Histomorphometrical and electron microscopic study of adrenocorticocytes following surgically induced extrahepatic biliary obstruction in adult female albino rats.

Cholestasis, which is a component of many liver diseases, is often associated with symptoms that resemble clinical adrenal insufficiency. This work aimed to study the histomorphometrical and electron microscopic structure of adrenocorticocytes after surgical induction of bile duct resection (BDR) in adult female albino rats. Sixty rats were randomly divided into control, BDR and sham-operated groups. Six weeks after surgery, the blood serum of the rats was examined biochemically, and the suprarenal cortexes were prepared for histological, morphometrical and statistical studies. The BDR group showed a highly significant increase in bilirubin and serum alkaline phosphatase levels, whereas aldosterone and cortisol levels were highly significantly decreased. The area percentages of positive immunoreactions for P53, cyclooxygenase II (COX-II) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (INOS) revealed highly significant increases in the BDR group. Electron microscopic examination of the BDR group showed marked cytoplasmic vacuolations, large lipid droplets, swollen mitochondria and many small dark nuclei in the adrenocorticocytes. The zona fasciculata had heterogeneously electron-dense mitochondria and dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Some of the zona reticularis cells contained lipofuscin pigments. The surgical induction of BDR produced deleterious effects on the structure and function of the adrenocorticocytes. A long-term study using different animal species is recommended for further examination.

Histological evaluation of the role of atypical antipsychotic drugs in inducing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adult male albino rats (light and electron microscopic study).

Many of atypical antipsychotic drugs are associated with adverse metabolic effects, including fatty infiltration of the liver. This study aimed at studying the histological evaluation of the role of atypical antipsychotic drugs (olanzapine and aripiprazole) in adult male albino rats. Sixty adult male albino rats were divided equally into three groups. Group I served as a control while groups II and III were treated with olanzapine and aripiprazole consecutively. Sections of the liver were examined by light and electron microscopy. A highly significant increase in the weight of rats in olanzapine- and aripiprazole- treated groups in comparison to the control group was noticed. On the other hand, there was a highly significant increase in body weight of the olanzapine group in comparison to aripiprazole. Olanzapine- and aripiprazole-treated rats showed highly significantly increased fatty infiltration of liver (steatosis) compared with the control group. However, the aripiprazole-treated group showed less steatosis compared with olanzapine. The mean non-alcoholic steatohepatitis scoring and fibrosis of the olanzapine group were highly significantly increased compared to the aripiprazole group. Ultrastructurally, liver from the olanzapine group showed large fat droplets in perinuclear region, between cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, and in the space of Disse. Large-sized mitochondria and myelin figures were seen. Although histopathological changes of the liver in the form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were more prominent in the olanzapine group, they were also evident in the aripiprazole group.

Gold Nanoparticles as a Direct and Rapid Sensor for Sensitive Analytical Detection of Biogenic Amines.

A new optical sensor was developed for rapid screening with high sensitivity for the existence of biogenic amines (BAs) in poultry meat samples. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with particle size 11-19 nm function as a fast and sensitive biosensor for detection of histamine resulting from bacterial decarboxylation of histidine as a spoilage marker for stored poultry meat. Upon reaction with histamine, the red color of the GNPs converted into deep blue. The appearance of blue color favorably coincides with the concentration of BAs that can induce symptoms of poisoning. This biosensor enables a semi-quantitative detection of analyte in real samples by eye-vision. Quality evaluation is carried out by measuring histamine and histidine using different analytical techniques such as UV-vis, FTIR, and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as TEM. A rapid quantitative readout of samples by UV-vis and fluorescence methods with standard instrumentation were proposed in a short time unlike chromatographic and electrophoretic methods. Sensitivity and limit of detection (LOD) of 6.59 × 10-4 and 0.6 µM, respectively, are determined for histamine as a spoilage marker with a correlation coefficient (R 2) of 0.993.

Generation of a pulsed low-energy electron beam using the channel spark device.

For the generation of low-energy electron beam, the design and characteristics of channel spark discharge (CSD) operating at a low voltage are presented in this paper. The discharge voltage, discharge current, X-ray emissions, and electron beam current were experimentally determined. The effects of the applied voltage, working gas pressure, and external capacitance on the CSD and beam parameters were measured. At an applied voltage of 11 kV, an oxygen gas pressure of 25 mTorr, and an external capacitance of 16.45 nF, the maximum measured current was 900 A. The discharge current increased with the increase in the pressure and capacitance, while its periodic time decreased with the increase in the pressure. Two types of the discharge were identified and recorded: the hollow cathode discharge and the conduction discharge. A Faraday cup was used to measure the beam current. The maximum measured beam current was 120 A, and the beam signal exhibited two peaks. The increase in both the external capacitance and the applied discharge voltage increased the maximum electron beam current. The electron-beam pulse time decreased with the increase in the gas pressure at a constant voltage and increased with the decrease in the applied discharge voltage. At an applied voltage of 11 kV and an oxygen gas pressure of 15 mTorr, the maximum beam energy was 2.8 keV. The X-ray signal intensity decreased with the increase in the gas pressure and increased with the increase in the capacitance.

Prognostic value of admission serum lactate concentrations in intensive care unit patients.

BACKGROUND: Although blood lactate concentrations have an established prognostic value in circulatory shock or after cardiac arrest, their relationship with morbidity and length of stay in general intensive care unit (ICU) populations has not been well defined. METHODS: This study included all 433 patients (246 surgical and 187 medical) consecutively admitted to the Department of medico-surgical intensive care. Hyperlactataemia was defined as a serum lactate concentration > or = 2 mEq/l. RESULTS: On admission, 195 patients (45%) had hyperlactataemia. Hyperlactataemic patients had higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II (13.3 +/- 6.9 vs 10.0 +/- 5.2) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) (5.3 +/- 3.3 vs 3.3 +/- 2.3) scores than patients with normal lactate concentrations (both p < 0.01). There was no overall difference in length of ICU stay (LOS) between the two groups but survivors in the hyperlactataemic group had a longer LOS than survivors in the normal lactate group, whereas hyperlactataemic non-survivors had a shorter LOS than normal lactate non-survivors. Mortality was 9% in patients with normal lactate concentrations and 23% in hyperlactataemic patients. The mortality rate increased with increasing lactate concentrations, from 17% in patients with lactate concentrations from 2-4 mEq/l to 64% in those with concentrations more than 8 mEq/l. Non-survivors had higher lactate concentrations than survivors on admission, and after 24 and 48 hours. Risk factors for developing hyperlactataemia that were present on admission were SOFA score > 5, mean arterial blood pressure less than 70 mmHg, blood sugar greater than 110 mg/dl, and current use of vasopressors. CONCLUSIONS: Our study documents a direct relationship between the serum lactate level on ICU admission and not only the risk of death in ICU but also the length of ICU stay. Hyperlactataemic survivors have a longer LOS and non-survivors a shorter LOS than normal lactate survivors and non-survivors, respectively.

Sedative and analgesic practice in the intensive care unit: the results of a European survey.

Sedation and analgesia are important aspects of patient care on the intensive care unit (ICU), yet relatively little information is available on common sedative and analgesic practice. We sought to assess international differences in the prescription of sedative and analgesic drugs in western European ICUs by means of a short, self-administered questionnaire. Six hundred and forty-seven intensive care physicians from 16 western European countries replied to the questionnaire. Midazolam was used as a sedative often or always by 63% of respondents and propofol by 35%. There were considerable international variations, with midazolam being preferred over propofol in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Austria. For analgesia, the drugs most commonly used were morphine (33%), fentanyl (33%) and sufentanil (24%). Morphine was preferred over fentanyl and sufentanil in Norway, UK and Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Spain and Portugal. Fentanyl was preferred in France, Germany and Italy. Sufentanil was preferred in Belgium and Luxemburg and in Austria. Multivariate analysis showed that the combination of midazolam with fentanyl was most often used in France; propofol with morphine in Sweden, the UK and Ireland, and Switzerland; midazolam with morphine in Norway; and propofol with sufentanil in Belgium and Luxemburg, Germany and Italy. The use of a sedation scale varied from 72% in the UK and Ireland to 18% in Austria. When used, the most common sedation scale was the Ramsay scale. This study demonstrates substantial international differences in sedative and analgesic practices in western European ICUs.

Efficacy of ELISA in diagnosis of strongyloidiasis among the immune-compromised patients.

Anti-Strongyloides IgG antibodies were sought by conventional ELISA techniques among 115 immunocompromised and 36 patients parasitologically diagnosed to be infected by Strongyloides stercoralis through examining their GIT, and sputum specimens. Thirty six individuals infected with other helminths and 30 healthy parasitologically free individuals were also included. The specificity of the technique using thawed and sonicated Strongyloides larvae as an antigen was 100%. The sensitivity was respectively 92.2% and 13.3% among the immune-competent and immune-compromised. When anti-human biotinylated IgG and avidin-peroxidase conjugates were used, sensitivity among both groups rose to 100% and specificity remained unchanged. Avidin-biotinylated ELISA is recommended for the diagnosis of hidden and disseminated strongyloidiasis.