Age-related changes in testicular histological structure, testosterone level, libido and semen traits in male Coturnix quail.

To investigate the effect of age in male quail on testicular weight and histology, sexual libido and semen characteristics, a study was performed on 100 quails at 10, 16, 22, 28 and 34 weeks of age. The body and testicular weights were significantly (p < .05) higher at 16 and 22 than at 28 weeks of age. The circumference and diameter of the seminiferous tubules were significantly (p < .05) higher at 28 and 34 than at 10 and 16 weeks of age. Histological evaluation of testicular slices revealed advanced and effective seminiferous tubes as early as 10 weeks, while spermatogenic activity peaked at 16 weeks of age. The highest semen volume, sperm motility and sperm concentration were observed at weeks of age and then decreased gradually with age. At the same time, the testosterone level and libido were significantly (p < .05) higher at 22 than at 10 weeks of age. Furthermore, the age was positive (p < .05), correlated to seminiferous tubule circumference and diameter, and negative (p < .05), correlated to sperm concentration. In conclusion, the age of quail markedly affected the testicular histological structure, libido, testosterone level and semen characteristics.

Utilization of Augmented Reality Head-Mounted Display for the Surgical Management of Thoracolumbar Spinal Trauma.

Background and Objectives: Augmented reality head-mounted display (AR-HMD) is a novel technology that provides surgeons with a real-time CT-guided 3-dimensional recapitulation of a patient's spinal anatomy. In this case series, we explore the use of AR-HMD alongside more traditional robotic assistance in surgical spine trauma cases to determine their effect on operative costs and perioperative outcomes. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed trauma patients who underwent pedicle screw placement surgery guided by AR-HMD or robotic-assisted platforms at an academic tertiary care center between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2022. Outcome distributions were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The AR cohort (n = 9) had a mean age of 66 years, BMI of 29.4 kg/m2, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) of 4.1, and Surgical Invasiveness Index (SII) of 8.8. In total, 77 pedicle screws were placed in this cohort. Intra-operatively, there was a mean blood loss of 378 mL, 0.78 units transfused, 398 min spent in the operating room, and a 20-day LOS. The robotic cohort (n = 13) had a mean age of 56 years, BMI of 27.1 kg/m2, CCI of 3.8, and SII of 14.2. In total, 128 pedicle screws were placed in this cohort. Intra-operatively, there was a mean blood loss of 432 mL, 0.46 units transfused units used, 331 min spent in the operating room, and a 10.4-day LOS. No significant difference was found between the two cohorts in any outcome metrics. Conclusions: Although the need to address urgent spinal conditions poses a significant challenge to the implementation of innovative technologies in spine surgery, this study represents an initial effort to show that AR-HMD can yield comparable outcomes to traditional robotic surgical techniques. Moreover, it highlights the potential for AR-HMD to be readily integrated into Level 1 trauma centers without requiring extensive modifications or adjustments.

Evaluating the Sensitivity of Different Molecular Techniques for Detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Patients with Pulmonary Infection.

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of detecting drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC)-specific DNA in sputum specimens from 48 patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. The presence of MTBC DNA in the specimens was validated using the GeneXpert MTB/RIF system and compared with a specific PCR assay targeting the IS6110 and the mtp40 gene sequence fragments. Additionally, the results obtained by multiplex PCR assays to detect the most frequently encountered rifampin, isoniazid, and ethambutol resistance-conferring mutations were matched with those obtained by GeneXpert and phenotypic culture-based drug susceptibility tests. Of the 48 sputum samples, 25 were positive for MTBC using the GeneXpert MTB/RIF test. Nevertheless, the IS6110 and mtp40 single-step PCR revealed the IS6110 in 27 of the 48 sputum samples, while the mtp40 gene fragment was found in only 17 of them. Furthermore, multiplex PCR assays detected drug-resistant conferring mutations in 21 (77.8%) of the 27 samples with confirmed MTBC DNA, 10 of which contained single drug-resistant conferring mutations towards ethambutol and two towards rifampin, and the remaining nine contained double-resistant mutations for ethambutol and rifampin. In contrast, only five sputum specimens (18.5%) contained drug-resistant MTBC isolates, and two contained mono-drug-resistant MTBC species toward ethambutol and rifampin, respectively, and the remaining three were designated as multi-drug resistant toward both drugs using GeneXpert and phenotypic culture-based drug susceptibility tests. Such discrepancies in the results emphasize the need to develop novel molecular tests that associate with phenotypic non-DNA-based assays to improve the detection of drug-resistant isolates in clinical specimens in future studies.

Biogenic and characterizations of new silver nanoparticles stabilized with indole acetic acid derived from Azospirillum brasilense MMGH-SADAT1, their bioactivity, and histopathological assessment in rats.

An Egyptian rhizobacterium Azospirillum sp. isolated from Sadat city was able to produce indole acetic acid (IAA) up to (30.59 µg/ml). The isolate was identified biochemically and by 16S rRNA sequencing which showed 99.9% similarity to Azospirillum brasilense. The new isolate has been registered in Genbank with accession number MH179119.1. Extracted IAA was used as reducing or stabilizing agent of sliver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Successful fabrication of biogenic IAA-AgNPs was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) analysis of IAA which showed absorbance peak at 3434.78 cm-1 due to the N-H stretch of primary amines. Highly resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM) showed AgNPs coating or capping with IAA in spherical shaped with size ranged from 6.01 to 44.02 nm. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis revealed that Ag+ ions were attached to the surface of IAA-AgNPs particles. HR-TEM examination showed cell wall damage of Citrobacter freundii cells after exposure to IAA-AgNPs leading to cell death. In vivo results showed that C. freundii infection of rats induced significant increase in liver and kidney functions and deleterious histopathological alteration in rat's tissues. However, treatment by extracted IAA and IAA-AgNPs could normalize the biochemical and histopathological alterations occurred in infected rats. This is the first study to prove that IAA extracted from Azospirillum brasilense is a hopeful capping agent for NPs which has potential to protect against pathogenic infections, nontoxic and/or safe on rat's metabolisms.

Induction of reproductive activity and egg production by gonadotropin-releasing hormone in non-laying hens.

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue (Receptal) injection on reproductive traits of fully mature layers hens (32 weeks) suffered from inactive ovaries. Ninety-six non-laying hens (TETRA-SL brown egg layers), selected from a commercial flock, with similar body weight, were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 24). Hens in the 1st group served as a control. Hens of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups were individually intramuscularly injected every 4 days with 50, 100 and 150 µl of Receptal solution, respectively, for two times. The results stated that the injection of Receptal induced the non-laying hens to produce eggs, but control birds did not produce eggs during the experimental period. The distance between pelvic bones and between the pelvic bone and keel bone of hens was significantly improved (p < .001) in groups received different GnRH levels compared with the control group. The best results were observed in the group injected with 100 µl Receptal. Levels of LH, FSH, oestrogen and progesterone hormones were significantly (p < .05) higher in Receptal-treated groups than in the control group. Hens injected with Receptal had an increase in ovary%, yellow follicles number, oviduct% and oviduct length (p < .001) compared with the control. It was concluded that treating inactive ovaries in non-laying hens with GnRH injections for two times, 4-day intervals, is an effective procedure for inducing egg production and useful in cost reduction in layer farms, and the group treated with 100 µl Receptal had the best results.

Interpretation of the endocrinology of hospital inpatients.

Blood tests to assess the endocrine system are commonly performed in patients admitted to hospital. This may be because an endocrinopathy is thought to be aetiological in the presenting disease or suspected as an incidental occurrence by the clinician. Many patients, in addition to the pathology leading to admission, frequently have one or more comorbidities, a change in nutritional status and polypharmacy. Added to this, presentation with acute illness is a major life stress. All of these are likely to impact on one or more endocrine axes, although often only transiently. Endocrine evaluation in the vast majority of cases can be safely deferred to the outpatient setting. This article considers the most common endocrine anomalies discovered in hospital, the confounders, and provides guidance on how to investigate these further.

Management of persistent acromegaly following primary therapy: The current landscape in the UK.

Acromegaly is the clinical consequence of chronic exposure of the tissues to excess GH and IGF-I. It is almost exclusively the result of a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. In addition to the somatic features, uncontrolled acromegaly is associated with a number of complications and excess mortality. Management is aimed at control of the tumour; normalization of GH and IGF-I secretion and relief of symptoms. Initial management of GH-secreting pituitary adenoma is widely accepted as endonasal trans-sphenoidal surgery, with second-line therapy where disease is uncontrolled in most cases being somatostatin analogue therapy. With the combination of surgery and somatostatin analogue therapy, control is achieved in around 75% of patients; however, this leaves a significant proportion of patients requiring multimodality therapy to achieve remission. Within the UK, the health system has finite resources, and decisions for management require consideration of efficacy and cost-effectiveness. To add to the complexity, subtle differences exist in availability of high-cost medications used in the treatment of patients with acromegaly across the devolved nations of the UK. In this article, we discuss options for the management of persistent acromegaly following initial surgery and somatostatin analogue therapy, and explore earlier use of dopaminergics and conservative management.

Geometric morphometric analysis of the plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) revealed significant effects of environmental factors on skull variations.

The plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) is employed as an ideal model for examining the relationships between phenotypic and ecological adaptations to the underground conditions in which the skull morphology evolves to adapt to tunnel environment. We evaluated the influence of environmental factors (altitude, temperature, and precipitation) and geographical distance on the variations in skull morphology of a native subterranean rodent plateau zokor population. Thin-plate spline showed that the trend of morphological changes along the CV1 axis was as follows: the two zygomatic arch and the two postorbital processes moved down, the two mastoid processes and the tooth row moved upward, and the tympanic bulla grew longer. The changes along the CV2 axis were as follows: the nasal bone and the tooth row became longer, the distance between the two anterior tips of zygomatic arch lengthened, the infraorbital foramen became smaller, the whole posterior part of the skull became shorter, the zygomatic bone and the two posterior tips of zygomatic arch moved down, and the foramen magnum became bigger. Thus we found significant differences in the skull shape among the seven populations studied. Along with the reduction in the altitude and increase in the mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation, the nasal bone became shorter, the distance between the two anterior tips of the zygomatic arch became shorter, the whole posterior part of the skull lengthened, the infraorbital foramen became smaller, the two mastoid processes moved upward, and the occipital bone moved down on the dorsal surface of the skull. On the ventral surface of the skull, with an increase in the altitude, mean annual temperature, and mean annual precipitation, the tympanic bulla became shorter, the tooth row moved down, and the foramen magnum became smaller. The morphological changes in the skull were significantly positively correlated with environmental factors. Finally, there was a significant positive correlation between the Procrustes distance matrix of the skull and the geographic distance matrix, which indicates that the evolution of the plateau zokor follows the distance isolation model, but it needs to be further explored from genetic perspectives.

Ocular anti-inflammatory activity of prednisolone acetate loaded chitosan-deoxycholate self-assembled nanoparticles.

Background and purpose: Conventional topical ophthalmic aqueous solutions and suspensions are often associated with low bioavailability and high administration frequency, pulsatile dose and poor exposure to certain ocular parts. The aim of this study was to develop an ophthalmic nanoparticles loaded gel, for delivering prednisolone acetate (PA), to increase dosing accuracy, bioavailability, and accordingly, efficiency of PA in treating inflammatory ocular diseases. Methods: A novel formulation of self-assembled nanoparticles was prepared by the complexation of chitosan (CS) and, the counter-ion, sodium deoxycholate (SD), loaded with the poorly-water-soluble PA. Particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE) and drug loading content (LC) of prepared nanoparticles were assessed. Moreover, the nanoparticles were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Drug release and eye anti-inflammatory potential of the prepared novel formulation was investigated. Results: Mean particle size of the nanoparticles have dropped from 976 nm ±43 (PDI 1.285) to 480 nm ±28 (PDI 1.396) when the ratio of CS-SD was decreased. The incorporation of 0.1-0.3% of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), in the preparation stages, resulted in smaller nanoparticles: 462 nm ±19 (PDI 0.942) and 321 nm ±22 (PDI 0.454) respectively. DSC and FTIR results demonstrated the interaction between CS and SD, however, no interactions were detected between PA and CS or SD. Drug release of PA as received, in simulated tears fluid (pH 7.4), showed a twofold increase (reaching an average of 98.6% in 24 hours) when incorporated into an optimized nanoparticle gel formulation (1:5 CS-SD). Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory effect of PA nanoparticles loaded gel on female guinea pig eyes was significantly superior to that of the micronized drug loaded gel (P < 0.05).

Does Peri-Implant Mucosa Have a Prognostic Value?

The need for keratinized tissue around implants remains a controversial topic. However, reconstruction of keratinized mucosa may be needed to facilitate restorative procedures, improve aesthetics, and control plaque during oral hygiene. Free gingival grafts, connective tissue grafts, allogenic/xenograft materials, and apically positioned flaps have been used to augment soft tissue around implants. Four different timing protocols have been explored with regard to soft-tissue augmentation: before and during implant placement, during the second-stage surgery, or after restoration. The timing and technique of soft-tissue augmentation remain controversial and lack support from literature. Long-term clinical studies to establish clear guidelines are warranted.

Engineering of solidified glyburide nanocrystals for tablet formulation via loading of carriers: downstream processing, characterization, and bioavailability.

INTRODUCTION: Presenting poorly water-soluble drugs as nanoparticles has shown to be an effective technique in enhancing drug dissolution rate, intrinsic solubility, and thus oral bioavailability. Nevertheless, working with nanoparticles introduces many challenges, one of which is their physical instability. Formulating nanoparticles into a solid dosage form may overcome such challenges and thus unlock the potential benefits of nanosizing. METHODS: The current work investigates the possibility of developing a novel solid dosage form, with enhanced dissolution rate, whereby nanocrystals (~400 nm) of the class II Biopharmaceutical Classification System drug, glyburide (GBD) were fabricated through combined precipitation and homogenization procedures. Using a novel, but scalable, spraying technique, GBD nanocrystals were loaded onto commonly used tablet fillers, water-soluble lactose monohydrate (LAC), and water insoluble microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Conventional tableting processes were then used to convert the powders generated into a tablet dosage form. RESULTS: Studies of redispersibility showed considerable preservation of size characteristics of GBD nanocrystals during downstream processing with redispersibility indices of 105 and 118 for GBD-LAC and GBD-MCC, respectively. Characterization by differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy showed that the powders generated powders contained nanosized crystals of GBD which adhered to carrier surfaces. Powder flowability was characterized using Hausner ratio (HR) and Carr's index (CI). GBD-LAC-loaded particles exhibited poor flowability with CI and HR of 37.5% and 1.60, respectively, whilst GBD-MCC particles showed a slightly improved flowability with CI and HR of 26.47% and 1.36, respectively. The novel tablet dosage form met US Pharmacopeia specifications, including drug content, hardness, and friability. CONCLUSION: Higher dissolution rates were observed from the nanocrystal-based tablets compared to the microsized and commercial drug formulations. Moreover, the novel nanocrystal tablet dosage forms showed enhanced in vivo performance with area under the plasma concentration- time curve in the first 24 hours values 1.97 and 2.24 times greater than that of marketed tablets.

Impact of nanoparticles on transcriptional regulation of catabolic genes of petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in contaminated soil microcosms.

This study was conducted to determine what effects nanoparticles (NPs) like TiO2 , ZnO, and Ag may pose on natural attenuation processes of petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soils. The solid NPs used were identified using x-ray diffraction technique and their average size was certified as 18.2, 16.9, and 18.3 nm for Ag-NPs, ZnO-NPs, and TiO2 -NPs, respectively. NPs in soil microcosms behave differently where it was dissolved as in case of Ag-NPs, partially dissolved as in ZnO-NPs or changed into other crystalline phase as in TiO2 -NPs. In this investigation, catabolic gene encoding catechol 2,3 dioxygenase (C23DO) was selected specifically as biomarker for monitoring hydrocarbon biodegradation potential by measuring its transcripts by RT-qPCR. TiO2 -NPs amended microcosms showed almost no change in C23DO expression profile or bacterial community which were dominated by Bacillus sp., Mycobacterium sp., Microbacterium sp., Clostridium sp., beside uncultured bacteria, including uncultured proteobacteria, Thauera sp. and Clostridia. XRD pattern suggested that TiO2 -NPs in microcosms were changed into other non-inhibitory crystalline phase, consequently, showing the maximum degradation profile for most low molecular weight oil fractions and partially for the high molecular weight ones. Increasing ZnO-NPs concentration in microcosms resulted in a reduction in the expression of C23DO with a concomitant slight deteriorative effect on bacterial populations ending up with elimination of Clostridium sp., Thauera sp., and uncultured proteobacteria. The oil-degradation efficiency was reduced compared to TiO2 -NPs amended microcosms. In microcosms, Ag-NPs were not detected in the crystalline form but were available in the ionic form that inhibited most bacterial populations and resulted in a limited degradation profile of oil, specifically the low molecular weight fractions. Ag-NPs amended microcosms showed a significant reduction (80%) in C23DO gene expression and a detrimental effect on bacterial populations including key players like Mycobacterium sp., Microbacterium sp., and Thauera sp. involved in the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons.

Nano Hydroxyapatite & Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Efficiently Promote Odontogenic Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells.

BACKGROUND: There has been an urge to shift from conventional therapies to the more promising regenerative strategy since conventional treatment relies on synthetic materials to fill defects and replace missing tissues, lacking the ability to restore the tissues' physiological architecture and function. AIM: The present study focused on the assessment of the role of two commonly used biomaterials namely; mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and nano hydroxy-apatite as promoters of odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). METHODS: DPSCs were isolated, cultured in odontogenic media and divided into three groups; control group, MTA group and nanohydroxyapatite group. Odontogenic differentiation was assessed by tracing genes characteristic of different stages of odontoblasts via qRT-PCR. Calcific nodules formation was evaluated by Alizarin red staining. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that both MTA and nanohydroxyapatite were capable of enhancing odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs. CONCLUSION: Nano hydroxyapatite was found to have a higher promoting effect. However, in the absence of an odontogenic medium, MTA and nanohydroxyapatite could not enhance the odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs.

Dual effect biodegradable ciprofloxacin loaded implantable matrices for osteomyelitis: controlled release and osteointegration.

Ciprofloxacin biodegradable implantable matrices (CPX-IMs) of tailored porous surfaces were fabricated by hot melt injection molding of poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) followed by coating with PLLA/sodium chloride. CPX-IDs were designed to have a non-porous coat (NPC) or a porous coat of small pore size (SPC; 150-250 µm) or a large pore size (LPC; 250-350 µm). CPX-IMs surface pore size was confirmed by scanning electron microscope. The hardness of NPC, LPC, and SPC CPX-IMs were 58 ± 2.8, 53 ± 1.9, and 50 ± 2.1 N, respectively. The measured porosity values were 41.2 ± 1.53, 65.2 ± 1.1, and 60.7 ± 1.2%, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to study the compatibility of ingredients, the effect of injection molding on polymer properties, and implants degradation. Coating of CPX-IMs prolonged drug release to reach a value of 90% release in 40 days. Antibacterial activity tests showed sufficiency of CPX to inhibit pathogens known to cause osteomyelitis. The in vivo study showed tissue compatibilities of the inserted matrices in tested rats with no sign of infection throughout the experiment period. SPC and LPC CPX-IMs demonstrated a better osteointegration, cell adhesion, and infiltration of different types of bone cells within implants structure compared to the non-porous matrix. Furthermore, LPC CPX-IMs showed a superior bone cell attachment and osteointegration relative to SPC CPX-IMs. Findings of this study confirmed the impact of porosity and pore sizes on cell proliferation and fracture healing concurrently with the sustained local antibiotic therapy for treatment or prevention of osteomyelitis.

Glibenclamide Nanocrystals in a Biodegradable Chitosan Patch for Transdermal Delivery: Engineering, Formulation, and Evaluation.

Glibenclamide (GBD) nanocrystals (D50 = 429 nm) were engineered by applying combined precipitation and homogenization procedures. GBD crystallinity was maintained during the nanonization process as revealed by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray analyses. Nanonized and micronized GBD were incorporated into chitosan solutions to fabricate transdermal delivery systems (TDDSs), nano- and micro-GBD, respectively. The fabricated TDDSs displayed satisfactory physicochemical characteristics without substantial aggregation of GBD nanocrystals during the casting and drying procedures. Within 24 hours, about 85 ± 3.1% of the GBD content was released from nano-GBD, compared to 61 ± 3.9% from micro-GBD. Cumulative permeation of GBD from nano-GBD after 24 hours was 498 ± 33.35 compared to 362 ± 25.25 µg/cm2 from micro-GBD. The calculated flux across rat skin for nano-GBD was 23.14 compared to 13.64 µg/cm2/h for micro-GBD, with an enhancement factor of 1.7. In vivo assessment clearly revealed the enhanced efficacy of nano-GBD to reduce blood glucose levels and counteract the induced hyperglycemia in tested animals compared to micro-GBD (p < 0.5). Simultaneously, the nano-GBD was able to maintain higher drug concentration for longer time (24 hours, p < 0.5) and minimize intense action and hypoglycemia associated with GBD oral therapy (p < 0.5).

Tailoring the mucoadhesive and sustained release characteristics of mesalamine loaded formulations for local treatment of distal forms of ulcerative colitis.

Direct delivery of sustained therapeutic levels of mesalamine (MS) via rectal systems to manage distal forms of ulcerative colitis was studied. The High molecular weight hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K4M) polymer was combined with hydrophilic surfactants to control polymer hydration process allowing optimization of the mucoadhesive and controlled drug release properties for the rectal systems. Physical mixtures and granules of MS and HPMC K4M were prepared and in vitro characterized using scanning electron microscope, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction techniques. Rectal formulations were prepared utilizing MS-HPMC K4M mixtures in different polyethylene glycol (PEG) combination bases. The developed rectal formulations were investigated for physical, mucoadhesion, in-vitro drug release and swelling characteristics. Results revealed acceptable physical characteristics of the prepared formulations with good content uniformity and minimum weight variation. Sustained release patterns of MS form HPMC K4M based formulations were observed. Formulations prepared using high proportions of the polymer or PEG 400 showed higher extent of mucoadhesion, swelling and greatly extended drug release time. Efficacy of an optimized formulation was assessed using the acetic acid induced colitis model in rats and compared to a reference polymer-free formulation of the drug. Clinical evaluation included bleeding from rectum, consistency of animal stool and colon/body weight ratio. Furthermore, histopathological analysis was carried out to evaluate the degree of inflammation and mucosal damage. Overall results showed a significant enhancement in the clinical pictures and colon histopathology of animals treated by the sustained release mucoadhesive formulation compared to the reference polymer free formulation and the non-treated colitis group.

Prophylactic levofloxacin in pediatric neutropenic patients during autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Using fluoroquinolone prophylaxis in pediatric neutropenic patients is a controversial issue due to the concern about emergence of resistant strains in addition to the lack of pediatric studies. This study was performed to assess the effectiveness of levofloxacin prophylaxis in pediatric patients during autologous stem cell transplantation. METHODS: This was an observational study of pediatric patients who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation, comparing patients who received levofloxacin prophylaxis to historical controls. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients were included (46 patients in the control group and 50 patients received levofloxacin). The median duration till onset of first fever was 11 d in the control group as compared to 15 d in patients who received levofloxacin (p ≤ 0.001). The incidence of infectious complications was higher in patients without levofloxacin (4/46) than those with levofloxacin (1/50). The median duration of empirical antibiotic use was 10 d in the levofloxacin group compared with 14 d in the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Levofloxacin prophylaxis delayed first spike of fever, decreased the incidence of septic complications, and shortened the duration of empiric antibiotic use, but its impact on emergence of resistant organisms should be closely monitored.

Fatal Pulmonary Tumor Embolic Microangiopathy in Young Lady without Known Primary Malignancy.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Malignancy, prolonged recumbence, and chemotherapy are renowned risk factors for development of clinically significant PE. Cancer exerts a multitude of pathophysiological processes, for example, hypercoagulability and abnormal vessels with sluggish circulation that can lead to PE. One of the peculiar characteristics of tumor cells is their ability to reach the circulation and behave as blood clot-not a metastasis-occluding the pulmonary circulation. We present a case of fatal pulmonary embolism diagnosed histologically to be due to tumor cell embolism.

A plausible role of salivary copper in antimicrobial activity of histatin-5--metal binding and oxidative activity of its copper complex.

Histatin-5 (Hn5) is an antimicrobial salivary peptide of 24 amino acids. Two specific metal-binding sites were revealed with electronic, NMR, and EPR spectroscopy. The complex Cu(2)(II)-Hn5 effectively oxidizes catechol, exhibiting enzyme-like kinetics (k(cat)=0.011 and 0.060 s(-1) and k(cat)/K(m)=19 and 50 M(-1)s(-1) without and with 12.8mM H(2)O(2), respectively). The significant oxidative activity may contribute to the biological activity of this antibiotic metallopeptide.

Comparative changes in the serum concentrations of inhibin-B, prolactin, gonadotropins and steroid hormones at different reproductive States in domestic Turkey hens.

The present study was undertaken to compare the changes in circulating levels of inhibin-B, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol-17beta, progesterone and testosterone during the different reproductive states of turkey hens. Blood samples were collected during different reproductive states, at laying, incubating and out of lay. Inhibin-B was measured by ELISA, while other hormones were determined by Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA). The results revealed highly significant differences among the hen's states for all serum hormone concentrations. The highest levels of inhibin-B and prolactin were observed in incubating hens, while the lowest values were observed in laying hens. In contrast, the highest levels of FSH, LH, estradiol-17beta, progesterone and testosterone were found in the laying group, while the lowest values were found in the incubating group. The progesterone level was higher in the laying group compared with the other groups. These results clearly demonstrate that negative correlation was found between both the inhibin-B and prolactin levels and the gonadotropin and steroid hormone concentrations during the different reproductive states of the turkey hens. In addition, the results suggest that inhibin-B may be involved in control of FSH and LH secretion.