Attributable risk of Capillaria species in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) / Risco atribuível de espécies Capillaria em pombos domésticos (Columba livia domestica)

Fecal samples were collected from 120 domestic pigeons to determine the Attributable risk of Capillaria spp. The Capillaria spp. was observed in 64 out of 120 (51%) pigeons (70 males and 50 females) under this study. A total of 64 (39 males and 25 females) were found naturally infected with Capillaria spp. with infection percentage of 51% and 50% in males and females respectively. Qualitative examinations include the direct microscopy and faecal floatation while quantitative examination includes McMaster technique (worms load was calculated per gram of the faeces). Month wise Attributable risk showed that eggs of the worms were found to be abundant in the month of July during the present study (60% to 73%) because of high humidity. Very high and very low temperature is not suitable for the proper development of the eggs. Qualitative and quantitative examination revealed that Capillaria spp. was more prevalent in males (51%) than females (50%) but overall there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the male and female because both individuals invest equal amount of energy in search of food and incubating the eggs. Different breeds of pigeons gave different Attributable risk in different months during the study. Groups of pigeons from different locations showed different variable Attributable risk. Areas with high humidity were more suitable for the development of eggs, which is the reason why higher Attributable risk was observed in Shahdara (75%) area of Lahore, Pakistan.(AU)

Amostras de fezes foram coletadas de 120 pombos domésticos para determinar os fatores de risco de Capillaria spp. Capillaria spp. foi observado em 64 de 120 (51%) pombos (70 machos e 50 fêmeas) neste estudo. Um total de 64 (39 machos e 25 fêmeas) foram naturalmente infectados com Capillaria spp. sendo 51% em machos e 50% em fêmeas. Exames qualitativos incluem microscopia direta e suspensão de fezes, e exames quantitativos incluem a técnica McMaster (vermes são calculados por grama de fezes). O risco por mês demonstrou que ovos dos vermes foram encontrados em abundância no mês de Julho durante o presente estudo (60% a 73%) por causa da alta umidade. Temperaturas muito altas e muito baixas não são adequadas para o desenvolvimento adequado de ovos. O exame qualitativo e quantitativo revelou que Capillaria spp. era mais prevalente em machos (51%) que em fêmeas (50%), mas no geral não houve diferença significativa (P>0.05) entre machos e fêmeas porque ambos investem a mesma energia na busca por alimento e incubação de ovos. Diferentes raças de pombos tem diferentes riscos em diferentes meses durante o estudo. Grupos de pombos de diferentes locais demonstraram risco diferenciado. Áreas com alta umidade eram mais propensas para o desenvolvimento de ovos, o motivo pelo qual maior risco foi observado em shahdara (75%).(AU)

Congenital muscular torticollis: experience of 14 cases.

Congenital Muscular Torticollis (CMT) is a postural deformity of head and neck detected at birth or shortly after birth, primarily resulting from unilateral shortening of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle (SCM). In neonates and infants, patient may cure conservatively by physiotherapy but surgery is the treatment of choice for children and adolescents. There are various techniques of surgery. Here we show our experience regarding management of congenital muscular torticollis. In the present retrospective case series, fourteen patients of congenital muscular torticollis were treated. The cases were enrolled between Nov' 2005 to Oct' 2007 in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Gonosasthaya Somaj Vittik Medical College Hospital, Dhaka and different private clinics of Dhaka city of Bangladesh. Neonates and infants were treated conservatively with physiotherapy and others treated surgically by transection of both sternal and clavicular head of SCM under general anesthesia. Operated patients were released on following post operative day with advised to do physiotherapy. Patients age range from 7 days to 15 years of which ten were female and four male. SCM was shortened in all cases (8 on right side and 6 on left side). Eleven were female and three male. Of 14 patients, 2 neonates, 7 infants and 5 were more than 1 year age. There was no associated anomaly. Out of 9 neonates and infants 8 cured conservatively with physiotherapy and another one significantly improved. Six were treated surgically including one failed physiotherapy. Post operative period was uneventful and there was no complication. Results were evaluated clinically and comments of peers. Most of the patient of congenital muscular torticollis can be treated conservatively during infancy. Division of both sternal and clavicular head of SCM is easy and safe surgical technique for the treatment of CMT of older children and adolescents.

Body radioactivity and radiation dose from 40K in Bangladeshi subjects measured with a whole-body counter.

A group of subjects of Bangladeshi adults from both sexes were studied for internal radioactivity and effective dose by measuring the whole-body activity of naturally occurring 40K using a whole-body counter. The mean activity concentration in the whole body and effective dose due to naturally occurring 40K for the average male were found to be 2.0 +/- 0.4 Bq x g(-1) and 100 +/- 26 microSv x y(-1), respectively and those for the average female were 1.7 +/- 0.3 Bq x g(-1) and 100 +/- 20 microSv x y(-1), respectively. The mean activity concentration in the whole body and effective dose for both sexes were 1.9 +/- 0.4 Bq x g(-1) and 100 +/- 25 microSv x y(-1), respectively. The effective dose from 40K for subjects is below the value reported by the UNSCEAR.

The role of Rho GTPases in the regulation of the rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton and cell movement.

The rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton has been shown to play a critical role in the development of transformation and malignant phenotype of cancer cells. Rho family GTPases regulate the arrangement of the actin cytoskeleton. By wound-healing assay, we have found that NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells move towards the wound- gaps by extending filopodial and lamellipdial structures at the leading edge of the moving cells. We have inactivated the function of Rho GTPases of v-Ras transformed NIH 3T3 cells by overexpressing Rho GTPase-activating (RhoGAP) domain of RhoGAP of p190. We have observed that inactivation of Rho, Rac and Cdc42 GTPases by overexpressing RHG causes inhibition of: (i) polymerization of actin to form filaments, (ii) formation of lamellipodia, filopodia and stress fibres, (iii) cell motility, (iv) cell spreading and (v) cell-to-cell adhesions. These results further strengthen the current knowledge on the role of Rho, Rac and Cdc42 GTPases in the regulation of the rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton. Our results, for the first time, demonstrate that RhoGAP domain of RhoGAP could be used to study the molecular mechanism of Ras-mediated signalling in growth, differentiation and carcinogenesis.

Serum-dependent perinuclear accumulation of Cdc42 in mammalian cells.

Cdc42 is a member of the Rho family of GTPase. Cdc42 has been implicated to be involved in the movement, multiplication and transformation of mammalian cells by controlling the rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton and gene expression. But the mechanism of Cdc42 function has not yet been discovered. In this report we present data showing a perinuclear accumulation of Cdc42 in response to fetal bovine serum (FBS). There was no change in the amount of Cdc42 in response to FBS in the cell. It was found that protein component(s) of serum plays a major role in the perinuclear accumulation of Cdc42. Epidermal growth factor has also been found to stimulate the perinuclear accumulation of Cdc42 while NGF has no effect. Kinase inhibitors, quercetin and NDGA were found to block signals for the perinuclear accumulation of Cdc42. This suggests that phosphorylation of cellular proteins is essential for transducing signals generated from the serum component(s) to induce the perinuclear accumulation of Cdc42. These results indicate that redistribution of Cdc42 might be an important step in alteration of gene expression for controlling various functions of the cell including cell division.

Antibiotic in general surgery: selection, timing and duration of administration.

A continuous surveillance of hospital acquired infection (HAI) was done in the Department of Surgery, Dhaka Medical College Hospital during the period of 1st February '90 to 31st March '90. A new antibiogramme was prepared and applied in the same unit for chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis of surgical cases in the subsequent six months from April '90 to September '90. The result of this selection, timing of administration and the duration of antimicrobial use have been described in this report. The antibiotic policy adopted in this study has been found to improve the problem of infection in our surgical practice substantially. The incidence of HAI has been reduced to 0.5% from 3.9% which was seen in our previous study. The median post operative hospital stay has been reduced to 15.5 days from 18.5 days in case with HAI and to 8.5 days from 9 days without HAI. We conclude that a continuous surveillance of hospital acquired infection is necessary to develop an appropriate antibiogramme. The appropriate antibiotic should be started at the induction of anaesthesia and may be a part of the induction procedure.