Miniaturized Sniffing Device based on an Array of Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots and Metallic Nanoclusters Efficiently Identifies Hematologic Malignancy in Adults.

The study demonstrates the potential of an optical nose made by depositing an array of fluorescent nanomaterials on a paper substrate for the early detection of leukemia in adults. This is based on the fact that blood volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are useful leukemia biomarkers. The integrated design was miniaturized and comprised both sensing zones and a sample holding zone, which were installed on a small sheet of paper within a miniature cubic reaction chamber fabricated by using 3D printing technology. The sensing device, comprising seven fluorescent sensing elements, namely, metal nanoclusters, quantum dots, and carbon dots was capable of detecting VOCs in the blood headspace and providing a colorimetric signature that could discriminate between blood samples from healthy and cancerous individuals. A total of 70 new leukemia cases and 51 healthy controls aged 20-50 years were studied. The device required a 60 µL portion of the blood sample and reacted to blood VOCs after 3 h when kept at 50 °C. The imaging data from the device was processed by linear discriminant analysis, and the results confirmed efficient identification of patient samples from healthy samples with 100% accuracy. Overall, the array system is noninvasive (or minimally invasive), portable, fast, inexpensive, and requires only a small amount of blood sample.

Intraocular Pressure Measurements Using Rebound Tonometry in Eight Different Species of Companion Birds.

The purpose of this study was to determine reference interval intraocular pressure (IOP) values in 8 different species of companion birds. One hundred and nineteen companion birds (238 eyes) from a captive colony were examined: 21 pigeons (Columba livia; 18%), 17 African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus; 14%), 22 common mynahs (Acridotheres tristis; 18%), 24 cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus; 20%), 12 zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata; 10%), 9 budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus; 8%), 6 domestic canaries (Serinus canaria domestica; 5%), and 8 ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri; 7%). Intraocular pressure was measured by rebound tonometry (TonoVet) avoiding induced, undesired pressure on the head, neck, or eyes. Mean IOP values varied by species. Mean (± SD) IOP values determined for each species were pigeon (5.42 ± 2.06 mm Hg), African grey parrot (4.93 ± 1.91 mm Hg), common mynah (6.22 ± 2.04 mm Hg), cockatiel (5.08 ± 1.76 mm Hg), zebra finch (5.90 ± 2.11 mm Hg), budgerigar (5.88 ± 2.31mm Hg), canary (5.83 ± 1.60 mm Hg), and ring-necked parakeet (6.25 ± 1.75 mm Hg). No statistically significant differences were found in IOP values between right and left eyes for the species studied (P > .22), with the exception of the ring-necked parakeet (P = .001). The results of this study provide representative IOP values measured using rebound tonometry in 8 different species of companion birds.

Myxoma Immediately above the Junction of the Inferior Vena Cava and the Right Atrium: A Rare Cause of Budd-Chiari Syndrome.

The Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare disorder caused by the obstruction of the hepatic veins or the inferior vena cava (IVC) at the suprahepatic level. This syndrome is developed by either hepatic vein thrombosis or mechanical venous obstruction and leads to centrilobular hepatic congestion with the subsequent development of fibrosis and cirrhosis. Intracardiac tumors have been rarely reported as a cause of the BCS. These tumors usually originate from the atrial septum. Very rarely, they arise either from the junction of the IVC and the right atrium or from the Eustachian valve. There are a few case reports in the literature where atrial tumors have caused the BCS. In these cases, the tumors were malignant, and the patients died shortly after being diagnosed. We describe a 71-year-old female patient who presented with a 3-month history of abdominal pain and protrusion. On physical examination, blood pressure and pulse rate were normal. Jugular venous pressure was about 10 cm. Cardiac examination revealed a systolic murmur, grade IV/VI, in the left sternal border without radiation. Echocardiography showed a large mass (about 6×4 cm) in the right atrium with close contact to the origin of the IVC, obstructing it. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, with and without gadolinium, also confirmed the diagnosis. The patient underwent surgery, and the myxoma was removed. The tumor was a large solid mass, 5×4 cm in size, which originated immediately above the entrance of the IVC. The patient is in good condition 1 year afterward. We emphasize that atrial myxomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumors that cause chronic BCS.

Assessment of immunity against avian colibacillosis induced by an aroA mutant containing increased serum survival gene in broilers

Colibacillosis is an important disease in the poultry industry which causes serious economic damages. As it is suggested that vaccination is one of the means to control colibacillosis, we tried to investigate the vaccine potential of a ÃaroA derivative of an O78:K80 avian pathogenic Escherichia coli containing increased serum survival gene. 490 chicks were selected as follows: For assessment of virulence of ÃaroA mutant, 30 chicks were divided into three groups and injected with 0.5ml of PBS or bacterial suspension containing either10(7)colony forming units (CFU) of mutant or parent strains via subcutaneous route. Macroscopic lesions and mortality rate were recorded in different groups during the week after challenge. For assessment of safety and immunogenicity of the ÃaroA mutant, three groups of 20 chicks were vaccinated by aerosol administration of 250 ml of suspension containing 10(8) CFU of mutant strain at days 1 and 14, while the two other groups received PBS or wild type strain. Macroscopic lesions and mortality rate were recorded in different groups until day 21. To determine whether the vaccination is protective against challenges or not, the chickens were vaccinated at days 1 and 14 and challenged intramuscularly with either a homologous or heterologous strains at day 21. Macroscopic lesions and mortality rate were recorded in different groups during the week after challenge. The results revealed that the ÃaroA mutant was slightly virulent, however it was safe and did not cause mortality, lesions or weight loss after vaccination. Antibody responses were similar in the control and mutant groups and vaccination did not induce a significant humoral immunity. The mutant could not protect chickens against both homologous and heterologous challenges. This could be due to several factors such as the high amount of maternal antibodies in the first two weeks of life, and the vaccination procedure.

Molecular genetic differentiation of avian Escherichia coli by RAPD-PCR / Diferenciação molecular de Escherichia coli aviária por RAPD-PCR

Escherichia coli is one of the most important bacterial avian pathogens and a common inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract of animals. Most pathogenic E. coli can not be differentiated biochemically or by classic microbiologic methods. Molecular typing methods, particularly PCR, facilitated epidemiological and ecological studies of bacteria. Here we describe the application of a random amplified polymorphic DNA- polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) for molecular genetic differentiation of E. coli isolates in Iran. In this study 58 E. coli isolates including 4 standard strains, 3 food originated isolates, 33 avian isolates, 8 isolates form diarrheic calves and 10 isolates from unweaned diarrheic lambs were analyzed by RAPD-PCR using primer 1247(5/-AAG AGC CCG T-3/). The RAPD analysis showed that these isolates could be grouped into 33 RAPD types and avian isolates were discriminated into 29 genotypes. It was shown that the primer could not differentiate E. coli isolated from lambs. Discriminatory index for entire isolates was 0.912 and for avian isolates was 0.990. We concluded that RAPD-PCR can be used as a method for molecular differentiation of E. coli isolates.

Escherichia coli é um dos patógenos aviários mais importantes e um habitante comum do trato gastrointestinal de animais. A maioria das cepas patogênicas não pode ser diferenciada por métodos bioquímicos ou outros métodos microbiológicos clássicos. Métodos de tipagem molecular, particularmente PCR, têm facilitado os estudos epidemiológicos e ecológicos a respeito desse microrganismo. Nesse estudo, descrevemos a aplicação do RAPD-PCR para a diferenciação molecular de isolados de E.coli do Irã. No estudo, 58 isolados, incluindo 4 isolados padrão, 3 isolados de alimentos, 33 isolados de aves, 8 isolados de bezerros diarréicos e 10 isolados de carneiros diarréicos foram analisados por RAPD-PCR com o primer 1247 (5'-AAG AGC CCG T-3'). A análise mostrou que esses isolados podiam ser agrupados em 33 tipos RAPD, sendo os isolados de aves agrupados em 29 genótipos diferentes. Verificou-se que o primer utilizado não diferenciou os isolados de carneiros. O índice discriminatório para todos os isolados foi 0,912 e para os isolados de aves foi 0,990. Concluiu-se que o RAPD-PCR pode ser usado como método para diferenciação molecular de isolados de E. coli.