Animal models of inflammatory bowel disease: novel experiments for revealing pathogenesis of colitis, fibrosis, and colitis-associated colon cancer

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a lifelong disease that manifests with chronic intestinal inflammation, sequential fibrosis, and an increased risk of colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC). The combined effects of genetic, immunological, environmental, and microbial factors render it difficult to determine the specific mechanism underlying the induction and perpetuation of IBD. Various animal models of IBD have contributed enormously to the understanding of IBD pathogenesis in terms of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, microbiome, and drug development of novel therapeutics. Although comprehensive research on IBD has been enabled by advanced technologies, such as genetically engineered models, there is a great need to develop relevant in vivo models of colitis and fibrosis. Here, we review 4 categories of animal models of acute and chronic intestinal inflammation, fibrosis, and CAC: chemically induced, genetically engineered, T cell transfer, and spontaneous gene mutation models.

Cardiovascular disease incidence and risk factor patterns among Omanis with type 2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease [CVD] represents the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM]. Its incidence and risk factor patterns vary widely across different diabetic populations. This study aims to assess the incidence and risk factor patterns of CVD events among Omanis with T2DM

Methods: A sample of 2 039 patients with T2DM from a primary care setting, who were free of CVD at beseline [2009-2010] were involved in a retrospective cohort study. Socio-demographic data and traditional risk factor assessments at the baseline were retrieved from medical records, after which the first CVD outcomes [coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease] were traced from the baseline to December 2015, with a median follow-up period of 5.6 years

Results: The overall cumulative incidence of CVD was 9.4% with an incidence density of 17.6 per 1000 person-years. Prevalence of poor glycemic control, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, albuminuria, and current smoking were 40.0%, 56.3%, 39.0%, 77.3%, 18.7%, and 7.8%, respectively. The univariate survival analysis showed a significant association between CVD and the following factors: age, diabetes duration, body mass index, glycemic control, hypertension, total serum cholesterol, and albuminuria

Conclusions: This study revealed high incidence of CVD and high prevalence of its traditional risk factors among Omanis with T2DM. In addition, compared to global studies, important differences in the prevalence of some risk factors and their patterns in the univariate association with the cardiovascular outcome have been observed

Noninvasive Estimation of PCWP with Doppler Transmitral Flow Velocity Pattern in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure is an important clinical marker of cardiac function. Recent studies have demonstrated Doppler transmitral flow velocity pattern could be useful in assessing PCWP no invasively in patient with known heart disease. Objective: The aims of the study were to correlate the Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP) estimated by Doppler echocardiography with that obtained at cardiac catheterization and to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of Doppler echocardiographic data. Method: All patients underwent simultaneous cardiac catheterization and were studied by Doppler echocardiography. Mitral flow velocity variables & maximal left atrial volume (MLAV) were correlated with invasive PCWP by both single & multilinear regression analysis. Result: A statistically significant negative correlation of deceleration time (r=-0.483; p=0.001) and ejection fraction (r=-0.334; p=0.01) and a statistically significant positive correlation of peak E wave (r=0.345; p=0.01) and deceleration rate (r=0.651; p=0.001 were found with catheter derived PCWP. Multiple regression analysis was used to derive an equation for noninvasive estimation of PCWP. Equation. With 2-D Echo + Mitral flow variables: PCWP = 1.43 X DR + 1.32 X E/A – 0.024 X DT + .02 X MLAV + 9.2. Conclusion: The correlation coefficient between measured and estimated PCWP from the equation was (r=0.678). Data indicated that in patients with CAD the noninvasive assessment of transmitral flow velocity pattern by Doppler echocardiography could predict PCWP with a clinically meaningful degree of accuracy.

Short Term Outcome of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Preceded by Angina.

Background: It has been reported that acute myocardial infarction preceded by angina has favorable short term outcome. To validate this in our setting, this study was undertaken in National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases. Method: This is a prospective and observational study. 100 patients were evaluated for the short term outcomes of patients of AMI preceded by angina. Result : Observation showed that patients of AMI preceded by angina has less damage of the myocardium as evident by lower CK-MB values and better preservation of left ventricular function. It has also been shown that early complications like death, VT & VF, asystole, CHB, acute LVF, cardiogenic shock were significantly lower in patients of AMI preceded by angina than those without angina. Conclusion: It is observed that incidence of previous angina is an important independent predictor of outcome of the patients with myocardial infarction.

Correlation between microalbuminuria and angiographic severity of coronary artery disease.

Microalbuminuria has emerged as an important risk factor of considerable prognostic importance for cardiovascular events. Little is known about its impact on the angiographic profile among coronary artery disease patients. The primary aim of the study was to investigate the relationship of microalbuminuria and angiographic severity of coronary artery disease. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in NICVD, a tertiary-care cardiac center in Dhaka, Bangladesh. For this purpose, 72 patients aged 25 to 70 years, who underwent elective coronary angiogram were studied. Urinary albumin to creatinine ratio was used as a measure of microalbuminuria. Angiographic severity of coronary artery disease was measured by number of major vessels involved (vessel score), stenosis score, extent score and number of type B and C lesions. All parameters of angiographic severity were significantly higher in microalbuminuric patients. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient showed significant positive correlation between albumin to creatinine ratio and different parameters of angiographic severity. In multivariate logistic regression analysis odds ratio of having triple vessel coronary artery disease in microalbuminuric patients was 5.6 (95% CI, 1.4 - 22). Microalbuminuria was found to correlate positively and independently with angiographic severity of coronary artery disease.

C.S.F. rhinorrhea diagnosis and management

Cerebrospinal fluid [C.S.F] rhinorrhea has traditionally posed a difficult problem. The potential hazards include a meningitis rate of 40 percent. Most cases of primary spontaneous C.S.F rhinorrhea are associated with a localized defect in the skull base. This study presents a case of skull base defect [the roof of the sphenoid]. C.S.F rhinorrhea was diagnosed clinically and defect was confirmed by C.T. Endoscopic clousre of C.S.F. leak was done by using free graft of autogenous mucoperiosteum of the inferior turbinate. The second case of C.S.F rhinorrhea was postsurgical nasal polypectomy operation. This case presented with symptoms and signs of meningitis. C.T. showed a big defect in the cribriform plate. This patient was in immediate need for medical management for the complications of meningitis surgical anatomy of the sphenoid sinus and cribriform plate: The sphenoid sinus is the most posteriorly located of paranasal sinuses. The sphenoid sinus, which is rudimentary at birth, develops with pneumatization of the sphenoid body from front to back during childhood, Sellers and Devilliers [1981]. The pneumatization progresses rapidly between 5 and 7 years of age to complete by age of 20-25 years. Raymond et al., [1993] described 3 varieties of pneumatization, sellar type [86%], presellar type [11%] and conchal type [3%] in which the sinus is virtually absent and entirely filled by cancellous bone. The sinuses may be very asymmetric, may be more than on septum [Fig. 1] and often no communications exist between the sinus parts. The sinus may extend beyond the body of the sphenoid into the base of the sphenoid wing or pterygoid processes or even into the basiocciput. Superiorly the anterior part of the roof of the sinus lies behind the cribriform plate of the ethmoid in the anterior cranial fossa and is related to the Optic chiasma, olfactory bulb and the undersurface of the frontal lobe of the brain. The posterior part of the roof of the sinus is the pituitary fossa in which lies the pituitary gl and. On the other h and, the roof of the nose slopes downward as one proceed posteriorly. The anteriorly high fovea ethmoidalis lowers and flattens out posteriorly toward the phenoid and posteriorly is at the level of the cribriform plate. The anterior ethmoid artery may pierce the cribriform plate and even be intracranial as it travels medially toward the septum. Kainz and Strammberger [1990] stated that the bone at that point is ten times thinner than in other areas of the cribriform plate and thus can be easily violated during polypectomy. To protect the cribriform plate the middle turbinate acts as an important l and mark. In addition measuring the anatomy is important tool to help and avoid complications. The distance from nasal spine or nasal opening to the frontal recess is 6 cm, to the base of the skull is 7 cm and to the anterior wall of the sphenoid 7 cm.

Incidence of spontaneous echocontrast in left atrium in mitral stenosis detected by transoesophageal echo cardiography and related factors.

The incidence of left atrial (LA) spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and the clinical and echocardiographic variables related to it were prospectively evaluated in a series of 60 patients with mitral stenosis (MS) undergoing transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with a 5 MHz multiplane transducer. LA-SEC was found in 39 patients (65%) employing TEE. Statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between the presence of SEC and MS without mitral regurgitation (MR) (P < 0.05), MS with < or = MR grade II (P < 0.05), atrial fibrillation (P < 0.001) and increased left atrial dimension (P < 0.05). Age, sex, mitral valve area and ejection fraction did not show any positive association (P > 0.05). Thus, it is concluded that LA-SEC is a common finding observed in approximately 65% of MS patients undergoing TEE and associated with conditions favouring stasis of left atrial blood.

Chemical and biochemical studies on rapeseed oil [Giza 1, locally produced]

Physical and chemical characteristics of stored rapeseed oil [Giza 1, locally produced] were compared with the fresh oil. The oil was free form long chain fatty acids [> 18]. Due to storage there was highly significant increase in acid value and some of C 18 was converted into shorter fatty acids

Chemical and biochemical studies on rapeseed oil, 2-hepato-renal function as influenced by feeding rapeseed oil

Rapeseed oil was incorporated into standard diets and fed to weanling rats for 45 days. The animals grew normal and there was no sign of abnormality or toxicity. The nutritive value of rapeseed oil was enhanced when it was mixed with cottonseed oil [1:1]. The results showed no change in serum lipid pattern or liver function

Changes in rat metabolism after simultaneous inhalation of carbamate and of insecticides

Inhalation of the aerosol of the commercial formulation Baygon [public health insecticide] for a period of 4 weeks caused a marked reduction in the activities of hepatic ALP and aminotransferases due to increased permeability of these enzymes from liver cells. Continuous inhalation of Baygon and simultaneous inhalation of Baygon and Vapona raised the level of blood glucose and blood urea while the activity of erythrocytes AChE was markedly suppressed. The administration of the antidote atropine sulfate decreased the cholinergic effect of these insecticides. The fatty acid composition of rat liver by GLCindicated that the unsaturated fatty acids [C18:1 and C18:2] were markedly decreased while short chain fatty acids were markedly increased

Preparation and evaluation of the biological activity of some acetanilide derivatives

A number of acetanilide derivatives including 2-, 3-, 4- nitro and 4- chloroacetanilide were prepared by refluxing acetic anhydride in presence of glacial acetic acid and zinc with the corresponding aniline derivative. 4-chloro-chloroacetanilide and 3, 5-dinitroacetanilide were synthesized by direct chlorination or nitration of the corresponding anilide, respectively. The compounds were identified by elementary analysis and spectral studies. These compounds have been tested for their molluscicidal activities against fresh water snails [Australorbis glabratus] and some of them have been evaluated for their toxicities against albino rats. 4-chlorochloroacet-anilide was the most promising compound due to its potent molluscicidal activity and low mammalian toxicity

Comparative study of clinical examination, mammography and fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of breast tumours

The diagnostic acuracy of clinical examination, mammography and fine needle aspiration cytology was compared with definitive histological findings in 125 breast lumps. When suitable aspirates were obtained for cytological examination, the diagnostic acuracy of aspiration cytology was higher than clinical examination or mammography. A diagnostic acuracy of 100% was achieved when all three screening tests were in agreement. Cytology is useful in identifying malignancy when clinical findings suggest that the tumour is benign. The availability of acurati cytology has affected patient management in many ways. Mammography did not enhance the diagnostic acuracy of clinical examination and aspiration cytology in patients presenting with a breast lump and as a procedure with potential hazard, the benifit of routine mammography is questionable when an efficient cytological service is available