirty-two agility dogs with a clinical and ultrasonographic diagnosis of shoulder teno-muscular injury were included in a prospective study with physical and ultrasound examinations at the time of diagnosis (T0) and at two (T2), four (T4) and six (T6) months; during this period, the dogs received rehabilitation treatments. The endpoint of the study was to obtain information regarding participation in agility competitions 12 months after diagnosis, based on telephone interviews with the owners. The clinical lameness score (CLS) and the ultrasound lesion score (ULS) were used as outcome measurements. The CLS indicated partial recovery from a shoulder injury at T2 (78%), while the ULS indicated no satisfactory recovery at T2 in any patient. At 4 months, the CLS alone was not a valuable predictor of full recovery from a shoulder injury in agility dogs. Relative Risk indicated that, at T2, ultrasound was 23.8 times more valuable in identifying a shoulder lesion as compared to clinical lameness score (CLS), and it was 2.53 times more valuable at T4.

A Profoundly Touchy Approved Spectrofluorimetric Approach for Assurance of Ixabepilone as Anticancer Drug by Utilizing Its Quenching Impact on Acetoxymercuric Fluorescein Reagent

A dependable, sensitive, basic and cheap spectrofluorimetric approach has been created for test of sulfur-containing drug; ixabepilone in bulk powder, vials and human plasma. The approach depends on the quenching effect of ixabepilone on the fluorescence intensity of acetoxymercuric fluorescene (AMF) reagent at λem of 530 nm and λex of 500 nm. Parameters which will control the reaction such as pH, AMF solution concentration, temperature, time and solvents were examined and optimized. According to the optimized conditions, the proposed approach was practiced over the concentration area of 20-100 ng mL-1 with adequate linearity (r = 0.9998). The developed approach was approved confirming to ICH rules in terms of accuracy, precision, linearity, LOD and LOQ. The proposed approach was practiced to analyze ixabepilone in Ixempra® vials with satisfactory recovery % of 99.89 and RSE% of 1.24. The results achieved were compared to those achieved by an already reported HPLC approach.

The Urban Double-Crop: Can Fall Vegetables and a Warm-Season Lawn Co-Exist?

A gardening methodology using double-cropped cool-season vegetables and warm-season turfgrass, thereby capitalizing on the ideal growing season for each, was developed in field trials and tested in volunteers’ landscapes. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea’), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), and Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. Cicla) were planted into an established hybrid bermudagrass lawn (Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy ‘Tifsport’) in September. The vegetables were planted into tilled strips, 5 cm × 10 cm holes and 10 cm × 10 cm holes in the turf. All treatments produced harvestable yield, though the yield of vegetables planted in the tilled treatments and larger holes was greater than in smaller holes. Efforts to reduce turfgrass competition with vegetables by the application of glyphosate or the use of the Veggie Lawn Pod (an easily installed plastic cover on the lawn) did not increase yield. Tilled treatments left depressions that discouraged spring turfgrass recovery. The double-crop was tested by seven volunteers on their lawns. Though lawn-planted vegetables did not produce as much yield as those planted in the volunteers’ gardens, the volunteers were enthusiastic about this methodology. The volunteers reported that lawn vegetables were more difficult to plant but not more difficult to maintain, and they were easier to harvest than vegetables in their gardens. All volunteers reported satisfactory recovery of their lawns in the spring.

A Case Report of Steroid-Resistant Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia Managed with Intravenous Immunoglobulins

Fewer than ten reported cases of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) have been managed with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg). We report a case of a 72-year-old man who presented with a worsening cough and diffuse opacities on chest radiograph. Following no improvement with antibiotics and negative complementary investigations for infectious, malignant, and autoimmune etiologies, COP was confirmed on lung biopsy. Due to continued clinical deterioration despite high-dose steroids and new severe steroid-induced hallucinations, the patient was placed on intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) and mycophenolate mofetil and made a satisfactory recovery. IVIg should be considered as an important steroid-sparing alternative in patients with COP.

ESTIMATION OF TADALAFIL IN HUMAN PLASMA BY SPECTROFLUOROPHOTOMETRY

A new, specific, selective, simple, rapid and inexpensive spectrofluorophotometric method has been developed for the determination of tadalafil in spiked human plasma. The fluorescence spectrum of tadalafil in 0.1M methanolic sulphuric acid showed excitation wavelength at 315 nm and emission wave-length at 332 nm. The method for tadalafil was found to be linear over the concentration range of 10-50 ng/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9991. Limit of detection and limit of quantification were found to be 0.235 ng/mL and 0.701 ng/mL, respectively. The method was validated and found to be suitable for the estimation of tadalafil from human plasma. Satisfactory recovery of tadalafil from the human plasma suggests no interference of any debris present into human plasma. This method can be used to deter-mine plasma tadalafil concentration in drug monitoring or pharmacokinetic investigation.

Study of Histamine Detection using Liquid Chromatography and Gas Chromatography

Histamine is a heterocyclic amine shaped by decarboxylation of the histidine. It is a compound that lack chromophore and involatile. However, the detection of histamine is imperative due to the characteristic of histamine has given several disadvantages in food industry. This paper describes methods for histamine detection by employing high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. The derivatization techniques required for both methods in order to increase the sensitivity of chromatography analysis. Two derivatizing agents were applied in this study such as 9-flourenilmethyl chloroformate (FMOC – Cl) for HPLC analysis whereas for GC analysis a N,O-bis (trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA) was used. Method validation was in accordance to Commission Decision 657/2002/CE. The validation of specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, detection limit and quantitation limit results indicate that the methods were acceptable. The linear range for both methods were at 0.16 – 5.00 µg∙mL-1. The determination of histamine using GC showed the superiority of this instrument compared to HPLC. Method applicability was also checked on real sample namely mackerel in order to acquire a satisfactory recovery for both methods.

Laparoscopic approach for intermittent hydronephrosis caused by primary ureteral fibroepithelial polyps in children

ObjectiveTo summarize the diagnosis and treatment experience of children with intermittent hydronephrosis caused by ureteral fibroepithelial polyp (UFP).MethodsFrom 2017 to 2020, cases of hydronephrosis caused by ureteral polyp in Anhui Provincial Children’s Hospital were retrospectively enrolled for investigation. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, operation details, pathology and outcomes were collected from patients’ medical data for analysis.ResultsAll seven cases of UFP were boys, including six cases on the left side of the ureter and one case on the right side, at the median age of 7.1 years (3–14 years), with abdominal intermittent pain as the first symptom. All cases underwent laparoscopic pyeloureteroplasty. All the operations were completed successfully; postoperative pathology indicated the presence of primary UFP. Postoperative follow-ups of 1–30 months showed satisfactory recovery and relief from hydronephrosis.ConclusionsLaparoscopic pyeloureteroplasty or ureteroureterostomy is one of the optimal treatments for ureteral polyp at present. The surgical method should be determined according to the number of polyps, the length and the diameter of the affected ureter, and also the status of renal function of the patients.

Adsorption and desorption of Hg(II) from aqueous solution using magnetic Fe3O4@PPy composite microspheres

Functional magnetic Fe3O4@PPy microspheres were prepared and characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and magnetometer, and the adsorption of Hg(II) onto Fe3O4@PPy was investigated. The results showed that the adsorption of Hg(II) onto Fe3O4@PPy dramatically increases within 5 min and reaches adsorption equilibrium at 200 min. The adsorption of Hg(II) increases with pH increased, and a removal efficiency (RE) of 90.5% was obtained at pH 7.2. The isotherm studies revealed that the adsorption of Hg(II) onto the Fe3O4@PPy fits well with the Langmuir isotherm model, and the calculated qm value of 232.56 mg/g. The adsorption process of Hg(II) onto the Fe3O4@PPy is well-fitted by the pseudo-second-order model with a high correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.999. The thermodynamic coefficients (ΔH°, ΔS°, and ΔG°) were calculated from the temperature-dependent adsorption isotherms and illustrated that the adsorption of Hg(II) on the Fe3O4@PPy was spontaneous and endothermic. Different desorption agents were used to recover Hg(II) adsorbed onto Fe3O4@PPy, and a satisfactory recovery percentage of 93.0% was obtained by using 0.1 M HCl and 0.05 M NaCl.

Acute Hepatitis in Pregnancy: A Case Report

Introduction: Several changes occur in women’s body during pregnancy, as well as several pathologies can arise at this period, such as hepatitis. It is very important to have the correct diagnosis and proper treatment for pregnant women because liver diseases can increase maternal and/or fetal morbidity and mortality rates. Case Report: Patient in the age group 32 years, G2P0A1, thrombophilic, using ASA, enoxaparin, folate, and B-complex, reported jaundice, low fever, and pruritus in the 32nd week of pregnancy. Laboratory exams showed high levels of direct hyperbilirubinemia and aminotransferases, with negative serology results for the most common viruses and autoimmunity markers. Hypervitaminosis B12 was an additional finding; it was canceled. The patient had a satisfactory recovery after support treatment. Discussion: Hepatitis has several etiologies; it is caused by infections, medications, or triggered by the immune system. The main infectious agents causing hepatitis A, B, C, and E; Dengue, Zika, HTLV, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, rubella, and brucellosis were screened in the reported case – the patient was negative for all of them. Other possible diagnoses, such as acute liver steatosis of pregnancy, portal thrombosis, and autoimmune hepatitis were excluded. Hepatitis caused by medicines was not confirmed because clinical and laboratory exams showed improvement in the patient’s clinical condition even with ASA and enoxaparin administration. The patient had high vitamin B12 level, which can be a liver damage marker. Transaminases and bilirubin showed a progressive decrease after the treatment; both patient and newborn had a satisfactory recovery. The reported condition was caused by a combination of factors, such as pregnancy hormone levels, unidentified infection, and possible predisposition to develop the disease. The patient remains under hematological and hepatological follow up, but there is no record of relapse, so far.