Estimation of Serum Fibrinogen in Males with Type 2 Diabetes.

The patient with diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complication is increasing in our country and all over the world. Fibrinogen is a renowned factor of progressive atherosclerotic lesions and a predictor of cardiovascular events. Level of fibrinogen is increases in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) may accelerate thromboembolic risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study was carried out to assess plasma fibrinogen level in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It was a cross sectional analytic study and conducted in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2013 to June 2014. A total number of 200 adult male subjects were selected with age ranging from 40-60 years. Among them, 100 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in the study group (Group B) and 100 healthy subjects with same age range were considered as controls (Group A) for comparison. The subjects were selected from BIRDEM hospital Dhaka and personal contact from different areas of Dhaka city on the basis of exclusion and inclusion criteria. The study parameter was plasma fibrinogen level, and was measured in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology of BIRDEM hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The data were collected and recorded in pre-designed structured questionnaire by the researcher herself. For statistical analyses unpaired Student's 't' test and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) test were performed as applicable using SPSS for windows version 19.0. In this study plasma fibrinogen level was significantly (p<0.001) higher in the study group than that of control group. From this study, it may be concluded that estimation of plasma fibrinogen level might be beneficial for prediction of future cardiovascular risk in adult diabetic male.

Management of acute paediatric fractures treated surgically in the UK: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: The epidemiology of acute paediatric orthopaedic trauma managed surgically across the NHS is poorly described. Compliance against national standards for the management of supracondylar humeral fractures is also unknown at a national level. METHODS: Collaborators in 129 NHS hospitals prospectively collected data on surgically managed acute paediatric orthopaedic trauma cases. Data were collected over a seven-day period and included demographics, injury characteristics, operative details and timing of surgery. A national audit was also undertaken to evaluate compliance with the British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma Guideline 11: Supracondylar Fractures of the Humerus in Children. RESULTS: Data were captured on 770 surgically treated cases. The three most common injuries were forearm fractures of both bones (n = 235), distal radius fractures (n = 194) and supracondylar elbow fractures (n = 89). The mode day of injury was Friday (n = 136) and the mode day of surgery was Saturday (n = 138). 88% of supracondylar fractures received surgery on the day of presentation or the following day. Only 14% of supracondylar fractures were treated surgically after 8pm; 33/89 used 2.0mm Kirschner wires, 38/89 used 1.6mm wires and 2/89 used 1.2mm wires. CONCLUSION: Forearm fractures of both bones, distal radius fractures and supracondylar humeral fractures were the three most common injuries treated surgically. There is wide variation in compliance against national standards in the management of supracondylar humeral fractures with 88% undertaking surgery on the day of or the day following presentation but only 37% using the recommended 2.0mm Kirschner wires.

A Study to find out the Correlation between Handgrip Strength and Hand Breadth of Bangladeshi Male Cricket Batsman.

This cross sectional analytical type of study was conducted at department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2015 to June 2016 on 50 adult Bangladeshi male sprinters (Group A) and 50 adult Bangladeshi male cricket batsman (Group B). Sample collection was done by convenient purposive sampling technique. History of any injury of hand during playing was excluded to construct standard measurement. Hand breadth was measured with the help of slide calipers. Hand grip strength Dynamometer was used to measure the hand grip strength. Paired Student's 't' test, unpaired student's 't' test and Pearson's correlation coefficient test were done for statistical analysis of the result. The aim of the present study was to determine hand breadth and average hand grip strength of Bangladeshi male cricket batsman to find out correlation between them that may be used as a baseline for other professions as well for future research in our country. The mean right and left hand grip strength was significantly higher in the cricket batsman than in the sprinters. The mean right and left hand breadth was found to be significantly higher in the cricket batsman than in the sprinters. Right and left hand grip strength showed significant positive correlation with hand breadth in both hand. The study findings suggest that regular physical exercise and training increase hand grip strength.

Analysis of the role of GSK3 in the mitotic checkpoint.

The mitotic checkpoint ensures proper chromosome segregation; defects in this checkpoint can lead to aneuploidy, a hallmark of cancer. The mitotic checkpoint blocks progression through mitosis as long as chromosomes remain unattached to spindle microtubules. Unattached kinetochores induce the formation of a mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC) composed of Mad2, BubR1, Bub1 and Bub3 which inhibits anaphase onset. Spindle toxins induce prolonged mitotic arrest by creating persistently unattached kinetochores which trigger MCC formation. We find that the multifunctional ser/thr kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is required for a strong mitotic checkpoint. Spindle toxin-induced mitotic arrest is relieved by GSK3 inhibitors SB 415286 (SB), RO 318220 (RO) and lithium chloride. Similarly, targeting GSK3ß with knockout or RNAi reduced mitotic arrest in the presence of Taxol. GSK3 was required for optimal localization of Mad2, BubR1, and Bub1 at kinetochores and for optimal assembly of the MCC in spindle toxin-arrested cells. The WNT- and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways negatively regulate GSK3ß activity. Inhibition of WNT and PI3K/Akt signaling, in the presence of Taxol, induced a longer mitotic arrest compared to Taxol alone. Our observations provide novel insight into the regulation of the mitotic checkpoint and its connection to growth-signaling pathways.

Muscle regeneration following repair of the rotator cuff.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to analyse human muscle tissue before and after rotator cuff repair to look for evidence of regeneration, and to characterise the changes seen in the type of muscle fibre. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were assessed pre-operatively and one year post-operatively using the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) and MRI. The cross-sectional area and distribution of the type of muscle fibre were assessed on biopsies, which were taken at surgery and one year post-operatively. Paired samples from eight patients were analysed. There were three men and five women with a mean age of 63 years (50 to 73). RESULTS: All but one patient showed improvement in OSS (p = 0.004). The mean increase in the cross-sectional area of the muscle was 1220 µm2 (-801 to 3712; p = 0.03). There was a reduction of type 2a fibres (p = 0.02). A clear relationship could not be seen between the MRI findings and the histological appearances. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to provide evidence that atrophy of the supraspinatus muscle is reversible. Changes in the types of fibre are discussed. MRI assessment of muscle atrophy may not be fully representative of myofibre atrophy. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1389-94.

Current status of coral reefs in the United Arab Emirates: Distribution, extent, and community structure with implications for management.

Coral reefs of the United Arab Emirates were once extensive, but have declined dramatically in recent decades. Marine management and policy have been hampered by outdated and inaccurate habitat maps and habitat quality information. We combined existing recent datasets with our newly mapped coral habitats to provide a current assessment of nation-wide extent, and performed quantitative surveys of communities at 23 sites to assess coral cover and composition. Over 132 km(2) of coral habitat was mapped, averaging 28.6 ± 3.8% live coral cover at surveyed sites. In the Arabian Gulf low cover, low richness Porites dominated communities characterized western Abu Dhabi, while reefs northeast of Abu Dhabi city generally contained higher richness and cover, and were dominated by merulinids (formerly faviids). Distinct communities occur in the Sea of Oman, where cover and richness were low. We provide management recommendations to enhance conservation of vulnerable coral reefs in the UAE.

High-strength, low-alloy steels.

High-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steels have nearly the same composition as plain carbon steels. However, they are up to twice as strong and their greater load-bearing capacity allows engineering use in lighter sections. Their high strength is derived from a combination of grain refinement; precipitation strengthening due to minor additions of vanadium, niobium, or titanium; and modifications of manufacturing processes, such as controlled rolling and controlled cooling of otherwise essentially plain carbon steel. HSLA steels are less formable than lower strength steels, but dualphase steels, which evolved from HSLA steels, have ferrite-martensite microstructures and better formability than HSLA steels of similar strength. This improved formability has substantially increased the utilization potential of high-strength steels in the manufacture of complex components. This article reviews the development of HSLA and dual-phase steels and discusses the effects of variations in microstructure and chemistry on their mechanical properties.

Apparatus for extruding wires of soft metals under vacuum or inert atmospheres.

A bakeable apparatus is described that was constructed for extruding wires from small ingots of soft metals like the alkalis, the alkaline earths, and the divalent rare earths, while at the same time safeguarding the purity of the sample material. The unit is completely enclosed yet small enough to be hand transferred into and out of an inert atmosphere glove box where load/unload operations are performed. Extrusions are effected with the apparatus outside the glove box but with the sample material under the captured atmosphere of the box or under a vacuum. Given an external heating source it is possible to carry out extrusions at temperatures above room temperature as well as in situ recrystallizations of extruded materials.