Arsenic exposure is associated with elevated sweat chloride concentration and airflow obstruction among adults in Bangladesh: a cross sectional study.

Arsenic is associated with lung disease and experimental models suggest that arsenic-induced degradation of the chloride channel CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) is a mechanism of arsenic toxicity. We examined associations between arsenic exposure, sweat chloride concentration (measure of CFTR function), and pulmonary function among 285 adults in Bangladesh. Participants with sweat chloride ≥ 60 mmol/L had higher arsenic exposures than those with sweat chloride < 60 mmol/L (water: median 77.5 µg/L versus 34.0 µg/L, p = 0.025; toenails: median 4.8 µg/g versus 3.7 µg/g, p = 0.024). In linear regression models, a one-unit µg/g increment in toenail arsenic was associated with a 0.59 mmol/L higher sweat chloride concentration, p < 0.001. We found that toenail arsenic concentration was associated with increased odds of airway obstruction (OR: 1.97, 95%: 1.06, 3.67, p = 0.03); however, sweat chloride concentration did not mediate this association. Our findings suggest that sweat chloride concentration may be a novel biomarker for arsenic exposure and also that arsenic likely acts on the lung through mechanisms other than CFTR dysfunction.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcome predictors of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in a referral neurology hospital in Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe clinical and laboratory characteristics and determine the predictors of outcome in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted over 2 years among hospitalized patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Patient outcome was assessed using the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months. Outcome predictors were identified using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were included in this study. The median mRS outcome at 3 months was 1 (interquartile range 1-3). Poor outcomes were observed in 27.2% of patients, and the mortality rate was 9.8%. Factors associated with poor outcomes were age >60 years (relative risk [RR] 5.1), hemiparesis (RR 5.4), altered level of consciousness (RR 7.1), and transverse sinus involvement (RR 1.1). In general, mRS scores were not associated with D-dimer levels (RR 2.4). However, older patients with elevated D-dimer levels showed a significant association with poor outcomes (1.6) according to mRS scores. CONCLUSION: Older age, hemiparesis, and altered consciousness levels were independent predictors of poor outcomes in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. High D-dimer level showed no association with functional disability, except in older patients.

Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphisms and haplotypes in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a multifunctional cytokine that exerts both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects on the immune system as well as in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). We investigated whether the three common polymorphisms -1082 G/A(rs1800896), -819 C/T(rs1800871), and -592 C/A(rs1800872) in the promoter region of IL-10 have any influence on the susceptibility, severity, and clinical outcome of GBS. METHODS: IL-10 promoter polymorphisms were investigated in 152 patients with GBS and 152 healthy controls from Bangladesh using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and allele-specific oligonucleotide-PCR (ASO-PCR). Haplotype patterns and frequencies were analyzed using Heatmaply R-package, chi-square, and Fisher's exact test. The serum level of IL-10 was measured through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: IL-10 promoter polymorphisms -1082 G/A, -819 C/T, and -592 C/A were not associated with GBS susceptibility. The homozygous -819 TT genotype showed a tendency with susceptibility (p = 0.029; pc = 0.08) and was prevalent in axonal variants of GBS compared to demyelinating subtypes and controls (p = 0.042, OR = 8.67, 95% CI = 1.03-72.97; pc = 0.123 and p = 0.005, OR = 4.2, 95% CI = 1.55-11.40; pc = 0.015, respectively). Haplotype analysis revealed 19 patterns of genotypes and high IL-10 expression haplotype combinations (GCC/GTA, GCC/ATA, and GCC/GCA) may have influence on disease severity (p = 0.026; pc = 0.078). Serum expression of IL-10 was elevated in GBS patients ([GBS, 12.16 ± 45.71] vs. [HC, 0.65 ± 5.17] pg/mL; p = 0.0027) and varied with disease severity ([severe-GBS, 15.25 ± 51.72] vs. [mild-GBS, 3.59 ± 19.79] pg/mL, p = 0.046). INTERPRETATION: The -819 TT genotypes influence axonal GBS, and high frequency of IL-10 expression haplotype combination with elevated serum IL-10 may play an important role in disease severity.

Soliton solutions for the Zoomeron model applying three analytical techniques.

The Zoomeron equation is used in various categories of soliton with unique characteristics that arise in different physical phenomena, such as fluid dynamics, laser physics, and nonlinear optics. To achieve soliton solutions for the Zoomeron nonlinear structure, we apply the unified, the Kudryashov, and the improved Kudryashov techniques. We find periodic, breather, kink, anti-kink, and dark-bell soliton solutions from the derived optical soliton solutions. Bright, dark, and bright-dark breather waves are also established. Finally, some dynamic properties of the acquired findings are displayed in 3D, density, and 2D views.

Ferroelectric nematic droplets in their isotropic melt.

The isotropic to ferroelectric nematic liquid transition was theoretically studied over one hundred years ago, but its experimental studies are rare. Here we present experimental results and theoretical considerations of novel electromechanical effects of ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal droplets coexisting with the isotropic melt. We find that the droplets have flat pancake-like shapes that are thinner than the sample thickness as long as there is room to increase the lateral droplet size. In the center of the droplets a wing-shaped defect with low birefringence is present that moves perpendicular to a weak in-plane electric field, and then extends and splits in two at higher fields. Parallel to the defect motion and extension, the entire droplet drifts along the electric field with a speed that is independent of the size of the droplet and is proportional to the amplitude of the electric field. After the field is increased above 1 mV µm-1 the entire droplet gets deformed and oscillates with the field. These observations led us to determine the polarization field and revealed the presence of a pair of positive and negative bound electric charges due to divergences of polarization around the defect volume.

Effect of Sprue Design in Nickel-Chromium Cast Crown Margin

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the effect of sprue design on the marginal accuracy of the casting. Material and Methods: It was an experimental in-vitro study. There are forty-four crowns of single sprue group with a forty-four double sprue group that was compared in 6 different locations of the margin. The sections were inspected under a microscope at 50X magnification and took a micrograph. The radius from an actual casting edge to a possibly excellent margin was then documented as marginal discrepancy (d), in µm. The marginal discrepancy was documented for each of the six sections per casting. Thus 264 sections were measured for each group. Data were analysed using (ANOVA) for analysis of variance. For bivariate analyses, Chi-square and Student t test were used. The significance level was set at < 0.05. Results: The marginal discrepancy was greater in the single sprue group of cast crown (43.1 ± 4.74 µm) and in double sprue group of cast crown was less (25.7 ± 4.25 µm). This difference is statistically significant (p<0.05). The correlation between single sprue group of casting with a double sprue group of casting by student's t-test where determination height was 95%. Conclusion: Double sprue design produces a higher accurate margin than single sprue design in the nickel-chromium alloy cast crown.

Fresh Frozen Amniotic Membrane and Buccal Pad of Fat for Reconstruction of Oral Mucosal Defect After Surgical Excision of Leukoplakia

Objective: To compare the use of Fresh Frozen Amniotic Membrane (FFAM) and Buccal Pad of Fat (BPF) for reconstruction of oral mucosal defect after surgical excision of leukoplakia. Material and Methods: Twenty patients were randomly selected and divided into two groups. Group 1 use amniotic membrane graft and Group 2 BPF. Both groups were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. Incisal opening, epithelialization and fibrosis were evaluated after one month of surgery. Chi square and Student t tests were used. Results: According to the presence of smoking habits, the highest frequencies were for smoking (30%) and betel leaf areca nut with tobacco (30%). Regarding the diameter of oral leukoplakia, in 40% of the participants it was 2x3 cm2. In Group1, after one month of surgery preoperative and postoperative inter-incisal opening values were 44.20 ± 3.37 and 42.05 ± 3.47 (p<0.001). In Group 2, preoperative and postoperative inter-incisal opening values were 44.09 ± 3.32 and 43.01±3.38 (p>0.05). When FFAM was used complete epithelialization in 70% and incomplete epithelialization in 30% patients. When BPF was used the results were almost similar. Fibrosis occurred in 30% in Group 1. There were no complications like flap necrosis, infectiona and hematoma formation. Conclusion: Incisal opening was significantly better in Fresh Frozen Amniotic Membrane Group, epithelialization and fibrosis were almost same in both groups after surgical excision of oral leukoplakia.

Comparative Study Between Standard Ward's Incision and Coma Shaped Incision and its Postoperative Outcome on Impacted Mandibular Third Molars Extraction in Bangladeshi Population

Objective: To evaluate the postoperative outcome in standard Comma Shaped incision and Ward's incision on postoperative complications in surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar. Material and Methods: In this study, 100 patients with impacted mandibular third molar were selected for study. The patients were divided in to two groups. Each group contains 50 patients. A standard Ward's incision was made on one group and a Comma incision was made on another group to reflect the mucoperiosteal flap, after the common steps for removal of impacted third molars were followed. The postoperative parameters were recorded immediately on the postoperative days 1, 3 and 7. For bivariate analyses, Chi square and Student t test were used. The significance level was set at 5%. Results: The pain and swelling scores were found to be significantly lower in the surgical area with Comma incisions, which was recorded on days 1, 3 and 7 as compared to the area where standard Ward's incision were made. In mouth opening, there was a sufficiently great difference seen between the two incisions on first postoperative day, but on day 3 and 7 there was no statistical significance. Conclusion: the Comma Shaped incision design was preferable over the standard Ward's incision, considering the lesser degree of postoperative complications.

Spinal cord compression as initial presentation of metastatic occult follicular thyroid carcinoma.

Metastatic tumors are the most common tumors of the spine, accounting for 98% of all spine lesions. But spinal cord compression as the initial presentation of metastatic occult follicular carcinoma without any thyroid enlargement is unusual and relatively rare. This report describes a 35-years-old female patient presenting with paraplegia and urinary incontinence for the last two months. She had no thyroid enlargement; no thyroid related symptoms and her biochemical thyroid profile was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of spine shows a huge mass compressing the spinal cord at D11-D12 involving both the spinal and paraspinal areas. The patient was treated by surgery and radioiodine ablation as the histopathology showed metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma. This case was reported because of the rarity of the disease. Early diagnosis and initiation of the treatment should promise a good prognosis for a patient with metastatic spinal cord compression.

Xtr, a plural tudor domain-containing protein, is involved in the translational regulation of maternal mRNA during oocyte maturation in Xenopus laevis.

Xtr in the fertilized eggs of Xenopus has been demonstrated to be a member of a messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complex that plays a crucial role in karyokinesis during cleavage. Since the Xtr is also present both in oocytes and spermatocytes and its amount increases immediately after spematogenic cells enter into the meiotic phase, this protein was also predicted to act during meiotic progression. Taking advantage of Xenopus oocytes' large size to microinject anti-Xtr antibody into them for inhibition of Xtr function, we examined the role of Xtr in meiotic progression of oocytes. Microinjection of anti-Xtr antibody into immature oocytes followed by reinitiation of oocyte maturation did not affect germinal vesicle break down and the oscillation of Cdc2/cyclin B activity during meiotic progression but caused abnormal spindle formation and chromosomal alignment at meiotic metaphase I and II. Immunoprecipitation of Xtr showed the association of Xtr with FRGY2 and mRNAs such as RCC1 and XL-INCENP mRNAs, which are involved in the progression of karyokinesis. When anti-Xtr antibody was injected into oocytes, translation of XL-INCENP mRNA, which is known to be repressed in immature oocytes and induced after reinitiation of oocyte maturation, was inhibited even if the oocytes were treated with progesterone. A similar translational regulation was observed in oocytes injected with a reporter mRNA, which was composed of an enhanced green fluorescent protein open reading frame followed by the 3' untranslational region (3'UTR) of XL-INCENP mRNA. These results indicate that Xtr regulates the translation of XL-INCENP mRNA through its 3'UTR during meiotic progression of oocyte.

Xtr, a plural tudor domain-containing protein, coexists with FRGY2 both in cytoplasmic mRNP particle and germ plasm in Xenopus embryo: its possible role in translational regulation of maternal mRNAs.

Xtr is present exclusively in early embryonic and germline cells. We have previously shown that loss-of-function of the Xtr in embryos causes arrest of karyokinesis progression. Since Xtr contains plural tudor domains, which are known to associate with target proteins directly, we examined Xtr-interacting proteins by immunoprecipitation with an anti-Xtr monoclonal antibody and detected a few RNA-binding proteins such as FRGY2, a component of messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) particle. The coexistence of Xtr with FRGY2 by constituting an mRNP particle was further confirmed by gel filtration assay. Search of mRNAs in the immunoprecipitate with Xtr suggested that the Xtr-associated molecules included several mRNAs, of which translational products were known to play crucial roles in karyokinesis progression (RCC1, XRHAMM, and so on) and in germ cell development (XDead end). Immunohistochemical observation clearly showed the co-localization of Xtr with FRGY2 also in germ plasm, in which XDead end mRNA has been shown to be localized specifically. Taken together, we proposed the possible role of Xtr in translational activation of the maternal mRNAs repressed in mRNP particle.