Controller design for finite-time and fixed-time stabilization of fractional-order memristive complex-valued BAM neural networks with uncertain parameters and time-varying delays.

In this paper we investigate controller design problem for finite-time and fixed-time stabilization of fractional-order memristive complex-valued BAM neural networks (FMCVBAMNNs) with uncertain parameters and time-varying delays. By using the Lyapunov theory, differential inclusion theory, and fractional calculus theory, finite-time stabilization condition for fractional-order memristive complex-valued BAM neural networks and the upper bound of the settling time for stabilization are obtained. The nonlinear complex-valued activation functions are split into two (real and imaginary) components. Moreover, the settling time of fixed time stabilization, that does not depend upon the initial values, is merely calculated. A novel criterion for guaranteeing the fixed-time stabilization of FMCVBAMNNs is derived. Our control scheme achieves system stabilization within bounded time and has an advantage in convergence rate. Numerical simulations are furnished to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis.

Hypereosinophilia: A rare presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) presenting as peripheral blood hypereosinophilia is very rare and the incidence is <1%. The characteristic feature of patients with ALL and hypereosinophilia is the absence of blasts in peripheral blood, and this might lead to misdiagnosis of ALL. It is important for clinicians and pathologists to be aware of this uncommon initial presentation of ALL to avoid delay in diagnosis. We report a 37-year-old man who presented with fever and respiratory symptoms and was found to have hypereosinophilia in peripheral blood. His bone marrow and lymph node biopsies were diagnostic of ALL.

Anterior maxillary osteotomy: A technical note for superior repositioning: A bird wing segment.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a single piece bird wing osteotectomy segment during anterior maxillary osteotomy (AMO) markedly reduces the duration of the surgery by nearly one-half of the time during bone removal with the conventional method thereby reducing the kinking effect to the palatal pedicle and gives good perfusion to the anterior segment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted at Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Dental Sciences composing of 20 patients in which male: female ratio was 8:12, with a mean age of 25-30 years. This bird wing segment technique is performed following presurgical orthodontics under the guidance of clinical assessment of the gummy smile with an incisal show when the lip is at repose (vertical maxillary excess), especially for the calculated amount of superior repositioning. It is calculated by subtracting 2 mm from the total amount of an incisor show when the lip is at repose. The normal incisal show when the lip is at repose is 2 mm. After conventional primary AMO cut was performed, the precise calculated. RESULTS: All our cases were tested positive for pulp vitality, no relapse, and minimal edema and with no changes in the bite or dentoalveolar relation followed until 1 year postoperatively indicating a good perfusion to the anterior segment and all the patients were satisfied esthetically and free of complaints. CONCLUSION: This simple technique allows the precise amount of calculated bone removal in a single piece from the nasal floor markedly reduces the duration of the surgery by nearly one-half of the time during bone removal with the conventional method there by reducing the kinking effect to the palatal pedicle and maintains good perfusion.

A new atraumatic method of removing fractured palatal root using endodontic H-files luted with resin modified glass ionomercement: A pilot study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of using endodontic H-files luted with Resin modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) in removing fractured palatal root. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study consists of 30 patients, of which 16 were males and 14 were females with a mean age of 36 years. In which, 19 were maxillary first molar and 11 were maxillary second molar. In that, 18 were fractured at the level of apical 1/3(rd) and 12 were at the level of apical 2/3(rd). All cases were first tried with endodontic H-files, within few attempts, it was wedged tightly in the remaining pulp chamber with one or two clockwise direction and using sudden jerk with a downward pull the remnant part was removed. The cases, which fail to deliver after several attempts were taken up for study. After sufficient isolation with a rubber dam and the socket was dried using sterile gauze, under good lighting and vision again the same file was introduced, which was now luted with RMGIC, after 5 min of setting time, the same attempt using sudden jerk with a downward pull was given. RESULTS: In those 30 cases, 20 cases were removed in the first few attempts using endodontic H-files. The 10 cases (7 cases were apical 2/3(rd) and 3 cases were of apical 1/3(rd)), which fails to come out were tried using endodontic H-files luted with RMGIC, in which 9 cases were successfully removed (90%) and 1 case of apical 1/3(rd) was again failed to come out. CONCLUSION: Even though, the number of cases were too small to come to a definitive conclusion, the encouraging result (90%) and technically easy, this is a novel method of removing fractured palatal root atraumatically and devoid of any complication.

Depression and diabetes in India: perspectives and recommendations.

As diabetes prevalence shifts from affluent to lower-income groups in India, focus on depression in diabetes will become essential. This paper describes four perspectives through which depression and diabetes should be understood in the Indian context. We consider (1) how rapid socio-economic and demographic changes contribute to increased co-occurring diabetes and depression; (2) how social, cultural and economic factors in the Indian context contribute to depression and therefore play an important role in diabetes care; (3) biological and behavioural pathways between depression and diabetes; and (4) the role of health systems in depression, diabetes and their overlap. We conclude with recommendations for future research and policy on this topic in India.

Tailored α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones and their effects on growth suppression in pancreatic carcinoma cells.

A selected series of racemic α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones (AMGBL) were synthesized via allylboration and screened against three human pancreatic cancer cell lines (Panc-1, MIA PaCa-2, and BxPC-3). This systematic study established a discernible relationship between the substitution pattern of AMGBL and their anti-proliferative activity. ß,γ-diaryl-AMGBLs, particularly those with a trans-relationship exhibited higher potency than parthenolide and LC-1 against all three cell lines.

Regulatory requirements for clinical trial and marketing authorisation application for gene therapy medicinal products.

Over the last two decades, clinical trials using gene therapy medicinal products (GTMPs) have been carried out for a large number of rare, inherited monogeneic disorders as well as common multigeneic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and infectious diseases including AIDS. Despite some early difficulties and setbacks, the gene therapy field has slowly progressed and, nowadays, offers the promise of novel treatments for a growing number of diseases. On the other hand, gene therapy approaches are often associated with additional risks due to limited clinical experience with a given gene transfer system, long-lasting effects of the therapeutic gene, and/or a complex mode of action. As a result, specific regulations and guidelines have been introduced within the EU to help address these uncertainties. This article summarises the legislative framework and will provide an overview on the regulatory requirements for clinical trials and marketing authorisation applications.

Effect of methanol intoxication on specific immune functions of albino rats.

Our previous studies revealed that methanol intoxication significantly altered the non-specific immune functions in albino rats. The present investigation focuses on the effect of methanol on certain specific immune functions of cell mediated immunity such as footpad thickness, leukocyte migration inhibition test (LMI) and antibody levels. In addition, serum interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma), and splenic lymphocyte subsets were measured after an immune challenge. The specific immune function tests were carried out in three different groups of albino rats, which include control, 15 and 30 days methanol intoxication. Our study reports that animal body weight, organ weight ratio, lymphoid cell counts, footpad thickness, antibody titer, IL-2, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, Pan T cell, CD4, macrophages, MHC class II molecule expression, and B cell counts were significantly decreased compared to control animals nevertheless, LMI, IL-4, and DNA single strand breakage were increased significantly. Plasma corticosterone level was significantly increased in the 15 days group whereas the 30 days methanol intoxication group showed considerable decrease in corticosterone level compared with control animals. Therefore, our investigation concluded that repeated exposure of methanol profoundly suppressed the cell mediated and humoral immune functions in albino rats.

Management reporting on the Web.

Driven by easy-to-use World Wide Web technology and new information integration concepts that have proven their worth in business and industry, online management reporting is now becoming an important strategy for improving operational performance in health care organizations. In this article, we provide an overview of these new information management concepts and describe our experience in planning and executing an enterprise-wide Web-enabled management reporting initiative. We also offer an inventory of the key organizational capacities that we found essential for developing and sustaining Web-enabled reporting services for health care managers.

The detection of enterotoxins and toxic shock syndrome toxin genes in Staphylococcus aureus by polymerase chain reaction.

A simple polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based procedure was developed for the detection of fragments of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) SEA, SEB, SEC, SED, SEE, SEG, SEH, and SEI together with the toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) genes of Staphylococcus aureus. One hundred and twenty-nine cultures of S. aureus were selected, 39 of which were recovered from 38 suspected staphylococcal food-poisoning incidents. The method was reproducible, and 32 different toxin genotypes were recognized. The presence of SE genes was associated with S. aureus strains reacting with phages in group III, and the TSST-1 gene with phages in group I. There was a 96% agreement between the PCR results for detection of SEA-D and TSST-1 as compared with a commercial reverse passive latex agglutination assay for the detection of SEs from cultures grown in vitro. Enterotoxin gene fragments were detected in S. aureus cultures recovered from 32 of the 38 suspected staphylococcal food poisoning incidents, and of these, 17 were associated with SEE, SEG, SEH, and SEI in the absence of SEA-D. Simple PCR procedures were also developed for the detection of SE directly in spiked food samples, and this was most successfully achieved in mushroom soup and ham. Detection was less successful in three types of cheese and in cream. SEA or SEB were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in three food samples (two of which were associated with food poisoning incidents) naturally heavily contaminated with S. aureus: the appropriate SEA or SEB gene fragments were detected directly in these three foods by PCR.

Giant hepatic hemangioma studied with intravenous total body arteriography technique. A case report.

Hepatic hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors of the liver. They are usually single, small, and asymptomatic. However, giant hepatic hemangiomas have been reported in the past, usually detected as incidental findings. Radionuclide blood pool imaging studies are used to confirm the presence of a hemangioma. This report describes a case of a giant hepatic hemangioma detected using intravenous total-body arteriography, done as a part of radionuclide blood pool hemangioma study. This simple addition to the regular RBC blood pool hemangioma study helps to determine the size of the liver in the early arterial phase and shows obvious increased blood pool activity in the delayed phase. It is also useful in detecting lesions in other parts of the body when present.

Relationship between red cell sodium transport, blood pressure, and family history of hypertension.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that Na+/Li+ countertransport is increased in erythrocytes from hypertensive patients. Since Na+/Li+ countertransport is conducted through the physiologically occurring Na+/Na+ exchange, we studied the latter pathway in 20 subjects with essential hypertension and 20 normotensive subjects matched for age and sex. Ten hypertensives and six normotensives had a positive family history of hypertension. Ouabain (0.1 mM) and furosemide (0.1 mM) were used to assess the active Na+ efflux and Na+-K+-Cl- pathway. There was no significant difference between hypertensive and normotensive subjects in any of the three pathways studied. Among the 16 subjects with a positive family history of hypertension, the mean value for external Na+-dependent Na+/Na+ exchange was significantly higher than in 24 subjects with no family history of hypertension (0.0457 +/- 0.0337 versus 0.0283 +/- 0.0202; P less than 0.05). This study suggests that an inherited membrane transport defect may exist for Na+/Na+ exchange in families of hypertensive subjects.