Efficacy of adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction cells in the management of chronic ulcers: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Cell therapy is a promising method for improving healing in chronic ulcers through delivery of isolated adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction. Objectives: This study investigates the autologous stem cell yield of adipose tissue and its efficacy in chronic ulcers compared with conventional methods. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial. After the study design and protocol were established and ethical committee approval was obtained, we enrolled 100 patients divided into study and control groups. In the study group, we performed debridement and autologous stem cell injection every 3 weeks. The control group was treated with debridement and conventional dressing. Assessments included clinical and histological parameters. Results: The study group showed improved healing. Conclusion: Using autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction cells is an effective treatment method for chronic ulcers. This study was registered on the Pan-African Clinical Trial Registry and the number of the registry was PACTR201709002519185.

Improved experimental evaluation and model validation of a 252Cf irradiator for delayed gamma-ray spectrometry applications.

We present experimental and MCNP modeled results of neutron flux monitoring in an irradiator, which consists of a252Cf sealed source housed in the center of a cubic block of high-density polyethylene. This work is contributing to our development in the delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy non-destructive assay technique for nuclear safeguards and security applications. We evaluated the thermal and resonance flux values using the Westcott foil activation method for two measurement position count rates of 197Au and 115In. Comparisons between the calculated thermal fluxes from measurements and those from MCNP models show deviations of ~20%. However, both the measured and modeled thermal fluxes are two orders of magnitude higher than the fluxes at the resonance peak energies at both measurement positions, demonstrating that the irradiator is sufficient. Furthermore, this work showed that with a252Cf sealed source of a strength of 4.4 × 106 n.s-1, a thermal flux in the range 2-5 × 104 n.s-1.cm-2 is achievable in our compact irradiator making it suitable for active analysis techniques such as DGS.

Integral cross section of isomeric state formation in (neutron,nucleon) reactions using an Am-Be source.

The present work targeted the study of the isomeric state formation in (n,n') and (n,p) reactions using the spectral emission of an 241Am-Be neutron source which favors the (neutron, nucleon) reactions over the (n, γ) and (n,2n) ones. The integral cross section of the isomeric nuclear states in the neutron-induced nucleon-emission reactions of fast neutrons on 115In, 199Hg, 58Ni, and 195Pt was measured experimentally. The monitor reaction of neutrons was the 115In(n,n')115mIn using the evaluated integral cross section of 269-15+13 mb, which was confirmed to have a constant isomeric ratio in the energy range between ∼1.6 MeV and ∼10 MeV. Integral cross sections for the 199Hg(n,n')199mHg, 58Ni(n,p)58mCo, 58Ni(n,p)58m+gCo and 195Pt(n,n')195mPt reactions were found to be 449 ± 13 mb, 112 ± 34 mb, 343 ± 72 mb and 740 ± 55 mb, respectively. Each experimental value was based on independent measurements of samples irradiated with a constant neutron flux from an 241Am-Be source (having standard emission probability). The experimental results are compared with the integrated cross sections from a new evaluation for neutron induced reactions weighted to standard neutron emission probability distribution. Integral values estimated from theoretical calculations and evaluated libraries were used for the examination of our results. Results confirmed that formation of isomeric states is sensitive to the neutron energy distribution. The behavior of the isomeric ratio of neutron reaction leading to isomeric state formation was found to be useful in order to distinguish between reactions suitable for use as monitor ones (yielding a constant isomeric ratio throughout the emission energy range) and those used to probe the disturbance in the neutron spectral distribution.

Determination of isotopes activity ratio using gamma ray spectroscopy based on neural network model.

The uranium isotopes activity-ratio was determined using in-situ γ-ray spectroscopic measurements and an artificial neural network model. The method was developed to use forward-learn multilayer algorithm. Each layer consists of a perceptron, that controls the forward-learn process, and a mean-square-error mapping for the spectral data from the set of fired perceptrons. The set of output parameters should represent a vector of coefficients for double logarithmic polynomial that distinguish the instrumental efficiency. The forward-learn is controlled by a rejection function which is based on an input set Ψ of parameters that tells the neural layer to accept or reject data points. Each layer maps to the next layer by reducing chi-square-difference with the experimental uncertainty as weight. There are two supervised controls to the network, the maximum deviation from interpolated curve and the assumed initial set of rejection parameters (Ψ0). The model was tested on spectra of known enrichments and gave an excellent agreement with low enriched uranium samples ((1.38 ±â€¯0.14)% and (20 ±â€¯1.55)%). The use of the algorithm on natural uranium ore and association with radium-226 daughters causes increase of uncertainty and deviation of the results from the certified value. The current algorithm provides a practical solution to a wide range of gamma-ray measurement problems encountered for in-situ characterization of uranium-containing materials. These include security, safeguards, fuel assessment, decontamination and decommissioning operations with no collimation or special setup. It is also applicable for large-scale installations.

Investigating the potential role of vitamin E in modulating the immunosuppressive effects of tylvalosin and florfenicol in broiler chickens.

Tylvalosin (TVS) is a third-generation macrolide drug used for prophylaxis and treatment of mycoplasma, however; it is supposed to possess an immunosuppressive effect. In the current study, the immunosuppressive effect of TVS and florfenicol (FFC) and the potential immunomodulatory role of Vit E were investigated. The experiment included one day old chick groups treated with either TVS, FFC, Vit E, TVS/Vit E, FFC/Vit E and control non-treated group. Chicks were vaccinated with inactivated H9N2 avian influenza (AI) vaccine and humoral antibody titers to viral antigen as well as innate immunity (serum lysozyme activity and nitric oxide levels) were evaluated. Total and differential leucocytic counts, serum liver enzymes level, blood leucocytic DNA damage and cellular area percentages within the lymphoid organs were also screened. Treatment with TVS and FFC significantly decreased immune response of chickens while treatment with Vit E improved the humoral immune response at 4 and 5weeks post-vaccination. Vit E also significantly increased the cellular immune response. The combination of Vit E with either TVS or FFC modulated their immunosuppressive effect and resulted in mild immunostimulatory effects. TVS alone induced a genotoxic effect on chickens' blood leucocytes and the genotoxicity was inhibited by combination of TVS with Vit E. Histopathology revealed that chickens treated with either TVS or FFC exhibited toxic effect on the lymphatic tissues.

Pharmacokinetics of difloxacin in healthy and E. coli-infected broiler chickens.

1. The pharmacokinetics of difloxacin were investigated in healthy and E. coli-infected broiler chickens following intravenous and oral administration of a single dose of 10 mg/kg bodyweight. 2. After intravenous injection of difloxacin, the serum concentration-time curves were best described by a two-compartment open model. The distribution and elimination half-lives (t0.5α) and (t0.5el), respectively, were 0.10 ± 0.016 h and 3.7 ± 0.08 h in healthy chickens compared with 0.05 ± 0.005 h and 6.42 ± 0.71 h in E. coli-infected birds. The volumes of distribution Vdss were 3.14 ± 0.11 and 9.25 ± 0.43 l/kg, with total body clearance (Cltot) of 0.65 ± 0.018 and 1.14 ± 0.1 ml/kg/h, respectively. 3. Following oral administration, difloxacin was absorbed with t0.5(ab) of 0.57 ± 0.06 and 0.77 ± 0.04 h and was eliminated with t0.5(el) of 4.7 ± 0.34 and 3.42 ± 0.19, respectively, in normal and infected chickens. The peak serum concentrations were 1.34 ± 0.09 and 1.05 ± 0.06 µg/ml and attained a Tmax of 2.27 ± 0.07 and 2.43 ± 0.06 h, respectively. The systemic bioavailability of difloxacin following oral administration was 86.2% in healthy chickens and 90.6% in E. coli-infected birds. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of difloxacin against the field strain of E. coli O78 in vitro were 0.02 µg and 0.04 µg/ml, respectively. 4. These results show that administration of a therapeutic dose of difloxacin is effective in the treatment of E. coli infection in chickens. The serum concentration of the drug was much higher than the MIC of the E. coli O78 strain in both healthy and infected chickens.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of orbifloxacin in healthy and Pasteurella multocida infected ducks.

The pharmacokinetic aspects of orbifloxacin were studied in both healthy and naturally diseased ducks after a single intravenous and intramuscular dose of 5 mg kg⁻¹ body weight. The serum concentrations of orbifloxacin following single intravenous and intramuscular injections were higher in diseased than in healthy ducks. The disposition of orbifloxacin after a single intravenous injection was described by a two-compartment open model in both healthy and diseased ducks. Orbifloxacin was distributed and eliminated at a significantly slower rate in diseased than in healthy ducks. The total body clearance (Cl(B)) was lower in diseased (0·131 l kg⁻¹h⁻¹) than healthy ducks (0·191 l kg⁻¹h⁻¹). Following intramuscular administration of orbifloxacin, the peak serum concentration (C(max)) was higher in diseased than in healthy ducks, and this was achieved at a maximum time (t(max)) of 1·114 and 0·993 h, respectively. The drug was eliminated at a significant slower rate in diseased ducks (elimination half-life t (0·5(el))= 5·07 h) than in healthy ducks (elimination half-life t (0·5(el))= 4·18 h). These results indicate that drug elimination patterns in healthy and diseased ducks are not the same. The pharmacokinetic profile of the drug is altered in diseased ducks due to the increased serum orbifloxacin concentrations compared with clinically healthy ducks. In conclusion, 5 mg kg⁻¹ body weight of orbifloxacin administered as a single dose once daily could be useful in the treatment of disease caused by Pasteurella multocida pathogen in ducks.

Can Uremia and Hemodialysis Affect Plasma Levels of Circulating TNF-alpha.

It is well known that uremia is associated with increased susceptibility to infection. In addition, patients on haemodialysis (HD) experience a variety of dialysis associated complications, both acute and chronic, many of them having features similar to acute phase response. Immunoregulatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of immunological as well as inflammatory diseases. Thus, TNF-a levels could be expected to be high in uremic patients as well as in HD patients. We investigated the plasma levels of TNF-a in 17 patients with renal failure, seven patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) before commencement of HD and 10 patients maintained on regular HD. Eight age matched healthy subjects were studied as normal control. All CRF patients, who were not yet on dialysis, had high plasma levels of TNF-a (mean + SD 71.33 + 33.25 pg/ml). Out of the HD group, TNF-a plasma levels were not detectable in five patients and in the remaining five, TNF-a plasma level (mean + SD 21.06 + 7.72) were comparable to the normal controls (mean + SD 21 + 7.87). Our findings suggest that factors related to uremia, but not to HD, are responsible for high TNF-a plasma levels in these patients and that, HD probably has a beneficial effect by removal and/or neutralising of uremic toxins.

Bulk and trace elements in the accessory glands of buffalo bulls.

Little is known of the importance of mineral levels in buffalo semen or the relationship of the level of various elements to spermatozoan activity. To establish a basis upon which further studies could be conducted, the accessory glands (seminal vesicles, prostate and bulbo-urethrals) of 43 buffalo bulls (2-4 years old) with intact testes and eight steers (3-4 years old) were analysed for their content of bulk and trace elements. The ash obtained from known weights of various accessory glands was used to determine the concentrations of Na and K using emission flame photometry. P was determined chemically, whereas Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe and Zn were assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The accessory glands of intact bulls varied significantly in the concentration of all elements except Fe. Ca and Cu were relatively more concentrated in the seminal vesicles. The prostate had the highest concentration of Zn, while the highest concentrations of Na, K, Mg and P were found in the bulbo-urethral glands. Age of the bulls had no marked effect on any of the elements studied except Cu which appeared to decrease significantly in older bulls. Seasonal variation was significant for the levels of K, Ca and Zn. Castration appeared to result in a highly significant reduction of Zn concentration in all accessory glands.

Vitamin A potency of carrot and spinach carotenes in human metabolic studies.

Changes in plasma retinol and carotenoids was measured in 17 young males after daily ingestion of grated carrots, carrot juice or spinach leaves for 2 weeks. Regression equations showed that the supply of 3350 and 4750 micrograms carotenes from 78 ml carrot juice (prepared from 185 g carrots) or 91 g grated carrots, respectively were adequate in maintaining plasma retinol at a constant level in subjects with initial plasma retinol of 1.2 mumol/l. Under similar experimental conditions, 280 g boiled spinach leaves providing 12,700 micrograms carotenes were required to maintain plasma retinol at a constant level. Apparent carotene digestibilities of 47 and 81% were obtained with carrot and spinach, respectively.

Pesticide residues in milk and fish samples collected from two Egyptian Governorates.

Because of the intensive use of pesticides for the control of certain pests in Egypt, country-wide residue monitoring programs must be established that can cover all the Egyptian Governorates exposed to pesticide treatments. To do so, limited programs must be adopted first, so that current situations and future needs for improved programs are identified. The present paper reports results from a limited monitoring program, which started in 1985 in one governorate and then expanded to include another in 1986. Fish and milk samples were the commodities selected for residue analysis. The results showed that milk samples collected from Beni-Suef Governorate in 1986 had lower levels of organochlorine residues compared to those collected in 1985. Residues in boltifish and catfish samples in 1986 were much higher than those detected in 1985. In comparison with Beni-Suef Governorate, and contrary to expectations, milk derived from Fayoum Governorate in 1986 was more contaminated with pesticides. While the amount of residues in boltifish was comparatively higher, catfish samples were less contaminated.

Effect of supplementation with vitamin A or plant carotenes on plasma retinol levels among young Egyptian males.

Thirteen young Egyptian males with initial low plasma retinol level were divided into three groups and received single oral vitamin A dose of 200,000 IU, or carotene supplement in the form of boiled spinach leaves, providing roughly 617 RE/day or carrots providing 394 RE/day. The three supplements were equally effective, when the plasma retinol level was measured 40 days later. On a price basis, the vitamin A capsules and the carrots were much cheaper than the spinach supplement.