Toxicity Evaluation, Plant Growth Promotion, and Anti-fungal Activity of Endophytic Bacteria-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles.

In recent years, the uses of silver nanoparticles have increased, which lead to nanoparticles discharge into aquatic bodies which may, if not well controlled, have harmful effect on different organisms. This calls for the need to constantly evaluate the toxicity level of nanoparticles. In this study, green biosynthesized silver nanoparticles mediated by endophytic bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii (CS-AgNPs) were subjected to toxicity evaluation by brine shrimp lethality assay. The ability of CS-AgNPs to improve plant growth by nanopriming of Vigna radiata L seeds treated with different concentrations (1ppm, 2.5ppm, 5ppm and 10ppm) in order to enhance biochemical constituents was investigated, also its inhibitory effect to growth of phytopathogenic fungi Mucor racemose was examined. Results showed that Artemia salina treated with CS-AgNPs exhibited good hatching percentage and LC50 value of 688.41 µg/ml when Artemia salina eggs were exposed to CS-AgNPs during hatching. Plant growth was enhanced at 2.5ppm CS-AgNPs, with increased photosynthetic pigments, protein, and carbohydrate content. This study suggests that silver nanoparticles synthesized via endophytic bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii are safe to use and can be utilized as means of combating plant fungal pathogens.

A multicentre, prospective, randomised, blinded clinical trial to compare some perioperative effects of buprenorphine or butorphanol premedication before equine elective general anaesthesia and surgery.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Buprenorphine, a µ-agonist opioid, has recently been licensed for equine use, but butorphanol, a κ-agonist opioid, is more commonly used in horses. The effect of the 2 opioids has not previously been compared in a large clinical study. OBJECTIVES: To compare post operative analgesia and physiological variables in horses undergoing elective surgery following premedication with either buprenorphine or butorphanol in a conventional clinical setting. STUDY DESIGN: Multicentre, prospective, randomised, blinded clinical investigation. METHODS: Eighty-nine healthy horses admitted for elective surgery to one of 6 UK equine veterinary clinics were premedicated with acepromazine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and romifidine followed by intravenous (i.v.) buprenorphine or butorphanol. Anaesthesia was induced with diazepam/ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. A range of surgical procedures were performed and supplementary anaesthetic agents given as required. Physiological variables were monitored during anaesthesia and pain, ataxia, sedation and vital function were assessed post operatively. Data were analysed using t-tests, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U-test and Chi-squared test as appropriate and P<0.05 was regarded as significant, except for multiple comparisons, when P<0.01 was used. RESULTS: Surgery was carried out successfully in all cases and no mortality or serious morbidity occurred. Physiological variables remained within normal limits and all horses recovered successfully, most standing within 1 h of ceasing anaesthesia. There were no significant differences between groups in any variable except post operative pain when scores (simple descriptive scale) between 3 and 6 h were significantly lower after buprenorphine than after butorphanol. CONCLUSIONS: Horses experienced less post operative pain after buprenorphine than after butorphanol premedication. Compared with butorphanol, buprenorphine did not cause any different effects on vital function.

Shape analysis of the corpus callosum in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration subtypes.

Morphology of the corpus callosum is a useful biomarker of neuronal loss, as different patterns of cortical atrophy help to distinguish between dementias such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). We used a sophisticated morphometric analysis of the corpus callosum in FTLD subtypes including frontotemporal dementia (FTD), semantic dementia (SD), and progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA), and compared them to AD patients and 27 matched controls. FTLD patient subgroups diverged in their callosal morphology profiles, with FTD patients showing marked widespread differences, PNFA patients with differences largely in the anterior half of the callosum, and SD patients differences in a small segment of the genu. AD patients showed differences in predominantly posterior callosal regions. This study is consistent with our previous findings showing significant cortical and subcortical regional atrophy across FTLD subtypes, and suggests that callosal atrophy patterns differentiate AD from FTLD, and FTLD subtypes.

Postcastration analgesia in ponies using buprenorphine hydrochloride.

Buprenorphine has recently obtained UK Marketing Authorisation for horses. The analgesic effects are long lasting, and have considerable potential for postoperative pain relief. This observer blinded, randomised study aimed to evaluate postsurgical analgesia in ponies premedicated with buprenorphine prior to castration under intravenous anaesthesia. Ponies received either 0.01 mg/kg bodyweight (BW) buprenorphine (group B) or an equivalent volume of 5 per cent glucose (group C) given intravenously before induction of anaesthesia. Pain was assessed and recorded using dynamic interactive visual analogue scores (DIVAS 0-100) and a Simple Descriptive Scale (SDS 0-3) (high scores=most pain) before and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 hours after anaesthesia. Rescue analgesia was given if DIVAS>40 mm. Data were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test at P<0.05. Median (range) areas under the curve for DIVAS were 63 (0-383) mm hour in group B and 209 (0-391) mm hour in group C (P=0.0348). The SDS was lower in group B than in group C (P=0.038). Three group B and five group C animals required rescue analgesia. Buprenorphine did not produce any serious adverse effects. Buprenorphine at 0.01 mg/kg BW intravenously administered before anaesthesia provided near-comprehensive postoperative analgesia after surgical castration in ponies.

Effects of acepromazine, butorphanol and buprenorphine on thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds in horses.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: To investigate the antinociceptive effects of buprenorphine administered in combination with acepromazine in horses and to establish an effective dose for use in a clinical environment. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the responses to thermal and mechanical stimulation following administration of 3 doses of buprenorphine compared to positive (butorphanol) and negative (glucose) controls. METHODS: Observer blinded, randomised, crossover design using 6 Thoroughbred geldings (3-10 years, 500-560 kg). Thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds were measured 3 times at 15 min intervals. Horses then received acepromazine 0.05 mg/kg bwt with one of 5 treatments i.v.: 5% glucose (Glu), butorphanol 100 µg/kg bwt (But) buprenorphine 5 µg/kg bwt (Bup5), buprenorphine 7.5 µg/kg bwt (Bup7.5) and buprenorphine 10 µg/kg bwt (Bup10). Thresholds were measured 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 230 min, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 24 h post treatment administration. The 95% confidence intervals for threshold temperature (ΔT) for each horse were calculated and an antinociceptive effect defined as ΔT, which was higher than the upper limit of the confidence interval. Duration of thermal antinociception was analysed using a within-subjects ANOVA and peak mechanical thresholds with a general linear model with post hoc Tukey tests. Significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS: Mean (± s.d.) durations of thermal antinociception following treatment administration were: Glu 0.5 (1.1), But 2.9 (2.0), Bup5 7.4 (2.3), Bup7.5 7.8 (2.7) and Bup10 9.4 (1.1) h. B5, B7.5 and B10 were significantly different from Glu and But. No serious adverse effects occurred, although determination of mechanical thresholds was confounded by locomotor stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of acepromazine and all doses of buprenorphine produced antinociception to a thermal stimulus for significantly longer than acepromazine and either butorphanol or glucose. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: This study suggests that buprenorphine has considerable potential as an analgesic in horses and should be examined further under clinical conditions and by investigation of the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile.

PP142. Independent effects of pregnancy induced hypertension on childhood development: A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of maternal pre-eclampsia on neurological and cognitive development of children is not well known. A literature search of Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL revealed differing opinions in the current literature. It would appear that there is uncertainty regarding the independent effects of preterm birth, birth weight and pre-eclampsia on early childhood development, complicated by the fact that most pre-eclamptic mothers are delivered preterm, and many such babies are growth restricted. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether maternal hypertension in pregnancy was independently associated with additional support needs in children STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study Setting: Grampian region of Scotland Main outcome measure: The primary outcome of interest was whether a child had developed a record in the Support Needs System (Grampian). Secondary outcomes included the development of a particular disorder or deficiency for example, autism. METHODS: Linkage of birth records of all singleton deliveries occurring in primigravidae between 1995 and 2008 in Aberdeen Maternity and Neonatal Databank with the Support Needs System (SNS) dataset in Grampian. The database from which the study population is derived - the Aberdeen Maternity and Neonatal Databank (AMND) has been in existence since 1950 The Support Needs System (SNS) is part of a Scottish-wide database recording information about children who have additional support needs for more than six months and has been utilised in Grampian since 1998. The first exposed cohort comprised children whose mothers had pre-eclampsia or eclampsia and the second, those whose mothers had gestational hypertension. Children with normotensive mothers formed the unexposed cohort. Hypertensive status in pregnancy was based on Davey and MacGillivray's classification of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence Intervals of having a record in SNS in the presence of maternal pregnancy induced hypertension were calculated using logistic regression taking account of confounders such as preterm birth and low birth weight. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounding factors, neither pre-eclampsia {Adj OR 0.80 (95% CI 0.60,1.07)} nor gestational hypertension {Adj OR 1.16 (95% CI 0.99,1.36)} showed statistically significant associations with additional support needs. An association of pre-eclampsia with cerebral palsy seen on univariate analysis also disappeared on adjusting for confounders {Adj OR 1.26 (95% CI 0.43, 3.68)}. Birth before 32 weeks gestation and birthweight below 1500g were independently associated with additional support needs in children. CONCLUSION: While maternal hypertension was not found to be independently associated with special needs in children, very preterm birth and very low birthweight showed an association.

Assessment of the sedative effects of buprenorphine administered with 20 microg/kg detomidine in horses.

The aim of this randomised, observer-blinded, crossover study was to compare the effects of four treatments, administered intravenously to six horses: saline and saline; 10 µg/kg detomidine and 7.5 µg/kg buprenorphine; 20 µg/kg detomidine and 7.5 µg/kg buprenorphine; and 20 µg/kg detomidine and 10 µg/kg buprenorphine. Sedation was subjectively assessed and recorded on a visual analogue scale. Peak sedation and duration of sedation were investigated using a univariate general linear model with post-hoc Tukey tests (P<0.05). Increasing the dose of detomidine from 10 to 20 µg/kg increased the degree of sedation when administered with the same dose of buprenorphine (7.5 µg/kg). When administered with 20 µg/kg detomidine, increasing the dose of buprenorphine from 7.5 to 10 µg/kg did not influence the degree of sedation achieved.

Assessment of the sedative effects of buprenorphine administered with 10 µg/kg detomidine in horses.

The aim of this randomised, observer-blinded, crossover study was to compare the effects of six treatments, administered intravenously to six horses: saline and saline (S/S); detomidine and saline (D/S); detomidine and 5 µg/kg buprenorphine (D/B5); detomidine and 7.5 µg/kg buprenorphine (D/B7.5); detomidine and 10 µg/kg buprenorphine (D/B10); and detomidine and 25 µg/kg butorphanol (D/BUT). The detomidine dose was 10 µg/kg for all treatments in which it was included. Sedation was subjectively assessed and recorded on a visual analogue scale. Peak sedation, duration of sedation and the area under the curve (AUC) for sedation scores were investigated using a univariate general linear model with post-hoc Tukey tests (P<0.05). Peak sedation and duration of sedation were statistically significantly different between treatments (P<0.001). No sedation was apparent after administration of S/S. The AUC was significantly different between treatments (P=0.010), with S/S being significantly different from D/S, D/BUT, D/B5 and D/B7.5, but not D/B10 (P=0.051).

Analgesic effect of butorphanol in ponies following castration.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: In the UK butorphanol has a marketing authorisation for administration to horses for sedation in combination with detomidine, and at a higher dose (0.1 mg/kg bwt), for the alleviation of pain. There is only a limited number of clinical studies designed to examine the analgesic effects of butorphanol administration following surgery. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of premedication with butorphanol on post operative pain following castration under general anaesthesia in ponies. HYPOTHESIS: Ponies receiving butorphanol would experience less pain after castration than ponies that did not receive butorphanol. METHODS: A randomised, observer blinded clinical study in which 20 ponies received butorphanol and detomidine (Group B) or detomidine alone (Group C). Anaesthesia was induced with ketamine and diazepam and open castration performed. Pain was assessed by one individual using a dynamic interactive visual analogue scale (DIVAS) 100 mm in length (0 = no pain, 100 mm the maximum possible pain for that procedure). 'Rescue' analgesia was administered when DIVAS >50 mm and was butorphanol i.v. On the second occasion DIVAS was >50 mm, flunixin was administered i.v. Data from the DIVAS were analysed using a Mann Whitney Test. RESULTS: Only one animal did not require rescue analgesia after surgery (Group C). DIVAS were not significantly different between groups (P = 0.063). CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Castration is sufficiently painful that administration of a single preoperative dose of butorphanol does not provide adequate post operative analgesia.

Induction of anaesthesia with either midazolam or propofol in rabbits premedicated with fentanyl/fluanisone.

Fifty-four rabbits that were to be neutered were premedicated with 0.1 ml/kg fentanyl/fluanisone and then randomly allocated to be anaesthetised with either midazolam or propofol. Anaesthesia was then maintained with isoflurane. The ease of orotracheal intubation, the rabbits' cardiorespiratory variables, and the speed and quality of recovery from anaesthesia were assessed by the same anaesthetist who was unaware of the induction agent used. Hypotension was common in both groups. The mean (sd) respiratory rates were 30 (12) breaths per minute in the midazolam group and 43 (15) breaths per minute in the propofol group. The mean (sd) time to first head lift was 36 (21) minutes in the midazolam group and 14 (11) minutes in the propofol group, and the mean (sd) times to the return of the righting reflex were 35 (19) minutes and 15 (eight) minutes, respectively. The quality of recovery was better in the propofol group than in the midazolam group.

Recovery characteristics following maintenance of anaesthesia with sevoflurane or isoflurane in dogs premedicated with acepromazine.

A standard anaesthetic protocol was used to anaesthetise 40 dogs for intravenous urography and a retrograde urethrogram or vaginourethrogram. The dogs were allocated by blocked randomisation to receive either isoflurane or sevoflurane for maintenance of anaesthesia after they had been premedicated with acepromazine and pethidine, and anaesthesia induced with propofol. An observer who was unaware of which agent had been used assessed ataxia 30 and 60 minutes after discontinuation of administration of the anaesthetic and assigned an overall recovery score. No complications occurred during anaesthesia of either group of dogs. The scores for ataxia were significantly lower after 60 minutes than after 30 minutes, but there was no significant difference between the groups. The quality of recovery was significantly better in the dogs that received sevoflurane than in those that received isoflurane, but the recovery times were similar.

[Predictive equations and analysis of influence factors of lung ventilation based on a large occupational population in North China].

OBJECTIVE: To establish suitable predictive equations of lung function for occupational population in North China. METHODS: A total of 5 002 on the job or retired healthy adults from five enterprises in North China with category of mild or moderate work intensity underwent spirometry using a Chest HI-198 spirometer and the procedures recommended by the American Thoracic Society, were a sample. RESULTS: The data of 3 913 subjects were used. A normal distribution of our data was shown using the normality test and distribution curve. Univariate analysis showed that both age and height were significantly correlated with FVC, FEV(1), FEV(1)/FVC (%) and MMF. Further multiple linear stepwise regression analysis indicated that the levels of FVC, FEV(1), FEV(1)/FVC (%) and MMF were highly influenced by age, height, and weight rather than chest circumference. Thus, only age, height, and weight were introduced into our regression equations. Data from the studied subjects and other source were utilised to examine the validity of the equations and a high accordance rate (> 90%) was obtained. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was found in the predictive values between the simplified equations and equations in which more variables were included. CONCLUSION: The studied predictive equations for male non-smokers, female non-smokers, and male smokers were established based on data from a large occupational population. These equations should be more applicable for evaluating lung ventilatory function of occupational populations in North China.

The influence of diet upon liver function tests and serum lipids in healthy male volunteers resident in a Phase I unit.

AIM: To investigate the effect of diet upon liver function tests and serum lipids within the restricted environment of a Phase I unit. METHODS: An open randomized three-way crossover study was designed with subjects consuming three types of diet. The diets comprised, a balanced normal calorie diet, a high-carbohydrate high-calorie diet and a high-fat high-calorie diet. Each diet was consumed in a randomized sequence over 8 days with a recovery period of 14 days between periods. The blood concentrations of various laboratory parameters were measured at intervals throughout each dietary period and during the recovery periods. RESULTS: Blood transaminase activity and triglyceride concentrations increased significantly whilst subjects consumed a high-carbohydrate high-calorie diet but not when fed either a high-fat high-calorie diet or a balanced normal calorie diet. CONCLUSIONS: The rises in transaminases and triglycerides were caused by the carbohydrate content of the diet rather than its calorific value. Sucrose rather than starch was the carbohydrate which caused the rise in transaminases and triglycerides. The importance of controlling diet in Phase I studies is stressed.

Automated screening of blood donations for hepatitis C virus RNA using the Qiagen BioRobot 9604 and the Roche COBAS HCV Amplicor assay.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In order to reduce the potential for transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) from an RNA-positive, anti-HCV-negative blood donation, the National Blood Service (NBS) introduced nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) testing for HCV in England and Wales. The objective of this study was to develop an automated assay using commercial components for the detection of HCV RNA in blood donations for transfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Qiagen QIAamp 96 'Viral RNA' and 'Virus' BioRobot kits for HCV RNA extraction, and the Roche COBAS HCV Amplicor v2.0 and AmpliScreen v2.0 assays for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and detection, were investigated. RESULTS: QIAamp technology and the BioRobot 9604 allow automation of the viral RNA extraction process. By combining the automated silica-membrane based QIAamp 96 Virus extraction and automated reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) set-up with COBAS HCV AmpliScreen v2.0 amplification and detection it is possible to achieve a 95% detection level for HCV of 12.8 IU/ml. Cross-contamination studies have shown that use of the BioRobot 9604 does not pose a detectable contamination risk. Between 1999 and 2001, approximately 6.8 x 106 donations were tested in England and Wales, of which only four were found to contain RNA without anti-HCV. CONCLUSIONS: This combination of methods results in an assay with a high sample throughput, little 'hands-on' time and fast turnaround time that is also sufficiently sensitive to allow testing of pools of up to 96 samples at a time. These methods have been successfully introduced into routine use within the NBS for release of blood components with a shelf-life of longer than 24 h.

[Changes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of rats exposed to metal grinding dusts].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of composite grinding dusts on rat respiratory system. METHODS: Rats were administrated with grinding dusts by intratracheal injection. After 2 weeks, the total numbers of cells, the percentage of differential cell, the survival rate of cell, and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were analyzed. RESULTS: Along with increasing concentration of grinding dusts, the total number of cells in lavage also increased, and was more than that in quartz group. Compared with control group, the percentage of neutrophil in lavage of rats treated with grinding dust and quartz significantly increased and meanwhile that of macrophage significantly decreased[PMN: quartz group (33.83 +/- 4.54)%; grinding dusts group (26.50 +/- 3.99)%, (36.00 +/- 3.58)%, (38.00 +/- 2.10)% at 10, 25, 50 mg/ml respectively. Macrophages: quartz group (62.17 +/- 4.54)%; grinding dusts group (70.83 +/- 3.66)%, (60.83 +/- 2.14)%, (58.17 +/- 2.48)%] while those in control group were (2.83 +/- 0.75)%, (95.67 +/- 1.21)% respectively. The cell survival rate in lavage in control group was 80%, but that in grinding dust and TiO2 group significantly decreased(P < 0.01). The activity of LDH and ALP in all rats treated with dusts obviously increased, and there was significant difference compared with control group(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was significant difference between grinding dust group and quartz group, and between grinding dust group and TiO2 group respectively. CONCLUSION: Metal grinding dust is very harmful to rat's lung cells and may cause fibrogenesis in the lungs.

The contribution of transfusion to HCV infection in England.

The English HCV lookback programme has identified some individuals with transfusion-transmitted HCV infection. The path from the collection of donations from HCV-infected donors to the identification of infected recipients was constructed. The probability of different outcomes at each branch was derived from data collected during this programme. This path of probabilities was then used to produce a complete estimate of the number of recipients infected by blood transfusions (dead and alive at the end of 1995) by re-entry of blood components that fell out of the lookback at various steps prior to recipient testing, and entry of components from HCV-infected donations that were never identified for lookback. Less than 14,000 recipients were estimated to have been infected with HCV during the decade prior to the start of donation testing. Over 60% of these were expected to have died by the end of 1995. Transfusion has infected a large group of individuals. However, this group constitutes a very small, and declining, proportion of all HCV infections in the population.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed in patients with terminal illness in Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand.

BACKGROUND: The original target of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was victims of acute cardiopulmonary arrest. However, the use of CPR has expanded to a wide variety of patients including those with terminal illness for whom CPR is futile. The objective of this study was to identify the incidence of CPR performed, the severity of illness and the outcome of CPR attempted in terminal illness in a teaching hospital. METHODS: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempted in terminal illness was retrospectively assessed from the medical records of hospital deaths with any one of eight life-threatening diagnoses during a 3.5-year period. RESULTS: Of 532 hospital deaths from terminal illness, 411 records (77.3%) were reviewed and abstracted. Most of the 411 patients had a low pre-CPR functional status. Generally, CPR was performed in 270 (65.7%) cases; 114 of those given CPR (42.2%) initially survived, but all died shortly after the manoeuvre. The high death rate following CPR may reflect both terminal illnesses and the severity of pre-event functional capacity of patients. CONCLUSION: The criteria for CPR in this group of patients need to be re-assessed and use of a Cerebral Performance Categories (CPC) score may be helpful.