Effective Surgical Site Infection Prevention Strategies for Diabetic Patients Undergoing Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose a significant clinical challenge, with heightened risks and severe consequences for diabetic patients undergoing surgical procedures. This systematic review aims to synthesize the current evidence on effective prevention strategies for mitigating SSI risk in this vulnerable population. From inception to March 2024, we comprehensively searched multiple electronic databases (PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL) to identify relevant studies evaluating SSI prevention strategies in diabetic surgical patients. Our search strategy followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, utilizing a combination of keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms related to diabetes, surgical site infections, prevention strategies, and surgical procedures. Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses published in English. The search yielded three studies meeting the eligibility criteria, subject to data extraction and qualitative synthesis. Key findings highlighted the efficacy of interventions such as optimized perioperative glycemic control, timely prophylactic antibiotic administration, and meticulous preoperative skin antisepsis in reducing SSI rates among diabetic surgical patients. The potential for personalized prevention approaches based on individual patient factors, such as diabetes type and surgical complexity, was explored. This systematic review underscores the importance of a multifaceted, evidence-based approach to SSI prevention in diabetic surgical patients, integrating strategies like glycemic control, antibiotic prophylaxis, and preoperative skin antisepsis. Furthermore, our findings suggest the potential benefits of personalized care pathways tailored to individual patient characteristics. Implementing these interventions requires interdisciplinary collaboration, adaptation to diverse healthcare settings, and patient engagement through culturally sensitive education initiatives. This comprehensive analysis informs clinical practice, fosters patient safety, and contributes to the global efforts to enhance surgical outcomes for this high-risk population.

Health-related quality of life and its relationship with time use, role participation and perceived social support among retirees in Klang Valley and Malacca.

INTRODUCTION: With increased life expectancy among older adults in Malaysia, there is an increasing number of years of living after retirement. The role and lifestyle changes can significantly affect time use and participation in everyday life, influencing individuals' quality of life (QoL) and wellbeing. However, limited research has examined the healthrelated QoL and its relationship with time use, role participation and perceived social support among retirees in Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we used the Malay versions of EuroQol 5 Dimensional (EQ-5D- 3L, Time Use Diary, Role Checklist Version 3 (RCv3) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) questionnaires among 362 purposively selected Malaysian retirees aged 55 and older. Regression analysis was employed to identify the predictor of health-related QoL using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. RESULTS: The results indicate a weak positive association between all determinants (time use, role participation, perceived social support) and health-related QoL among retirees. Only time use and role participation significantly influenced the health-related QoL of retirees. Our findings reveal no direct and substantial relationship between perceived social support and health-related QoL among Malaysian retirees. CONCLUSION: The results suggest active role involvement and effective time management can improve retirees' healthrelated QoL.

Efficacy of LigaSure Versus Harmonic Devices in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Our goal is to conduct a thorough systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies to evaluate the efficacy of LigaSure (Valleylab, Boulder, CO) compared with Harmonic (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH) devices in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Our search strategy, from inception until March 1, 2024, involved multiple databases, including the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science (WOS), PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. We evaluated randomized clinical trials using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials (RoB-2) tool and non-randomized studies using the Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies for Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. The primary outcomes assessed were operative time, mean length of hospital stay, and the rates of intraoperative complications such as bleeding, organ injury, leakage, and hematoma formation. Additionally, we collected data on postoperative complications, including bleeding, abscess formation, leakage, fever (>38°C), and reoperation rates. Data were analyzed using random-effects models and reported as mean difference (MD) or risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using Review Manager software (RevMan, version 5.4 for Windows, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2020). Four studies, comprising two randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and two retrospective cohort studies, involving a total of 692 patients, were included in the analysis. Both the operative time and length of hospital stay did not significantly differ between the LigaSure and Harmonic groups (p>0.05). The pooled analysis also revealed no significant difference between the LigaSure and Harmonic groups in terms of intraoperative and postoperative complications (p>0.05). In conclusion, our systematic review and meta-analysis found no significant statistical or clinical differences between LigaSure and Harmonic devices in terms of operative outcomes and complication rates in patients undergoing LSG.

Molecular detection of Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Citrus viroid-III (CVd-III), and Citrus viroid-IV (CVd-IV) in Palestine.

Citrus hosts various phytopathogens that have impacted productivity, including viroids. Missing data on the status of viroids in citrus in Palestine were not reported. This study was aimed to detect any of Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Citrus viroid-III (CVd-III), and Citrus viroid-IV (CVd-IV) in the Palestinian National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) germplasm collection Field inspections found symptoms such as leaf epinasty; vein discoloration, and bark cracking on various citrus varieties. RT-PCR revealed a significant prevalence of CVd-IV; CEVd and CVd-III (47%, 31%, and 22%; respectively). CVd-III variants with 91.3% nucleic acid sequence homology have been reported. The sequence of each viroid were deposited in GenBank as (OP925746 for CEVd, OP902248 and OP902249 for CVd-III-PS-1 and -PS-2 isolates, and OP902247 for CVd-IV). This was the first to report three of citrus viroids in Palestine, appealing to apply of phytosanitary measures to disseminate healthy propagating materials free from viroids.

An Alternative Radiation Shielding Material Based on Barium-Sulphate (BaSO4)-Modified Fly Ash Geopolymers.

Geopolymers are a new environmentally friendly cementitious material, and the application of geopolymers can reduce the carbon dioxide emissions caused by the development of the cement industry. PURPOSE: This study investigates the radiation shielding capacity of fly ash geopolymers (FAGP) as a viable alternative to conventionally used ordinary Portland cement (OPC) due to the high demand for an environmentally friendly, cost-effective and non-toxic shield material. METHODS: The FAGP material was fabricated and combined with Barium sulphate (BaSO4) at different ratios (0, 5, 10 and 15%). Different thicknesses (3, 6 and 9 cm) of the samples were also prepared. An energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) was used to determine the elemental percentages of the materials, which were then used to calculate their effective atomic number (Zeff). An ion chamber was used to detect the dose of radiation transmitted through the samples. RESULTS: The lowest radiation dosage (34.68 µGy) and highest Zeff were achieved with FAGP combined with 15% BaSO4 at 9 cm thickness. The decrease in radiation dosage can be attributed to the increase in Zeff with the addition of BaSO4 to FAGP, which in turn increases the density of FAGP. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the radiation dose can be significantly reduced with a higher ratio of BaSO4 to FAGP. This study shows that FAGP combined with BaSO4 is a promising radiation shielding material, as well as a viable alternative to OPC.

Efficient models for enhancing the link adaptation performance of LTE/LTE-A networks.

Link adaptation (LA) is the ability to adapt the modulation scheme (MS) and the coding rate of the error correction in accordance with the quality of the radio link. The MS plays an important role in enhancing the performance of LTE/LTE-A, which is typically dependent on the received signal to noise ratio (SNR). However, using the SNR to select the proper MSs is not enough given that adaptive MSs are sensitive to error. Meanwhile, non-optimal MS selection may seriously impair the system performance and hence degrades LA. In LTE/ LTE-A, the LA system must be designed and optimized in accordance with the characteristics of the physical (e.g., MSs) and MAC layers (e.g., Packet loss) to enhance the channel efficiency and throughput. Accordingly, this study proposes using two LA models to overcome the problem. The first model, named the cross-layer link adaptation (CLLA) model, is based on the downward cross-layer approach. This model is designed to overcome the accuracy issue of adaptive modulation in existing systems and improve the channel efficiency and throughput. The second model, named the Markov decision process over the CLLA (MDP-CLLA) model, is designed to improve on the selection of modulation levels. Besides that, our previous contribution, namely the modified alpha-Shannon capacity formula, is adopted as part of the MDP-CLLA model to enhance the link adaptation of LTE/LTE-A. The effectiveness of the proposed models is evaluated in terms of throughput and packet loss for different packet sizes using the MATLAB and Simulink environments for the single input single output (SISO) mode for transmissions over Rayleigh fading channels. In addition, phase productivity, which is defined as the multiplication of the total throughput for a specific modulation with the difference between adjacent modulation SNR threshold values, is used to determine the best model for specific packet sizes in addition to determine the optimal packet size for specific packet sizes among models. Results generally showed that the throughput improved from 87.5 to 89.6% for (QPSK → 16-QAM) and from 0 to 43.3% for (16-QAM → 64-QAM) modulation transitions, respectively, using the CLLA model when compared with the existing system. Moreover, the throughput using the MDP-CLLA model was improved by 87.5-88.6% and by 0-43.2% for the (QPSK → 16-QAM)and (16-QAM → 64-QAM) modulation transitions, respectively, when compared with the CLLA model and the existing system. Results were also validated for each model via the summation of the phase productivity for every modulation at specific packet sizes, followed by the application one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis with a post hoc test, to prove that the MDP-CLLA model improves with best high efficiency than the CLLA model and the existing system.

A Brief Review for Common Doppler Ultrasound Flow Phantoms.

In this review, the flow phantoms and the wall-less flow phantoms with recognized acoustic features (attenuation and speed of sound), interior properties, and dimensions of tissue were prepared, calibrated, and characterized by Doppler ultrasound (US) scanning which demands tissue-mimicking materials (TMMs). TMM phantoms are commercially available and readymade for medical US applications. Furthermore, the commercial TMM phantoms are proper for US purpose or estimation of diagnostic imaging techniques according to the chemical materials used for its preparation.

Multi-level proteomics reveals host-perturbation strategies of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV

The global emergence of SARS-CoV-2 urgently requires an in-depth understanding of molecular functions of viral proteins and their interactions with the host proteome. Several individual omics studies have extended our knowledge of COVID-19 pathophysiology1-10. Integration of such datasets to obtain a holistic view of virus-host interactions and to define the pathogenic properties of SARS-CoV-2 is limited by the heterogeneity of the experimental systems. We therefore conducted a concurrent multi-omics study of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV. Using state-of-the-art proteomics, we profiled the interactome of both viruses, as well as their influence on transcriptome, proteome, ubiquitinome and phosphoproteome in a lung-derived human cell line. Projecting these data onto the global network of cellular interactions revealed crosstalk between the perturbations taking place upon SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV infections at different layers and identified unique and common molecular mechanisms of these closely related coronaviruses. The TGF-{beta} pathway, known for its involvement in tissue fibrosis, was specifically dysregulated by SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 and autophagy by SARS-CoV-2 ORF3. The extensive dataset (available at https://covinet.innatelab.org) highlights many hotspots that can be targeted by existing drugs and it can guide rational design of virus- and host-directed therapies, which we exemplify by identifying kinase and MMPs inhibitors with potent antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2.

Fall prevention knowledge and practice patterns among home healthcare professionals in southern Saudi Arabia: an observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the knowledge of falls risk factors among home healthcare (HHC) professionals and the practice patterns of HHC professionals regarding falls prevention. METHODS: A modified version of a survey designed and validated for use in home healthcare settings was distributed to HHC professionals for self-completion. Responses were collected and analysed using descriptive methods. RESULTS: Out of 80 surveys distributed to 23 HHC centres, 52 returned surveys were included for analyses (completed by physicians, physical therapists [PTs] and nurses). In terms of practice patterns, 82.7% of participants always asked older adults if they have a history of falls, 81% always identified falls risk factors, 73% documented risk factors for falling and 71% always provided interventions to address falls risk factors. Environmental hazards were the most common risk factor identified by HHC professionals. Approximately one quarter of nurses felt they had little knowledge of falls risk factors. CONCLUSION: Over 70% of HHC professionals acknowledged the importance of falls, and over 80% of participants displayed knowledge of falls prevention factors. As HHC professionals most likely to encounter patients requiring intervention for falls prevention, physical therapists may benefit from training programmes to help identify important falls risk factors.

Isolation and Pathogenicity of Streptococcus iniae in Cultured Red Hybrid Tilapia in Malaysia.

This study describes the isolation and pathogenicity of Streptococcus iniae in cultured red hybrid tilapia (Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus × Mozambique Tilapia O. mossambicus) in Malaysia. The isolated gram-positive S. iniae appeared punctiform, transparently white, catalase and oxidase negative and produced complete ß-hemolysis on blood agar, while a PCR assay resulted in the amplification of the 16 S rRNA gene and lactate oxidase encoded genes. The isolate was sensitive to tetracycline, vancomycin, and bacitracin but was resistant to streptomycin, ampicillin, penicillin, and erythromycin. Pathogenicity trials conducted in local red hybrid tilapia (mean ± SE = 20.00 ± 0.45 g) showed 90.0, 96.7, and 100.0% mortality within 14 d postinfection following intraperitoneal exposure to 104, 106, and 108 CFU/mL of the pathogen, respectively. The clinical signs included erratic swimming, lethargy, and inappetance at 6 h postinfection, while mortality was recorded at less than 24 h postinfection in all infected groups. The LD50-336 h of S. iniae against the red hybrid tilapia was 102 CFU/mL. The post mortem examinations revealed congested livers, kidneys, and spleens of the infected fish. This is the first report of S. iniae experimental infection in cultured red hybrid tilapia in Malaysia. Received January 20, 2017; accepted July 16, 2017.

Biofilm is associated with chronic streptococcal meningoencephalitis in fish.

Biofilms are aggregates of attached microbial organisms whose existence on tissues is often recognised as a mechanism for the establishment of most chronic diseases. Herein we investigated the ability of piscine Streptococcus agalactiae, an important aquatic pathogen, for adaptation to this sessile lifestyle in vitro and in the brain of a tilapia fish model. Piscine S. agalactiae exhibited a weak attachment to polystyrene plates and expressed a low biofilm phenotype under the study conditions. Furthermore, fluorescent in situ hybridization and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed discrete aggregates of attached S. agalactiae within brain tissues and around meningeal surfaces. They were embedded in an exopolysaccharide containing matrix, intractable to inflammatory response and showed some level of resistance to penicillin despite proven susceptibility on sensitivity test. Intracellular bacterial aggregates were also observed, moreover, antibody mediated response was not demonstrated during infection. Nucleated erythrocytes appear to facilitate brain invasion possibly via the Trojan horse mechanism leading to a granulomatous inflammation. We have demonstrated that biofilm is associated with persistence of S. agalactiae and the development of chronic meningoencephalitis in fish.

A prospective controlled study to assess the use of mitomycin C in improving the results of esophageal dilatation in post corrosive esophageal stricture in children.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of topical application of mitomycin C after dilation in pediatric patients having post corrosive esophageal stricture. METHODS: Thirty patients with post corrosive esophageal strictures were divided into two groups: 12 patients had repeated esophageal dilation without mitomycin C application, 18 patients had repeated esophageal dilation and topical application of mitomycin C. RESULTS: There was a highly significant difference in the improvement of dysphagia grade at the end of follow up in the mitomycin C group (p=0.005). The number of repetition of dilatation ranged from 2 to 6 (median=3) in the 1st group, and 2 to 4 (median=2.5) in the mitomycin C group. There were no adverse effects from the topical application of the mitomycin C. CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of mitomycin C after oesophageal dilation can be beneficial in improving dysphagia in patients with post corrosive oesophageal stricture.

Development and efficacy of feed-based recombinant vaccine encoding the cell wall surface anchor family protein of Streptococcus agalactiae against streptococcosis in Oreochromis sp.

This study was carried out to determine the antibody responses and protective capacity of an inactivated recombinant vaccine expressing the cell wall surface anchor family protein of Streptococcus agalactiae following oral vaccination against streptococcosis in tilapia. Tilapia were vaccinated orally with 10(6) CFU/mL of the recombinant vaccine incorporated in feed (feed-based recombinant vaccine) (vaccinated group or Group 1), 10(6) CFU/mL of pET-32 Ek/LIC vector without cell wall surface anchor family protein (control group or Group 2), 10(6) CFU/mL of formalin-killed cells of S. agalactiae vaccine incorporated in feed was also prepared (feed-based vaccine) (vaccinated group or Group 3), and unvaccinated control group or Group 4 (fed with commercial pellets). During the course of study, serum, mucus and gut lavage fluid were collected to evaluate the antibody levels via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that tilapia immunized with the feed-based recombinant vaccine developed a strong and significantly (P < 0.05) higher IgM antibody response in serum, mucus and gut lavage fluid samples compared to groups 2, 3 and 4. Following heat intervenes and intraperitoneal challenge, the rate of survivors (RPS) was 70% for the vaccinated group, and 0% for the rest of the groups. Therefore, the study revealed that the feed-based recombinant vaccine significantly provides high protection against high dose challenge in heat stress environment and enhances the production of the mucosal and humoral immunity.

Use of local mitomycin C in enhancing laryngeal healing after laser cordotomy: a prospective controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of intraoperative application of mitomycin C in prevention of glottic restenosis after posterior transverse CO2 laser cordotomy (PTLC) for patients with post-thyroidectomy bilateral vocal fold paralysis. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with an impaired airway because of bilateral vocal fold paralysis were treated with PTLC. Patients were divided into groups: the mitomycin C group (13 patients) had PTLC and topical mitomycin C; and the control group (12 patients) had PTLC only. RESULTS: No patients in the mitomycin C group developed glottic granulation or laryngeal scarring, whereas 5 of 12 patients in the control group developed granulation (p = .014) and 2 of 12 patients had laryngeal scarring (p = .28). Ten of 13 patients in the mitomycin C group ended up with mild dyspnea with no limitation to normal everyday activities whereas only a third of the control group achieved this outcome (p = .05). CONCLUSION: The use of topical mitomycin C has been shown to decrease postoperative laryngeal granulation, scarring, restenosis, and the need for revision surgery.

Efficacy of spray administration of formalin-killed Streptococcus agalactiae in hybrid Red Tilapia.

An initial evaluation of spray vaccination was carried out with 60 hybrid Red Tilapia Oreochromis spp., divided into three groups that consisted of 10 fish per group with duplicates. The formalin-killed cells (FKCs) of Streptococcus agalactiae were administered once to group 1 by spray and once daily for five consecutive days to group 2. Group 3 remained as the untreated control group and was sprayed with normal saline. A booster was given twice to all the groups, once at the second week and again at the fourth week after the first vaccination. After this initial evaluation, a challenge study was conducted with 40 tilapia divided into two groups that consisted of 10 fish per group with duplicates. Group 1 was vaccinated with FKCs of S. agalactiae by a single spray administration while group 2 remained as the untreated control group. A booster was given twice using the same protocol as in the initial evaluation. After 6 weeks, fish from one of the duplicate tanks from each of groups 1 and 2 were challenged with pathogenic S. agalactiae by intraperitoneal (IP) injection, while fish in another tank were challenged through immersion. Based on the observations, serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the challenged fish than in the either the preexposed fish or the control group 1 week after the initial exposure. However, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were noted between challenged groups 1 and 2. In addition, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between the frequencies of exposure. The mucus IgM level, however, remained high after each booster until the end of the 8-week study period. Meanwhile, serum IgM levels decreased after the challenge. A higher percentage of survival was noted for fish challenged through immersion (80%) compared with IP injection (70%). These results suggested that single spray exposure was able to induce IgM, which gave moderate to high protection during the challenge study.

Cellular responses in the respiratory tract following intranasal administration of peste des petits ruminant vaccine in goats / Respuestas celulares en el tracto respiratorio después de la administración intranasal de la vacuna contra la peste de pequeños rumiantes en cabras

A trial was conducted to compare the cellular responses in the respiratory tract in intranasal vaccination against caprine Peste des petits ruminant lineage 1 variant virus infection with intramuscular and subcutaneous vaccinations in order to elucidate the mechanism of the protection. Twenty four goats were divided into four equal groups. Group 1 was vaccinated intranasaly, group 2 was vaccinated subcutaneously, and group 3 intramuscularly, while Group 4 was the unvaccinated control group. In each group the vaccinations were carried out once. All goats were challenged intratrachealy with PPR virus at a concentration of 106.5 TCID50 two weeks after vaccination and were euthanised 21 days after the challenge. The bronchoalveolar lavage differential count, bronchial associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) responses were measured using standard techniques. Descriptive Statistics and ANOVA was employed and significance was at p < 0.05. The exposure also resulted into significant increase in the number and size of BALT as well as the number of lymphocytes in BALT. This study showed the mechanism of the protective effect of intranasal vaccination of PPR vaccine observed with the strong mucosal and defensive cellular responses in the respiratory tract observed than the subcutaneous and intramuscular routes.

Se realizó un ensayo para comparar las respuestas celulares en las vías respiratorias después de la vacunación intranasal contra la variante caprina de la infección del virus peste de pequeños rumiantes linaje 1 con vacunas intramusculares y subcutáneas con el fin de dilucidar el mecanismo de protección. Veinticuatro cabras fueron divididas en cuatro grupos iguales. El Grupo 1 fue vacunado por vía intranasal, el grupo 2 vía subcutánea, el grupo 3 vía intramuscular y el grupo 4 control no vacunado. En cada grupo se vacunó sólo una vez. Todas las cabras fueron expuestas al virus peste de pequeños rumiantes por vía intratraqueal a una concentración de 106.5 TCID50 2 semanas después de la vacunación, y fueron sometidos a eutanasia 21 días después. Se midieron el recuento diferencial del lavado broncoalveolar y las respuestas de los tejidos linfoides asociados bronquios (BALT) utilizando técnicas estándar. Los resultados se evaluaron por estadística descriptiva y ANOVA, con una significación p<0,05. La exposición también mostró un aumento significativo en el número y tamaño del BALT, así como el número de linfocitos en este. El estudio mostró que el mecanismo del efecto protector de la vacunación intranasal contra el virus peste de pequeños rumiantes posee una respuesta mucosa y celular defensiva en el tracto respiratorio mayor que la observada por vacunación vía subcutánea e intramuscular.

Cellular and mucosal immune responses in the respiratory tract of Nigerian goats following intranasal administration of inactivated Recombinant Mannheimia hemolytica bacterine.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the cellular and mucosal responses in the respiratory tract of Nigerian goats vaccinated intranasally with recombinant Mannheimia hemolytica bacterine. Twenty one goats were divided into five groups, five goats each in three vaccinated groups while three goats each in two other groups serve as positive and negative control. Group A was vaccinated once; group B was vaccinated twice at one week interval, and group D at twice at two weeks interval. Group C1 were the unvaccinated and challenged, while group C2 were unvaccinated and unchallenged. The bronchoalveolar lavage differential counts and bronchial associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) responses were measured using Giemsa stained thin smear of the cell fraction of the lavage and histomorphometry. ANOVA were employed and significance was at p>0.05. The post-challenge macrophage to neutrophil (M:N) ratio values of group B goats was the highest and the ratio differed from other groups which had much lower M:N values. The exposure in group B resulted in significant increase in number and size of BALTs as well as the number of lymphocytes in BALT than those of the other groups. This study showed that intranasal vaccination of the recombinant Mannheimia hemolytica bacterine twice at a week interval was more efficient in inducing strong mucosal and defensive cellular responses in the respiratory tract.

Mechanisms of microthrombi formation after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Microcirculatory dysfunction may contribute to delayed cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Using a prechiasmatic injection model, this study investigated ultrastructural changes in microvessels in brain parenchyma to determine the nature of the microthromboemboli, the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and P-selectin in their formation, and relationship to brain injury after SAH. Brains were examined by electron microscopy (EM) and immunohistochemistry. EM demonstrated that mice with SAH had significantly more arterioles filled with lesions consistent with microthrombi (in cortex, 20 ± 5 for SAH, 8 ± 4 saline-injected and 2.4 ± 0.2 for sham). SAH animals also had more constriction of arterioles. The concentration of NO was lower in mice with SAH (44 ± 9 for sham, 46 ± 20 for saline-injected and 24 ± 11 for SAH). The number of microthrombi correlated with the number of apoptotic neuronal cells (R(2)=0.80 in cortex). Cell membrane P-selectin increased in the endothelium of arterioles in mice with SAH (11.4 ± 0.7 for SAH, 6.8 ± 0.9 for sham and 6.1 ± 0.9 for saline-injected controls). This correlated with decreased NO in the brain. In conclusion, SAH causes microthrombosis and constriction of arterioles, which correlates with neuronal cell death. Increased P-selectin and decreased NO suggest a mechanism for microthrombosis and arteriolar constriction.

Effects of timed artificial insemination following estrus synchronization in postpartum beef cattle.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate estrus response and pregnancy rates resulting from timed artificial insemination (AI) following estrus synchronization using CIDR in postpartum beef cattle. A total of 100 cows were randomly divided into three groups. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were artificially inseminated at 48-50 h (n=30), 53-55 h (n=30) and 58-60 h (n=40) after CIDR removal, respectively. Estrus synchronization was carried out using a CIDR containing 1.38 mg progesterone. All cows were given 2 mg estradiol benzoate, intramuscularly on the day of CIDR insertion (D 0). The CIDR was removed after 8 days and 125 µg of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) was injected intramuscularly. One day after CIDR removal all cows were given 1 mg of estradiol benzoate intramuscularly (D 9). Cows were observed visually for estrus after removal of CIDR. Between 30 and 32 days after timed AI, pregnancy was determined using transrectal ultrasonography. The first estrus observation which is approximately 32 h after CIDR removal showed no significant difference (P>0.05) among the three groups. The onset response of estrus after 32 h removal of CIDR was less than 10% in all three groups 6.6% (G1), 6.8% (G2) and 7.3% (G3). Furthermore, percentages of estrus response (D 10) following CIDR removal were 76.6%, 75.0% and 77.5%. The difference between on D 9 and D 10 estrus response were statistically significant (P<0.05). The pregnancy rates were 23.3% (G1), 26.6% (G2) and 37.5% (G3), which were not significant (P>0.05).