Determination of Physical-chemical Parameters in Bee Products: A Preliminary Investigation from Africa’s Most Renewed Bee Village in Tanzania

Aim: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the determination of physical-chemical parameters in bee products: a preliminary investigation from Africa’s most renewed bee village in Tanzania; specifically, the study presents preliminary findings of an inquiry that examined pesticide contamination in bee products from Kijiji cha Nyuki located in Tanzania. The study measured the levels of physical-chemical parameters in honey products harvested from the selected bee apiaries. Material and Methods: A mixed methods approach was adopted for this study and collected data both primary and secondary data were collected using physical observation and survey, interviews, and questionnaires, purposive and random sampling techniques were used in this study to select a total of 104 participants who was taken as a sample from universal populations. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Computer Programme version 25, where the statistics aspect was determined from the results obtained from both questionnaires and laboratory experiments. A preliminary investigation from Africa’s most renewed bee village in Tanzania; Collected samples were analyzed at TBS & SGS laboratories. Results: The results show all studied areas met honey quality assurance guidelines stipulated by the ministry of natural resources and tourism suggesting moisture content in honey should not exceed 21%. pH test showed honey sample from Egypt apiaries had higher pH of 4.3 and honey from Kijiji cha Nyuki had a low pH of 3.54 implying honey from the studied areas falls within the pH applicable range. Test of Hydroxylmethly furfural mg/kg discovered an average of 13.65 mg/kg in honey samples from 4 studied areas out of the 5, with 107.13 mg/kg of HMF in honey samples from Egypt. Suggesting that honey samples from the 4 study areas with exception of samples from Egypt met the TZS 851:2006 standards and national’s guidelines of 40mg/kg Hydroxylmethly furfural. Finally, the Test of total reducing sugar as inverted sugar % m/m, from five samples as per Tanzania Bureau of Statistics (TBS) laboratory results found a maximum of 68.91 % m/m and 64.4 % m/m minimum. The amount of physical-mechanical contaminations that were identified in honey from 4 areas with the exemption of samples from Egypt apiaries poses no risk to consumers. Contribution to Policy Implication: This study recommends interventions among farmers and beekeepers on the safe use of pesticides, good hygienic handling, and the storage practices. It has contributed to the understanding of how the regulations outlining the use of insecticides is being implemented, and the current economic condition of studied farms. This calls on policymakers to rethink ways of engaging the beekeepers, and to have an ongoing discussion with beekeepers and concerned stakeholders about a model that could be used to enhance pesticides regulation in Tanzania.

Evaluación de score de hueso trabecular (TBS) en pacientes menopáusicas con fracturas y sin ellas / Trabecular bone score evaluation in postmenopausal women with or without fractures

El score de hueso trabecular (TBS, Trabecular Bone Score) es una medición de la textura de los grises derivada de la evaluación del raquis por DXA y proporciona un índice de la microarquitectura ósea. Se ha demostrado que los valores bajos presentan capacidad para predecir fracturas. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar si existían diferencias entre los valores de TBS de pacientes con fracturas frente a no fracturadas. Materiales y métodos: se revisaron 159 historias clínicas de mujeres menopáusicas que consultaron para evaluación de su salud ósea. Se consideraron los antecedentes autorreferidos de fracturas (Fx), la DMO de raquis, cuello femoral y fémur total y TBS. Resultados: treinta pacientes (18,9%) presentaron fracturas y en ellas se observó menor TBS (con Fx: 1,295±83 vs. sin Fx: 1,366±84, p<0,0001), menor índice de masa corporal (IMC) (con Fx: 23,7±1,9 vs. sin Fx: 25,7±4,2, p=0,02), sin diferencias en la edad (p=0,39), ni en valores de DMO (L1-L4 p=0,11, cuello femoral p=0,20 y fémur total p= 0,12). Muchas de las fracturas ocurrieron en pacientes sin osteoporosis por DXA. Conclusiones: el TBS aumentaría la capacidad de DXA para identificar a mujeres argentinas en riesgo de padecer fracturas sin tener osteoporosis densitométrica. Este es el primer trabajo realizado en la Argentina con medición de TBS. (AU)

Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) is a measure of the grey scale derived from DXA lumbar image and provides information about microarchitecture. It has been shown that low TBS values can predict fractures. Our objective was to evaluate if there are any differences between the TBS values in patients with fractures vs. non-fractures. Materials and methods: We reviewed 159 medical records of menopausal women who consulted for evaluation of their bone health. Self-reported fractures (Fx), spine BMD, femoral neck and total femur and TBS were evaluated. Results: thirty patients (18.9%) presented fractures and they showed lower TBS (with Fx: 1,295±0,083 vs. without Fx: 1,366±0,084, p<0.0001), lower body mass index (BMI) (with Fx: 23.7±1.9 vs. without Fx 25.7±4.2, p=0.02), without differences in ages (p=0.39) or in BMD values (L1-L4 p=0.11, femoral neck p=0.20 and total femur p=0.12). Some fractures occurred in patients without osteoporosis, as determined by DXA. Conclusions: TBS would increase the ability of DXA to identify Argentine women at risk for fractures without densitometric osteoporosis. This is the first work done in Argentina with TBS measurement. (AU)

Trabecular bone score: perspectives of an imaging technology coming of age / Escore de osso trabecular: perspectivas de um método de imagem em aprimoramento

The trabecular bone score (TBS) is a new method to describe skeletal microarchitecture from the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) image of the lumbar spine. While TBS is not a direct physical measurement of trabecular microarchitecture, it correlates with micro-computed tomography (µCT) measures of bone volume fraction, connectivity density, trabecular number, and trabecular separation, and with vertebral mechanical behavior in ex vivo studies. In human subjects, TBS has been shown to be associated with trabecular microarchitecture and bone strength by high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT). Cross-sectional and prospective studies, involving a large number of subjects, have both shown that TBS is associated with vertebral, femoral neck, and other types of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. Data in men, while much less extensive, show similar findings. TBS is also associated with fragility fractures in subjects with secondary causes of osteoporosis, and preliminary data suggest that TBS might improve fracture prediction when incorporated in the fracture risk assessment system known as FRAX. In this article, we review recent advances that have helped to establish this new imaging technology.

TBS (do inglês, “trabecular bone score”) é um novo método que estima a microarquitetura óssea a partir de uma imagem de densitometria óssea (DXA) da coluna lombar. Apesar de o TBS não ser uma medida física direta da microarquitetura trabecular, ele correlaciona-se com o volume ósseo, densidade da conectividade trabecular, número de trabéculas e separação trabecular medidos por microtomografia computadorizada (µCT), e com medidas mecânicas da resistência óssea vertebral em estudos ex vivo. Estudos em humanos confirmaram que o TBS associa-se a microarquitetura trabecular e resistência óssea medidas por tomografia computadorizada quantitativa periférica de alta resolução (HRpQCT). Estudos transversais e prospectivos, envolvendo um grande número de indivíduos, mostraram que o TBS é associado com fratura vertebral, de colo de fêmur e com outros tipos de fraturas osteoporóticas em mulheres na pós-menopausa. Dados em homens, apesar de escassos, mostram resultados semelhantes. Além disso, o TBS foi associado a fraturas por fragilidade em indivíduos com diversas causas secundárias de osteoporose e, dados preliminares, sugerem que o uso do TBS pode melhorar a previsão de fratura quando incorporado ao sistema de avaliação de risco de fratura (FRAX). Este artigo faz uma revisão de avanços recentes que têm ajudado a estabelecer esse novo método de imagem.

Post mortem changes in relation to different types of clothing

Post mortem changes are important in estimating post mortem interval (PMI). This project’s aim was to study the effect of burial and type of clothing on rate of decomposition, which can contribute to estimating PMI for victims. 12 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) carcasses were separated into 3 groups: no clothing, light clothing and heavy clothing. Control subjects were placed on the ground surface while test subjects were buried at 30 cm depth graves. Soil samples prior and after decomposition were collected for soil pH and moisture analysis. Post mortem change was assessed using a Total Body Score system. The head, neck and limb regions were found to decay faster than the body trunk region. Mummifi cation occurred on body parts that were exposed directly to the atmosphere while adipocere formed on some buried subjects. Burial delayed decomposition due to lower insect activity and lower soil temperature. The soil layer also blocked the accessibility of majority of the arthropods, causing further delay in decomposition. Clothing enhanced decay for bodies on ground surface because it provided protection for maggots and retained moisture on tissues. However, clothing delayed decomposition in buried bodies because it physically separated the bodies from soil and arthropods. Higher sun exposure and repetitive exhumation showed acceleration of decomposition. The decomposition process increased soil pH and moisture percentage values. Soil pH initially increased until pH 8.0-8.4 followed by a slight decrease while soil moisture percentage changed inconsistently. Burial was signifi cant in affecting post mortem change, F(1,11)=12.991, p<0.05 while type of clothing was not signifi cant, F(2,9)=0.022, p=0.978 and combination of both type of clothing and burial factors were also not signifi cant, F(2,3)=0.429, p=0.686. For validation, an accuracy of 83.33% was achieved based on soil pH and soil moisture percentage analysis.

Changes in micro-TBS to pulp chamber dentin after the application of NaOCl & reversal effect by using sodium ascorbate / 대한치과보존학회지

Clinical suggestion for the limitation of application time of NaOCl solution is needed to avoid large reductions in resin-dentin bond strength. The aim of this study was to measure the change of micro-tensile bond strength after the various application time of 5.25% NaOCl solution to pulp chamber dentin in endodontic access cavity, and to evaluate the effect of 10% sodium ascorbate application for 10 min on bond strength after the treatment of 5.25% NaOCl solution. In this experiment, there were no statistical differences(p>0.05) in bond strengths between upper chamber dentin and lower chamber dentin. NaOCl-treated group for 20 min did not show any significant decrease(p>0.05) in bond strength than non-treated control group. In contrast to that, bond strengths of NaOCl-treated groups for 40 & 80 min were significantly lower(p<0.05) than that of non-treated control group. 10% sodium ascorbate retreated group for 10 min after 5.25% NaOCl application for 40 min to chamber dentin showed the recovery of bond strength significantly. However, the bond strength of sodium ascorbate retreated group after 5.25% NaOCl application for 80 min was still significantly lower(p<0.05) compared to the non-treated control group, which means the reductions in resin-dentin bond strength were not fully reversed. On the contrary, sodium ascorbate retreated group after 5.25% NaOCl application for 5 min showed significantly higher(p<0.05) bond strength compared to the control group, which demonstrates its superior recovery effect. In SEM exminations of specimens retreated with 10% sodium ascorbate after NaOCl application for 40 & 80 min showed that resin tags were formed clearly and densely, but weakly in density and homogeneity of individual resin tag compared to the control specimen.

Comparison between two cervical/vaginal cytologic methods for diagnosing the early cervical diseases / 重庆医科大学学报

Objective:To compare the positive rate and its coincidence with biopsy of HE staining-Pap's classification and Pap's staining-The Bethesda System(TBS).Methods:HE staining-Pap's classification were used to examine 4005 smears from January to June in 2001, while 2947 smears from April to August in 2002 were screened by Pap's staining-TBS. Meanwhile the abnormal cases were finally diagnosed by histopathology.Results:The positive rate of Pap's staining-TBS (5.29%) were significantly higher than that of traditional Pap's classification(0.32%)( P

Cytohistologic Correlation and Clinical Significance of ASCUS, LSIL, and HSIL / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cytohistologic correlation and the clinical significance among patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance(ASCUS), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(LSIL), and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(HSIL) identified on cervical Pap smear screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pathologic reports of patients who have underwent cervical Pap smear screening at Korea university Ansan hospital from January 1997 to December 1998 were evaluated. Cytologic diagnosis was classified by the Bethesda System (TBS). Among these patients, the patients whose histologic diagnosis was established by cervical punch biopsy, LEEP, conization, and hysterectomy were targetted. Cytohistologic correlation were analysed in ASCUS, LSIL, and HSIL respectively. RESULTS: During 2 year period (1997-1998), total 3587 Pap smears were taken. The median rate of abnormal cytology was 7.2%, with 4.6% of ASCUS, 0.8% of LSIL, 1.3% of HSIL, and 0.5% of squamous cell carcinoma. The median ratio of ASCUS versus SIL was 2.2. Smears with ASCUS showed 46.9% with chronic cervicitis, 40.6% with LSIL(35.9% with koilocytotic atypia, 4.7% with mild dysplasia), 10.9% with HISL, and 1.6% with invasve squamous cell carcinoma on biopsy. Smears with LSIL showed 38.1% with LSIL(9.5% with koilocytotic atypia, 28.6% with mild dysplasia), and 28.6% with HSIL on biopsy. Smears with HSIL showed 27.8% with LSIL, 63.9% with HSIL, and 8.3% with invasive squamous cell carcinoma on biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Smears with ASCUS showed 53.1% with SIL and cancer on biopsy. But most of theses cases revealed koilocytotic atypia rather than dysplasia, so conservative management such as repeated Pap smear is desirable. On the other hand, because smears with LSIL showed dysplasia rather than koilocytotic atypia on biopsy, more active management such as colposcopic directed biopsy is required.

ASCUS, AGUS and Benign Endometrial Cells in Cervicovaginal Smears: Histologic Correlations and Clinical Significance / 대한부인종양콜포스코피학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the histologic correlations and the clinical significance among patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance(AGUS) and benign endometrial cells identified on cervical Pap smear screening. MATERIALS & METHODS: The computerized files of the Department of Pathology at Samsung Cheil Hospital were searched from 1991 to 1997 to evaluate the annual statistics of cytologic diagnoses including normal/benign, ASCUS, AGUS, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(HSIL) and cancer classified by the Bethesda System(TBS). Cytohistologic correlations on follow-up were separately analysed in ASCUS(190 cases), AGUS(268 cases) and benign endometrial cells(169 cases), respectively. Additionally, post-menopausal squamous atypia(83 cases) were also included in this study. TBS terminology was used in both cytologic and histologic diagnoses. RESULTS: During 7-year period (1991-1997), 447,049 cervicovaginal smears were evaluated. The median rate of abnormal cytology was 4.4%, with 2.1% of ASCUS, 2.06% of squamous intraepithelial lesion(SIL), and 0.08% of AGUS. The median ratio of ASCUS versus SIL was 1.24. Specimen adequacy was evaluated on 47,525 cases, of which categories of "satisfactory for evaluation but limited by" and "unsatisfactory for evaluation" were 28.3% and 0.03%, res-pectively. Follow-up of 190 patients with ASCUS cytology showed 30%(57 cases) with SIL on biopsy; 18%(35cases) with LSIL, 11%(21cases) with HSIL, and 1%(1case) with microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma. On histologic examination, 77%(37/48cases) with ASCUS favoring SIL revealed SIL in contrast to 14%(20/142cases) with ASCUS favoring reactive change, which is statistically significant.(Chi-Square test, P<0.0001). Of 83 cases of post-menopausal squamous atypia(PSA), smears with LSIL showed 34.9%(15/43cases) with LSIL on biopsy. 268 patients with AGUS smears had 25%(67cases) with clinically significant cervical or endometrial lesions on histologic examinations. Among 17.9%(48cases) with cervical lesions, squamous abnormalities were 10.5%(28cases); including 1.5%(4cases) with LSIL and 9.0%(24cases) with HSIL. Glandular lesions in cervix were 7.5%(20cases); 3.0%(8cases) of glandular atypia or dysplasia, 1.9%(5cases of adenocarcinoma in situ, 1.1%(3cases) of microinvasive adenocarcinoma and 1.5%(4cases) of adenocarcinoma. Of 7.1%(19cases) of endometrial lesions, 2.2%(6cases) was endometrial hy-perplasia, 4.1%(11cases) endometrial carcinoma, 0.4%(1case) MMMT and 0.4%(1case) metastatic adenocarcinoma from stomach were verified. The pathologies of 169 cases with benign endometrial cells shed in cervicovaginal smears were confirmed to be endometrial polyp(8.3%), endometrial hyperplasia(4.1%) and endometrial carcinoma(5.9%). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicates that clinicians should communicate with pathologists for proper management of abnormal cytology. Further evaluation and decision of management should be made based on input from pathologists as well as on clinical setting and professional guidelines.