State-of-the-art mental tasks classification based on electroencephalograms: a review.

Electroencephalograms (EEGs) play an important role in analyzing different mental tasks and neurological disorders. Hence, they are a critical component for designing various applications, such as brain-computer interfaces, neurofeedback, etc. Mental task classification (MTC) is one of the research focuses in these applications. Therefore, numerous MTC techniques have been proposed in literary works. Although various literature reviews exist based on EEG signals for different neurological disorders and behavior analysis, there is a lack of reviews of state-of-the-art MTC techniques. Therefore, this paper presents a detailed review of MTC techniques, including the classification of mental tasks and mental workload. A brief description of EEGs along with their physiological and nonphysiological artifacts is also presented. Furthermore, we include information on several publicly available databases, features, classifiers, and performance metrics used in MTC studies. We implement and evaluate some of the commonly used existing MTC techniques in the presence of different artifacts and subjects, based on which the challenges and directions are highlighted for future research in MTC.

Use of photosensitizers activated by photodynamic therapy on the canal disinfection of radicular dentin bonded to Dimethacrylate-based glass fiber post: an assessment of pushout bond strength.

OBJECTIVE: The present lab-based investigation aimed at evaluating the canal disinfectants using photodynamic therapy (PDT) using different photosensitizers, conventional NaOCl, a mixture of doxycycline, citric acid, and a detergent (MTAD) and their impact on the bond strength of glass fiber post to radicular dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty extracted human premolars were gathered and disinfected. The decoration was performed up to the cementoenamel junction. Using the crown down technique cleaning of the canal was done following rinse with distilled water. All canals were dried with paper points and obturated with gutta-percha. Post space was prepared using peso reamers and samples were randomly allocated into four groups following different disinfection regimes: Group 1 - Methylene blue photosensitizer (MBP) + MTAD; Group 2 - RBP (Rose Bengal photosensitizer) + MTAD; Group 3 - CP (curcumin photosensitizer) + MTAD and Group 4 - 2.25% NaOCl + MTAD (control). Following disinfection, the canals were dried and the post was placed and cemented within the canal. Samples were dissected at coronal, middle, and apical third and placed in a universal testing machine for push-out bond strength (PBS). Debonded surfaces were evaluated for failure modes. PBS was examined using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The means of PBS were compared using Tukey multiple comparison tests with a significance threshold of (p<0.05). RESULTS: Group 3 canals disinfected with CP and MTAD had the highest PBS at two levels: cervical (9.57±1.21 MPa), middle (6.37±0.79 MPa), and group 2 canal space disinfected by RBP and MTAD had the maximum PBS in apical portion (5.35±0.42 MPa). No significant difference at all root levels between group 2 (RBP + MTAD) and group 3 (p>0.05). Canal irrigation with group 1 (MBP + MTAD) and group 4 control (2.25% NaOCl + MTAD) exhibited comparable PBS at all three levels of the root. CONCLUSIONS: CP, MTAD, RBP and MTAD for canal disinfection and bonding of glass fiber post to radicular dentin demonstrated comparable bond values at all three root levels and can be recommended in clinical settings after further investigations.

m-carboxycinnamic acid bishydroxamide improves developmental competence, reduces apoptosis and alters epigenetic status and gene expression pattern in cloned buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos.

Incomplete or aberrant reprogramming of nuclear genome is one of the major problems in somatic cell nuclear transfer. In this study, we studied the effect of histone deacetylase inhibitor m-carboxycinnamic acid bishydroxamide (CBHA) on in vitro development of buffalo embryos produced by Hand-made cloning. Cloned embryos were treated with CBHA (0, 5, 10, 20 or 50 µM) for 10 hr from the start of reconstruction till activation. At 10 µM, but not at other concentrations examined, CBHA increased (p < .05) the blastocyst rate (63.77 ± 3.97% vs 48.63 ± 3.55%) and reduced (p < .05) the apoptotic index of the cloned blastocysts (8.91 ± 1.94 vs 4.36 ± 1.08) compared to untreated controls, to levels similar to those in IVF blastocysts (4.78 ± 0.74). CBHA treatment, at all the concentrations examined, increased (p < .05) the global level of H3K9ac in cloned blastocysts than in untreated controls to that observed in IVF blastocysts. Treatment with CBHA (10 µM) decreased (p < .05) the global level of H3K27me3 in cloned blastocysts than in untreated controls but it was still higher (p < .05) than in IVF blastocysts. CBHA (10 µM) treatment increased (p < .05) the relative expression level of pluripotency-related genes OCT-4 and NANOG, and anti-apoptotic gene BCL-XL, and decreased (p < .05) that of pro-apoptotic gene BAX than in untreated controls but did not affect the relative expression level of apoptosis-related genes p53 and CASPASE3 and epigenetics-related genes DNMT1, DNMT3a and HDAC1. These results suggest that treatment of cloned embryos with 10 µM CBHA improves the blastocyst rate, reduces the level of apoptosis and alters the epigenetic status and gene expression pattern.

Pharmacophore modelling, atom-based 3D-QSAR generation and virtual screening of molecules projected for mPGES-1 inhibitory activity.

COX-2 inhibitors exhibit anticancer effects in various cancer models but due to the adverse side effects associated with these inhibitors, targeting molecules downstream of COX-2 (such as mPGES-1) has been suggested. Even after calls for mPGES-1 inhibitor design, to date there are only a few published inhibitors targeting the enzyme and displaying anticancer activity. In the present study, we have deployed both ligand and structure-based drug design approaches to hunt novel drug-like candidates as mPGES-1 inhibitors. Fifty-four compounds with tested mPGES-1 inhibitory value were used to develop a model with four pharmacophoric features. 3D-QSAR studies were undertaken to check the robustness of the model. Statistical parameters such as r2 = 0.9924, q2 = 0.5761 and F test = 1139.7 indicated significant predictive ability of the proposed model. Our QSAR model exhibits sites where a hydrogen bond donor, hydrophobic group and the aromatic ring can be substituted so as to enhance the efficacy of the inhibitor. Furthermore, we used our validated pharmacophore model as a three-dimensional query to screen the FDA-approved Lopac database. Finally, five compounds were selected as potent mPGES-1 inhibitors on the basis of their docking energy and pharmacokinetic properties such as ADME and Lipinski rule of five.

Egg production performance, egg yolk antioxidant profile and excreta concentration of corticosterone in golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus) fed diets containing different levels of green vegetables.

In order to study the effect of feeding graded levels of green vegetables on egg production performance and egg yolk antioxidant status, 27 female golden pheasants (GP) were randomly distributed into three groups of nine each in an experiment based on completely randomized design. The diets of the birds in groups T1 , T2 and T3 contained 1.4%, 2.7% and 5.0% of green vegetables respectively. Feeding of experimental diets started on 12th February (day 1) and was continued till 30 June 2012. Average number of eggs laid and egg mass produced by the hens in group T3 was higher (p < 0.004) than those of T1 and T2 . Hen day egg production was lowest (p < 0.001) in group T1 . Roche yolk colour score was highest (p < 0.01) in T3 followed by T2 and was lowest in T1 . Other external and internal egg quality parameters were similar among the groups. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of egg yolk was higher (p < 0.04) in group T3 as compared to other two groups. Egg yolk concentration of total carotenoids, ß-carotene, total sulfhydryl, protein-bound sulfhydryl and non-protein-bound sulfhydryl was higher (p < 0.05), whereas concentration of malondialdehyde was lower (p < 0.024) in group T3 as compared to other two groups. Excreta concentration of corticosterone was highest (p < 0.012) in T1 , followed by T2 , and was lowest in T3 . Egg yolk concentration of TAC and TSH was positively and that of malondialdehyde was negatively correlated with carotenoids intake. Excreta concentration of corticosterone was negatively correlated with carotenoids intake. It was concluded that incorporation of green vegetables in the diet at 5% on dry matter basis would improve egg production, egg yolk antioxidant status and the ability of the captive GP to combat stress.

Estimation of endogenous levels of osteopontin, total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde in seminal plasma: Application for fertility assessment in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bulls.

This study was attempted to identify subfertile bulls by quantifying the endogenous levels of osteopontin (OPN), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in seminal plasma of buffalo bulls. On the basis of conception rate, buffalo bulls were classified into two groups: high-fertile (conception rate >50%) and subfertile bulls (conception rate <40%). A total of 100 ejaculates (10 ejaculates from each bull) were collected through artificial vagina method. The concentration of OPN, TAC and catalase (CAT) of high-fertile bulls was found to be higher (p < .05) than that of subfertile bulls. Further, MDA level in seminal plasma was found to be lower (p < .05) in high-fertile bulls compared with subfertile bulls. The fertility status had no effect on the superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration in seminal plasma of both the groups. The levels of OPN (r = .678, p = 0.013) and TAC (r = .648, p = .042) were found to be positively correlated with bull fertility and the level of MDA (r = -.718, p = .019) was found to be negatively correlated with bull fertility. However, the fertility of bulls was not found to be significantly correlated with SOD, CAT and sperm motility. In conclusion, seminal OPN, TAC and MDA tended to be more realistic in identification of subfertile bulls from breeding herds.

A case of medulloblastoma in adult patient affected by anaplastic oligoastrocytoma.

Medulloblastomas and high-grade gliomas (HGG) are two distinct brain tumor, with different peculiarities in terms of age of onset, localizations and prognosis. The coexistence of the two neoplasms in the same adult patient is an extremely rare event. We present the case of a woman treated with radio-chemotherapy for an HGG, who developed a cerebellar medulloblastoma 7 years later. Considering the poor prognosis of these tumors, the lack of knowledge about the mechanisms of onset as well as effective therapies, it is necessary to determine the exact role of irradiation and the presence of any potential molecular genetic abnormalities in the developing of the two tumors.

Influence of dietary protein on serum metabolites and antioxidant status: A study in Chrysolophus amherstiae.

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of feeding graded levels of dietary crude protein (CP) on serum biochemical profile of Lady Amherst's pheasants (LAP). Eighteen male LAP were randomly distributed into three groups of six each in an experiment based on completely randomized design. The CP content of the diets was 13.4%, 16.5%, and 19.1%, in groups I, II, and III, respectively. Serum concentrations of uric acid was lowest (P < 0.05) in group I. Relationship between serum concentration of uric acid and nitrogen intake was linear (R(2) = 0.39, P < 0.01). Concentrations of other serum metabolites and enzymes were similar among the groups. Serum concentration of triiodothyronine (T3 ) was highest (P < 0.05) in group I, followed by groups II and III. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of serum was lower (P < 0.007), whereas serum concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher (P < 0.001) in group I as compared to groups II and III. Regression of serum concentration of TAC (R(2) = 0.74, P < 0.01) and MDA (R(2) = 0.39, P < 0.05) was polynomial. Heterophil to lymphocyte ratio was higher (P < 0.007) in group I as compared to groups II and III. Relationship between H/L ratio and nitrogen intake was polynomial (R(2) = 0.69, P < 0.05). Cell mediated immune response measured as foot web index was similar among the groups. Based upon the results, it was concluded that a diet containing 16.5% crude protein would be optimum for improving antioxidant defense and the ability of Lady Amherst's pheasant to combat stress. Zoo Biol. 35:346-354, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Radiation therapy outcomes in muscle invasive urinary bladder cancer: A single institution experience.

INTRODUCTION: To audit the survival outcomes and loco-regional control in muscle invasive urinary bladder cancer patients treated with external beam radiation therapy (RT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 2008 through December 2011, 50 consecutively diagnosed muscle invasive urinary bladder carcinoma (T2-4a N0-2, M0) patients were included in this retrospective study. All these patients received external beam RT to a median dose of 60 Gy (range 30-66 Gy), and were not suitable for radical surgery due to patients' preference or medical comorbidities. A stepwise procedure using proportional hazard regression was used to identify prognostic factors with respect to survival. RESULTS: Completion trans-urethral resection of bladder tumor was done in 38 (76%) patients of the cohort and 47 (94%) had transitional cell carcinoma on histopathology. Clinical stage T2 was diagnosed in 40 (80%) patients. The median follow-up for the entire cohort was 14 ± 8.9 months (range 1-36 months). In conclusion, 24 patients (48%) were free of disease, 5 patients (10%) had residual disease, and 13 patients (26%) had died of disease. Two-year and 3 year overall survival of intact bladder for the entire cohort was 58% and 43.6%, respectively. Cox regression modeling strongly suggested clinical stage (P = 0.01) and RT dose (P = 0.001) as being predictors for overall survival. CONCLUSION: RT shows reliable outcomes and excellent compliance in this advanced disease. Prescribing a higher RT dose could potentially correlate to better intact bladder control rates while maintaining good quality of life in selected patients.

Treatment of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) donor cells with trichostatin A and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine alters their growth characteristics, gene expression and epigenetic status and improves the in vitro developmental competence, quality and epigenetic status of cloned embryos.

We examined the effects of treating buffalo skin fibroblast donor cells with trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5azadC), a DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor, on the cells and embryos produced by hand-made cloning. Treatment of donor cells with TSA or 5azadC resulted in altered expression levels of the HDAC1, DNMT1, DNMT3a, P53, CASPASE3 and CASPASE9 genes and global levels of acetylation of lysine at position 9 or 14 in histone 3 (H3K9/14ac), acetylation of lysine at position 5 in histone 4 (H4K5ac), acetylation of lysine at position 18 in histone 3 (H3K18ac) and tri-methylation of lysine at position 27 in histone 3 (H3K27me3). Moreover, global levels of DNA methylation and activity of DNMT1 and HDAC1 were decreased, while global acetylation of H3 and H3K9 was significantly increased in comparison to untreated cells. Simultaneous treatment of donor cells with TSA (50nM) and 5azadC (7.5nM) resulted in higher in vitro development to the blastocyst stage, reduction of the apoptotic index and the global level of H3K27 me3 and altered expression levels of HDAC1, P53, CASPASE3, CASPASE9 and DNMT3a in cloned blastocysts. Transfer of cloned embryos produced with donor cells treated with TSA led to the birth of a calf that survived for 21 days. These results show that treatment of buffalo donor cells with TSA and 5azadC improved developmental competence and quality of cloned embryos and altered their epigenetic status and gene expression, and that these beneficial effects were mediated by a reduction in DNA and histone methylation and an increase in histone acetylation in donor cells.

Awareness on Hypertension and its Self-Management Practices Among Hypertensive Patients Attending Outreach Clinics of a Medical College in South India.

Background Recent data suggest that hypertension is a significant public health problem in India. The success strategies for hypertension management depend upon clients' awareness on hypertension and its self-management practices. Objective To determine awareness, self-management practices and compliance with treatment among hypertensive patients. Method This cross-sectional study was done in January 2012 at four health centres in Mangalore. All confirmed cases of hypertension attending the outpatient department were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Result Majority (58.7%) of the 315 participants were of the age group 41 to 60 years and majority (53.6%) were males. Most patients (69.5%) were educated up to high school level. The awareness level about hypertension was average or good in majority (52.4%) of the participants. Self-management practices were found to be average or good among 60.6% cases. Good compliance with treatment was seen in 78.7% cases and blood pressure was in control in 72.4% cases. Quality of self-management practices was found to influence control of blood pressure (p=0.021). Awareness, self-management practices and compliance were found to be significantly poor among aged (above 50 years), males, less educated, unemployed, unskilled or retired patients. Conclusion Awareness on hypertension and self-management practices were average or above among majority of the studied population. However this study identified groups who need to be better educated and further monitored to achieve universal blood pressure control among hypertensive population during the routine health care services in this settings.

Topical cyclosporine to control ocular surface disease in patients with chronic glaucoma after long-term usage of topical ocular hypotensive medications.

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in ocular surface and central corneal sub-basal nerve fiber layer (SBNFL) after topical cyclosporin therapy in chronic glaucoma patients on long-term topical antiglaucoma therapy. METHODS: A prospective comparative study of ocular surface evaluation of chronic glaucoma patients on long-term topical therapy treated concurrently with a topical cyclosporine 0.05% twice daily for 6 months and controls was done. The study parameters evaluated at recruitment and at the 6-month follow-up included details of topical antiglaucoma medications, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, ocular surface evaluation parameters (TBUT, Schirmers I, ocular surface staining scores and ocular surface disease (OSD) index score (OSDI)), central corneal sensation (Cochet Bonnett aesthesiometer), and central confocal microscopy to study the SBNFL density (SBNFLD). RESULTS: Thirty-two eyes of 16 patients with chronic glaucoma and 30 eyes of 15 normal subjects as controls were studied. Mean TBUT, pre/post CsA treatment was 8.67±3.01/12.24±1.83 s (P=0.007). Mean conjunctival/corneal staining scores pre/post CsA treatment were 3.38±1.93/1.50±0.718 (P=0.00) /5.19±1.82/1.81±0.78 (P=0.098), respectively. Mean OSDI pre/post CsA treatment scores were 30.63±14.61/14.76±6.06 (P=0.007). Mean corneal sensations scores pre/post CsA treatment were 4.64±0.46/4.94±0.39 (P=0.002). Central corneal SBNFLD pre and post CsA treatment was 8811.35±2985.29/10335.13±4092.064 µm/mm(2) (P=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Schirmer's test, ocular surface staining scores, OSDI, corneal sensations, and corneal SBNFLD showed a statistically significant improvement following a 6-month concurrent topical CsA therapy.

Effect of donor cell type on developmental competence, quality, gene expression, and epigenetic status of interspecies cloned embryos produced using cells from wild buffalo and oocytes from domestic buffalo.

This study compared the cloning efficiency of donor cells of fibroblast and epithelial origin isolated from ear skin of a wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee) and used with cytoplasts from domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in interspecies SCNT by hand-made cloning. The cleavage (93.0 ± 2.8% vs. 85.6 ± 2.4%) and blastocyst rates (50.6 ± 4.0% vs. 20.5 ± 2.6%) were higher (P < 0.05) for fibroblasts than those for epithelial cells, whereas the total cell number (490 ± 42 and 492 ± 95, respectively) and apoptotic index (2.3 ± 0.3 and 2.5 ± 0.6, respectively) of blastocysts were similar. The global level of H3K18ac and H3K27me3 was lower (P < 0.05) in fibroblasts than that in epithelial cells. The global level of H3K18ac was higher (P < 0.05) in fibroblast than that in epithelial cell-derived blastocysts, whereas that of H3K27me3 was similar between the two groups. The expression level of HDAC1, DNMT1, DNMT3a, and P53 was higher (P < 0.05) in fibroblasts than that in epithelial cells; that of CASPASE3 showed an opposite pattern (P < 0.001), whereas CASPASE7 expression level was similar in the two groups. In the embryos, the expression level of HDAC1, DNMT3a, and CDX2 was lower (P < 0.05) in fibroblast than that in epithelial cell-derived blastocysts; that of NANOG showed an opposite pattern (P < 0.05), whereas that of OCT4 was similar between the two groups. In conclusion, donor cells of fibroblast origin are easier to reprogram than those of epithelial origin in interspecies SCNT, and cloning efficiency, epigenetic status, and gene expression pattern vary among cells having different origin although they may be from the same tissue.

Effect of feeding Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) root as prebiotic on nutrient utilization, fecal characteristics and serum metabolite profile of captive Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) fed a meat-on-bone diet.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of incorporating Jerusalem artichoke (JA) as a prebiotic in the diet of Indian leopards (n = 11 adults) fed a meat-on-bone diet. The trial consisted of three periods (A1 , B, and A2 ). Each period comprised 17 days of adaptation and four days of collection. During the control periods (A1 and A2 ), the leopards were fed their normal zoo diets of 2.5-3 kg of buffalo meat-on-bone six days a week without any supplement. During trial B, meat-on-bone diets of the leopards were supplemented with JA at 2% of dietary dry matter (DM). Meat consumption was similar among the treatments. Supplementation of JA decreased the digestibility of crude protein (P < 0.01). Digestibilities of organic matter and ether extract were similar among the treatments. Serum concentrations of urea and triglycerides were lower (P < 0.05) when JA was added to the diet. Incorporation of JA to the basal diet increased fecal concentrations of acetate (P < 0.01), butyrate (P < 0.01), lactate (P < 0.01), Lactobacillus spp., and Bifidobacterium spp. (P < 0.01) with a simultaneous decrease in the concentration of ammonia (P < 0.01), Clostridia spp. (P < 0.01), and fecal pH (P < 0.01). Fecal microbial profiles and hind gut fermentation were improved, without any adverse effects on feed consumption, nutrient utilization, and serum metabolite profiles. Results of this experiment showed that feeding JA at 2% DM in the whole diet could be potentially beneficial for captive Indian leopards fed meat-on-bone diets.

Early cleavage of handmade cloned buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos is an indicator of their developmental competence and quality.

Following IVF, embryos which cleave early have been shown to have higher developmental competence and quality than those that cleave relatively later across many species. We investigated the effect of time of cleavage on the developmental competence, quality, epigenetic status and gene expression in buffalo embryos produced by handmade cloning (HMC). Following classification of embryos as early cleaving (EC) or late cleaving (LC) based on whether they had cleaved or not at 24 h post in vitro culture, 54% (164/303) were found to be EC and the rest to be LC. The blastocyst rate (58.1 ± 3.4 vs 36.9 ± 1.6%, p < 0.01) and the total cell number (285.5 ± 41.9 vs 141.4 ± 36.1, p < 0.05) were higher, whereas the apoptotic index (3.6 ± 0.6 vs 12.2 ± 1.7, p < 0.01) and the global level of H3K9ac and H3K27me3 were lower (p < 0.05) in the blastocysts produced from EC than in those produced from LC embryos. The relative transcript level of CASPASE3, CASPASE7, DNMT1, DNMT3a and CDX2 was higher (p < 0.05) and that of SOX2 was lower (p < 0.05) in blastocysts produced from LC than in those produced from EC embryos, whereas the expression level of CASPASE6, P53, P21, HDAC1, OCT4 and NANOG was not significantly different between the two groups. These results show that (i) following HMC, blastocysts produced from embryos that cleave early differ from those produced from late cleaving embryos in terms of epigenetic status and expression level of many important apoptosis-, pluripotency-, trophectoderm- and epigenetics-related genes, and (ii) EC embryos are superior to LC embryos in view of their higher developmental competence and quality.

Effect of concentrates restriction on feed consumption, diet digestibility, and nitrogen utilization in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).

In order to study the effect of concentrates restriction on feed consumption, diet digestibility, and utilization of nitrogen in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), two feeding trials were conducted on three juveniles, four sub-adults, and three adults. During trial I, the conventional zoo diets of juveniles, sub-adults, and adult contained 22, 17, and 16% of concentrates on dry matter (DM) basis, respectively. During trial II, the amount of concentrate was reduced by 50%. A digestion trial of five days collection period was conducted during each period. The animals ate more roughages when concentrates were restricted. Intake of DM (g/kg BW(0.75) /day) was highest in sub-adults, followed by juveniles and adults. Apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent soluble (NDS), and supply of digestible energy (DE) was highest in juveniles, followed by sub-adults and adults. Based upon the estimated metabolic fecal nitrogen (MFN) and calculated endogenous urinary nitrogen (EUN) and dermal losses, minimum dietary CP required to meet maintenance requirement was estimated to be 6.12, 6.05, and 5.97% in juveniles, sub-adults, and adults, respectively. Restriction of concentrates resulted in decreased (P < 0.05) digestibility of DM and GE, but the diet still supplied adequate amounts of DE and CP to fulfill estimated requirements of energy and protein during the period of experimentation. Thus, the concentrates portion of the diets of captive Asian elephants should be fed in a restricted way so as to reduce the intake of excessive calories and the potential risk of obesity.

Effect of feeding different levels of wheat roti on nutrient utilization and blood metabolite profile in semi-captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of different levels of wheat roti (WR) on nutrient utilization and blood metabolites in Asian elephants fed roughages ad libitum. Nine (3 M, 6 F) Asian elephants (14-52 years of age, 1909-3968 kg BW) were used in an experiment based on replicated Latin square design. Animals in each group (n = 3) were assigned to one of the three dietary treatments in a manner that animals in all the three groups were exposed to all the three treatments in three different periods. Each feeding trial comprised 30 days (25 days of adaptation and 5 days collection period). The amount of WR fed to the elephants was 0.18, 0.12 and 0.06% of BW in groups I, II and III, respectively. They were allowed to forage in the nearby forests for 6 h/day and to bathe for 2 h/day. The animals had ad libitum access to cut Rohini (Mallotus philippensis) trees in their night shelter. Intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), gross energy (GE), Ca, P, Fe, Cu and Zn were measured. Feed consumption was not significantly different among the groups. Significant (p < 0.01) decrease in digestibility of DM and GE and blood glucose concentration was observed with decreased level of WR in the diet. Feeding of WR at 0.06% of BW supplied adequate amount of DE, CP, Ca, P, Fe, Cu and Zn to meet requirement for adult maintenance. Feeding of WR in excess of 0.06% of BW supplied DE in excess of requirement, increased blood glucose concentration which may cause obesity and other associated health problems. It was concluded that the amount of WR should be restricted to 0.06% of BW in the diet of captive Asian elephants.

Transverse myelitis due to Staphylococcus aureus may occur without contiguous spread.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report of staphylococcal transverse myelitis. OBJECTIVES: To illustrate the clinical presentation of acute transverse myelitis due to Staphylococcus aureus, without a contiguous source of infection. SETTING: National Neuroscience Institute. CASE REPORT: A 79-year-old female was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis. Clues to an infectious etiology included fever, raised inflammatory markers and cerebrospinal fluid neutrophilic pleocytosis. Staphylococcal etiology was established based on cerebrospinal fluid and blood cultures. Despite extensive investigations, no contiguous or systemic source of infection could be identified. She was treated with appropriate antibiotics; however, neurological recovery was poor. CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial myelitis may occur in isolation and the diagnosis should not be discounted when evaluation shows an absence of a contiguous or systemic source of infection.