Transversus abdominis plane block under laparoscopic guide versus port-site local anaesthetic infiltration in laparoscopic excision of endometriosis: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficiency of laparoscopically guided transversus abdominis plane block (LTAP) versus port-site local anaesthetic infiltration (LAI) in reducing postoperative pain following laparoscopic excision of endometriosis. DESIGN: A prospective, double-blind randomised controlled trial. SETTING: A tertiary referral centre for endometriosis and minimally invasive gynaecological surgery. POPULATION: Women undergoing laparoscopic excision of endometriosis from December 2015 through July 2016. METHODS: Participants were randomised to receive: port-site infiltration with bupivacaine and placebo LTAP (LAI group, n = 21); placebo port-site infiltration and LTAP with bupivacaine (LTAP group, n = 24); placebo port-site infiltration and placebo LTAP (placebo group, n = 25). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Post-operative pain at 2-4, 6-8, 10-12 and 24 hours, analgesic requirements, TAP block-related complications and opioid-related adverse effects. RESULTS: There were no differences in patient characteristics between the groups. In comparison with placebo, both LTAP and LAI groups had significantly less pain at 2-4, 6-8, and 10-12 hours (median 3, 3, 3.5 versus 3, 6, 4 versus 8, 8, 7 for LTAP, LAI, and placebo, respectively, P < 0.05). Median differences (and 95% confidence intervals) were as follows; LTAP versus placebo -5 (-6 to -4), -4 (-5 to -3), -3 (-4 to -0.5); LAI versus placebo -4 (-5 to -2), -2 (-3 to -0.5), -1 (-4 to -0.5) at 2-4, 6-8 and 10-12 hours, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the LTAP and LAI groups. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopically guided transversus abdominis plane block and LAI both reduce postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic excision of endometriosis, compared with placebo. We found no differences in effect between LTAP and LAI. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: TAP block and port-site local infiltration are both effective in reducing postoperative pain in major gynaecological laparoscopic surgery.

Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the fusion protein cleavage site of Newcastle disease virus field isolates from Iran.

Nine Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates from Newcastle disease (ND) outbreaks in different regions of Iran were characterized at molecular level. Sequence analysis revealed that the isolates shared two pairs of arginine and a phenylalanine at the N-terminus of the fusion (F) protein cleavage site similarly to other velogenic isolates of NDV characterized earlier. Eight of the nine isolates had the same amino acid sequence as VOL95, a Russian NDV isolate from 1995. However, one isolate, MK13 showed 5 amino acid substitutions, of which 3 have been reported for other velogenic NDV isolates. These results suggest that the origin of the outbreaks of ND in different parts of Iran in 1995-1998 is VOL95.

Development of 2 types of competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting antibodies to the rinderpest virus using a monoclonal antibody for a specific region of the hemagglutinin protein.

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA) has been developed and standardized for the detection of antibodies to the rinderpest virus (RPV) in sera from cattle, sheep, and goats. The test is specific for rinderpest because it does not detect antibodies to peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV). The test depends on the ability of the monoclonal antibody (MAb) directed against the hemagglutinin (H) protein of RPV to compete with the binding of RPV antibodies in the positive serum to the H protein of this virus. This MAb recognized a region from amino acids 575 to 583 on the H protein of RPV that is unique to the RPV H protein and is not present on the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein of PPRV. Another C-ELISA (peptide C-ELISA) was set up using this specific region as an antigen. A threshold value of 64.4% inhibition was established for the RPV C-ELISA, with 90 known RPV-negative and 30 RPV-positive serum samples. Using common serum samples, a cutoff value of 43.0% inhibition for the peptide C-ELISA was established. Based on statistical analysis, the overall sensitivity and specificity of the RPV C-ELISA, relative to those of a commercial kit, were found to be 90.00% and 103.33%, respectively. However, the sensitivity and specificity of the peptide C-ELISA were found to be 180.00% and 73.33%, respectively. Although a common MAb in 2 new C-ELISA systems was used, variation in their percent inhibition, due to the use of different antigens, was observed. Taking into consideration the difference in percent inhibition of the 2 described assays and the commercial kit (50%), it was found that the RPV C-ELISA and the peptide C-ELISA are more specific and sensitive tools than the commercial kit for assessing herd immune status and for epidemiologic surveillance.

Cryptosporidium spp. in new born lambs in Iran.

In a study conducted to investigate the causes of the death of new born lambs due to diarrhoea 237 cases were studied. In 16 of these lambs necropsied at four to 10 days old organisms considered to be Cryptosporidia at various stages of its life-cycle were associated with the luminal surface of the epithelium of the intestinal tract. The histopathology and the mechanism of the diarrhoea caused by the parasite and the resulting deaths are discussed.