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Aug 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-1937.ijbt-25-5540
Harry Fon MbachamCorresponding author
The rising need for structured and efficient blood transfusion services in low-resource settings has driven the adoption of collaborative blood transfusion management systems (CBTMS). This study explores the functionality and impact of the Cornerstone University Blood Management System version 1.0 (CUBMS vs 1.0) in Cameroon. This study was an exploratory research design which used a system interface analysis, comparative case reviews from four countries, and literature synthesis, to reveal that CUBMS improves accessibility, data management, inventory control, emergency responsiveness, and community engagement. Despite infrastructural challenges in rural regions, the system can enhance efficiency, transparency, and safety in blood services. The success of CBTMS in Cameroon is linked to digital infrastructure, training, and culturally relevant community engagement. The Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon should prioritize the nationwide implementation of CBTMS, ensuring consistency in digital health tools.
Mar 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2638-4469.japb-25-5395
Divakar ChennamsettiCorresponding author
Plant leaf diseases pose significant threats to crop yield and agricultural sustainability, making early and accurate detection crucial for effective disease management. In current years, deep neural network (DNN) techniques have shown remarkable potential in the field of image classification, including plant disease detection. The study aims to investigate the performance of two popular deep learning architectures, namely, VGG16 and InceptionResNetV2, for the detection of tomato plant leaf disease. The proposed methodology involves acquiring a diverse dataset comprising high-resolution images of healthy and diseased leaves from the target crops. Preprocessing techniques such as image augmentation and normalization are applied to enhance the generalization ability of the models and mitigate overfitting. Transfer learning is employed to initialize the deep learning architectures with weights pre-trained on large-scale image datasets to accelerate convergence and improve the models' performance in limited data scenarios. To evaluate performance of proposed networks various metrics such as validation and test accuracies, precision and recall, F1 score, and the area under the curve (AUC) are considered. From the investigations, the classification accuracy of the finest architectures is as follows: 99.8 percent for VGG16 and 99.4 percent for InceptionResNetV2 on Corn Leaves. The results suggest that the models developed during the investigation phase to identify the leaf disease were superior to any existing Deep Neural Networks (DNNs).
Nov 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2470-0436.jos-24-5321
Daxer AlbertCorresponding author
Purpose The conventional irradiation technique in corneal crosslinking for keratoconus is characterized by a free irradiation path and parallel light rays directed to the corneal surface. This can cause treatment failures resulting from the steep and irregular corneal curvature as well as from eye and head movement. Here we present a a new and improved irradiation technology for corneal crosslinking (CXL) in keratoconus to avoid such treatment failures. Materials and Methods The presented technology is characterized by a closed irradiation channel which is lined inside with a diffusely reflecting layer and which is mounted to the eye via a suction ring. The effective intensity transferred to a curved photodetector representing the curved cornea of some 7 mm radius was measured for both, the conventional and the new technology. The results were compared with related calculations. Results The UV-A irradiation transferred to a curved cornea of some 7 mm central radius varies across the irradiated area by a factor of 2 for the conventional technology. At a distance of already 2 mm from the vertex the transferred UV-A intensity falls below 2/3 of the central intensity which might affect the effectivity of the treatment. The new technology can keep the intensity transferred to the cornea at a constant level across the entire irradiated area. Conclusion The new irradiation technology can considerably improve the energy transfer to the cornea since the effective intensity at the cornea becomes independent from the corneal shape, the eye movement and the head movement, respectively. This may probably reduce the failure rate of corneal crosslinking in the future.
Mar 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-20-3260
Masoero GiorgioCorresponding author
Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Via A. Doria 10, 10123 Torino (Italy).
The management of the inoculation of a plant’s roots, by means of biofertilizers (BF) containing arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, is aimed at inducing modifications of the quality of the seeds. It is here shown that a seed-soil treatment can be elicited in the fingerprints of a symbiotic treatment using Near Infra Red (NIR)-SCiO NIR-SCiO spectra collections of single kernels: overall, a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 73% have been achieved, thus suggesting that it may be possible to assign the symbiotic origin of corn from just twenty kernels, provided that the dataset is adequately representative of the cultivar and AM. A global correlation study has shown a positive general trend (R2 0.45) of quality vs. quantity, in the sense that an increase in yield corresponded to an increase in the spectral differences between the symbiotic spectra and the control ones, but the inverse was also true, as a result of the parasitic behaviour of the BF treatments. The efficacy of the symbiosis can be back predicted from the NIR spectra; in fact, around 90% of the positive yield outcome results were discriminated from the negative ones. A reduction in the foliar pH (R2 0.37) and an increase in the foliar protein (R2 0.43) were observed as immediate phenotypic signs of a productive symbiosis. The commercial raw composition of the kernels appeared to only be affected slightly by the BF treatments; thus, till now uncharted secondary compounds of the maize kernels are involved, as supported by animal performances.
Nov 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-19-3089
Masoero GiorgioCorresponding author
Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Italy
The agronomic management of symbiotic (S) inoculations, by means of bio-fertilizers (BF), is aimed at inducing modifications of the plant rhizosphere and thereafter of the phenotype and yield of the crop. It is here shown that the yield response of maize to a symbiotic treatment may be correlated to six easy-to-calculate indicator variables on the basis of the raw foliar pH, NIR-Spectroscopy of leaves, and the NIRS of hay litter-bags from soils. It has been confirmed, in a set of thirteen pairwise comparisons of Symbiotic (S) soil inoculated by BF vs. Control (non-inoculated soil; C), that the inoculation on average acidified the leaves by -3.7% pH units (P<0.0001). The responses in yield ranged from +25.2% to -9.2% (av.ge +3.5%; P = 0.03), but with average null responses in two centers and a significant response (+11%) in a third center. NIR-Tomoscopy scans (No. 574) were also performed on the leaves, and in addition, hay-litter-bags that had previously been buried in fields were dug up after two months, and 431 NIR- scans were acquired. The effect-size on the yield was expressed as the logarithm of the response ratio, i.e. the mean of the inoculated Symbiotic treatment divided by the mean of the non-inoculated Control for each pairwise comparison. A multiple regression model was developed to predict the symbiotic response to the treatment using six independent variables, including the squared litter-bag fingerprints, and an R2adj. level of 0.78 (P=0.01) was reached, with a standard error of ±4%. Validation in one external maize field, with a positive response to bio-fertilizers, demonstrates the juxtaposition of the estimated and accomplished yield. In a second experiment, with 40 pairwise comparisons, the two tested maize varieties did not respond to five types of bio-fertilizer, and the negative results were predicted at 84% (P 0.0012). The soil biota is a key factor for the application of appropriate microbial inoculants in the field, but the genotype/genotype interactions between the microbial strain (s) and the crop cultivar (s) require prior screening to obtain the desired results.
Sep 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2377-2549.jndc-18-2177
Michałowski TadeuszCorresponding author
The Generalized Electron Balance (GEB) concept, related to electrolytic redox systems, is considered according to principles of Generalized Approach to Electrolytic Systems (GATES). Two equivalent Approaches (I and II) to GEB are presented. The Approach I, when perceived in convention of the card game, is based on the common pool of electrons as money, introduced by electron-active elements, named as players; electron-non-active elements are called there as fans. The GEB obtained according to Approach II results from the linear combination f12 = 2∙f(O) – f(H) of elemental balances: f1 = f(H) for H, and f2 = f(O) for O. Very important properties of f12 are presented here in details, and illustrated by a redox system where comproportion- ation reactions occur
Oct 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-17-1784
Minakshi RohillaCorresponding author
Objective: Mullerian anomalies of the female genital tract are rare and unicornuate uterus is one such variant: it may present with a rudimentary horn with or without a communication. Pregnancy is rare in a non communicating horn and majority of them end up in rupture during first trimester. The ones which progress to fetal viability are around 10 % and may end up in catastrophic hemorrhage with fetal loss at any time. Case report: We hereby report a rare case of unruptured rudimentary horn pregnancy associated with placenta accreta and delivery of a live born fetus at 34 weeks period of gestation. Around ten cases of such an association have been reported in the past. Conclusion: Diagnosis of pregnancy in a non communicating horn of a unicornuate uterus is challenging especially at term. High index of suspicion and timely delivery of a live fetus has major role in achieving best maternal and neonatal outcome.
Jan 2015 DOI 10.14302/issn.2470-0436.jos-14-572
KavitaBhatnagarCorresponding author
Dr D Y Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Center, Pune, India
Purpose: Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Even in an uneventful cataract surgery, surgically induced astigmatism remains the major hurdle in attaining good unaided visual acuity post surgery. If pre-existing corneal astigmatism is not corrected at the time of surgery, it will result in more postoperative astigmatism; therefore, it is important to correct pre-existing corneal astigmatism. Material & Methods In this prospective study, 100 eyes of 100 age and sex matched patient’s with comparable preoperative astigmatism and visual acuity were divided in two groups according to pre operative corneal astigmatism. SIG (superior scleral incision group) included 50 eyes with steeper vertical axis and TIG (temporal corneal incision group) included 50 eyes with steeper horizontal axis. SIG and TIG were subjected to superior scleral tunnel and temporal corneal tunnel incisions respectively. Corneal astigmatism was measured preoperatively and at 1, 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively. Results: The mean postoperative astigmatism in SIG and TIG after 6 weeks was 0.545 ± 0.51D and 0.59 ± 0.48 D in comparison to preoperative astigmatism of 1.105 ± 0.54 D and 1.120 ± 0.49 D respectively. The difference was statistically significant in both the groups with P< 0.001 for both groups. The difference in surgically induced astigmatism between the two groups was not significant at any point of time after surgery (p>0.05). Conclusion: Incision site on steeper axis helps in reduction of pre-existing corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery. Both superior scleral and temporal corneal incisions help in neutralization of approx. 0.4-0.7 D of astigmatism.
Jan 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.2470-0436.jos-25-5905
Al-Yarabi MohammedCorresponding author
Purpose To report a rare case of Mooren’s ulcer in a healthy young male without systemic autoimmune disease, and to highlight the effectiveness of conjunctival resection as therapy for cases unresponsive to medical management. Case report A 34-year-old immunocompetent male presented with progressive peripheral corneal ulceration in the left eye. Extensive systemic and infectious evaluations, including rheumatologic, immunologic, and microbiological testing, were unremarkable. Human leukocyte antigen genotyping was DR17(03)-negative and DQ2-positive. Rheumatological evaluation yielded no definitive systemic diagnosis. Despite immunosuppressive therapy with adjuvant medications, the epithelial defect and stromal inflammation persisted. The patient underwent conjunctival resection, resulting in marked reduction in inflammation, rapid re-epithelialization, and structural stabilization of the cornea. Histopathology of excised conjunctiva showed nonspecific inflammation without granulomatous changes, vasculitis, or neoplastic features. During follow-up, patient remained in remission with visual acuity preserved at 6/6 bilaterally and no recurrence. Conclusion Mooren’s ulcer is rare but vision-threatening. Early recognition, comprehensive evaluation, and timely surgical intervention can be vision-saving. This case highlights the role of a multidisciplinary approach and supports conjunctival resection as a useful adjunct in refractory disease. Long-term follow-up is essential.
Aug 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-8572.joa-21-3913
Mohamed Bofares KhaledCorresponding author
Professor of otorhinolaryngology Omar Almoukhtar University, Elbyda, Libya
This article has been retracted on 20 January 2022. VIEW THE RETRACTION NOTICE (https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2379-8572.joa-25-5850) Back ground and Objectives Tonsillectomy is the most common surgical procedure in specialty of otorhinolaryngology. Therefore there are frequent premises regarding this procedure to be improved from different aspects, indications, time of surgery, techniques, safety measures, and postoperative care. Hence the tonsils and peritonsillar tissues are highly vascular zone that supplied by direct branches of external carotid artery thus the post-tonsillectomy bleeding remains one of significant issues in relation to this widely performed procedure. The post-tonsillectomy bleeding needs frequently to be postulated for its incidence, prevalence, etiology, predisposing factors, management and prevention. This subject constitutes one of most risky aspects that increase wariness of the surgeons regarding this commonly conducted procedure. Although there are huge numbers of presentative literatures coming from American as well as western institutes that tried to put guidelines for purpose of prevention and management of post-tonsillectomy bleeding but broadly at our middle-east region and locally at our Libyan society we found for some extent difficulties to apply all these guidelines. For this reason this issue has been take the wider spectrum of ENT surgeons’ concentration, discussions, and researches. Therefore this study was conducted prospectively and for long time to confirm the possible predisposing factors that could be responsible for increasing the risk of post-tonsillectomy bleeding at our region and in the same time to illustrate the concluded recommendations to prevent the occurrence of this important complication. Patients and Methods 2880 patients aged from 8 months to 85 years presented at ENT department-AL-hawari ENT and urology teaching center- Benghazi-city – Libya as well as AL-thowra central teaching hospital and AL-tarahom private center – Elbyda city – Libya at period in between September 2003 to March 2015 as cases of chronic adeno-tonsillitis and solitary acute as well as chronic related palatine tonsillar disease with variable patterns of indications for tonsillectomy namely snoring and apnea attacks, recurrent attacks of acute tonsillitis, persistent otitis media with effusion, recurrent attacks of acute suppurative otitis media, failure to thrive, recurrent attacks of chest infection, mal-occlusive dental deformity, unilateral enlarged tonsils, post-traumatic avulsed tonsils, history of quinsy abscess and persistent halitosis. All patients were assessed intra-operatively and post-operatively too for any evidences of primary, reactionary, or secondary hemorrhage in relation to wide spectrum of factors as patient's demographic, medical, and socio-habitual factors, in addition to technical as well as post-operative care factors. Results This presenting study confirmed that the most common type of post-tonsillectomy bleeding was the secondary variety (71%) as compared to primary (22%) and reactionary (7%) among all presented post-tonsillectomy bleeding cases. Although through this presenting serial study there were multifactorial pre-dispositions elucidated for secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage but as general poor post-operative care can be considered as the cornerstone for the pathogenesis of this significantly raised incidence of secondary post-tonsillectomy bleeding this may be in form of inadequate patient's hydration and nutritional supply (47%), poor patient's antibiotic compliance (23%), and child's maternal negligence (19%). The time of surgery was found to be another important pre-disposing factor for post-tonsillectomy bleeding, it was postulated that the incidence of reactionary as well as secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage significantly increased at summer and autumn seasons (69%) as compared to other seasons. The place of surgery was another interesting proposed studied factor among this serial presentation it was observed that the incidence of post-tonsillectomy bleeding among patients who operated at AL-hawari ENT and urology teaching center-Benghazi-city significantly higher (63%) than that among cases who interfered at AL-thowra central teaching hospital and AL-tarahom private center – Elbyda city. Conclusion Generally speaking, post-tonsillectomy bleeding is considered as one of important issues in ENT and one of significant post-tonsillectomy complications which may create a critical morbidity that may rarely extend to post-operative mortality. Hence the most common pattern of post-tonsillectomy bleeding is the secondary type; however this type of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage is pre-disposed and induced by many factors. Most of these factors are treatable and curable thus the prophylaxis against this significant complication can be achievable.
Aug 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-21-3858
Haroun Mohamed Adam AbubakerCorresponding author
Department of Crop Science, College of Agriculture, University of Bahri- Sudan.
The Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is considered among the economic important pests in Sudan. Therefore, it became necessary to study and understand its biology and find out the appropriate control measure (s). To achieve the above objective, experiments based on Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) were carried out during the period from September 2018 to August 2019, where the Fall armyworm (FAW) was reared in the laboratory and fed on a nutrient médium composed of Corn leaves. The results displayed the ranges of eggs laid by a female was 890–1169. The egg incubation period ranged between 3-13 days. The larval duration ranged between (13-50) days and the pupal duration was between (7-20) days under a temperature of 21-300c and a Relative Humidity (RH) of 65 ± 5%. The longevity of the adults was 1-20 days, and the range of the full lifecycle was (24-100). However, six generations of FAW were obtained within one year. This study concludes that in Sudan FAW breeds continously throughtout the year and it recommends further studies on the biology and effective management of this invasive pest
Nov 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-20-3501
Aboma DanielCorresponding author
Shenen Gibe General Hospital, Msc, IESO
Background A well-functioning drug supply management is the corner stone for any meaningful health service. However, Pharmaceutical supply systems in many developing countries have severe problems, including inefficient selection, procurement and use of drugs. The magnitude and extent of the problem is huge and chronic in the Ethiopian health care system for a long time. Objective To evaluate auditable pharmaceutical transaction service process in Seka primary hospital, Jimma zone south west Ethiopia. Evaluation Methodology Case study design involving both quantitative and qualitative methods was conducted in Seka primary hospital. The focus of this evaluation was on the process of Auditable pharmaceutical transaction service. The evaluation was focused on process part of the program with dimensions; availability, compliance and client satisfaction in the dimension of accommodation. Resource inventory, document review; key informant interviews and observations were conducted. Client satisfaction was assessed through exit interview; with sample size of 326. The qualitative data was analyzed manually using thematic analysis and quantitative data were analyzed by using SPSS version 23 software. Results In Seka primary hospital, percentage availability of the 32 selected Key medicinewas 10.7(82.0%) and there were no expired drugs found on their shelves. The availability of 17 of the required 20(85%) professionals was adequate according the Auditable pharmaceutical transaction service. The average lead time was found to be less than five days. The average counselling and dispensing time were 5:43 minutes and 1:17 minutes, respectively. The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.0. The 1154(97.9%) of drugs prescribed by generic name and 1175(99.7%) of prescribed drugs on Essential Drug List indicates prescribers ‘adherence to facility specific List. Conclusion This evaluation revealed that (based on the pre-set judgment criteria) the achievement of the Auditable pharmaceutical transaction service in Seka primary Hospital was GOOD 82.6 % (achieved 355.2 of 430 weight given), i.e. even though it is Good achievement ,there are areas that needs improvement. Areas for improvement identified were: Pre- and in-service training for all health workers involved in store room and dispensary to improve on the medium counselling time, poor record keeping and the extremely poor labelingof drugs which this all improve the overall client satisfaction.
Nov 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2578-8590.ipj-18-2505
Hinzpeter JaimeCorresponding author
Medical Doctor, University of Chile, Clinical Hospital, Santiago Chile
Study Design: Prospective study, simple crossover design. Background: Proprioception is a cornerstone for maintaining joint and postural stability. Dynamic stability is particularly emphasized within these components. This feature is important in the rehabilitation field. Therefore, the quest for elements to improve these values can bring advantages in sports. Objectives: Evaluate if there are advantages in the performance of a Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) using Kinesio taping. Methods: We evaluated 10 professional soccer players from the Chilean women’s national team. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group had Kinesio taping and their SEBT performance was evaluated. The other group performed the measurements without the use of Kinesio Taping. Afterward, each group performed the evaluation they did not do during the first stage. We then compared the performance achieved with and without the use of Kinesio Taping Results: There were significant differences in the performance achieved by the players who had the SEBT bandage applied in comparison to the players that did no. This was confirmed by using the non-parametric Wilcox test for each of the SEBT positions. Conclusions: Kinesio taping has positive implications in the SEBT. We can extrapolate that its use can improve the dynamic balance and thus become an important pillar in sports rehabilitation.
Nov 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-3585.jpmc-18-2345
Habibeh AhmadipourCorresponding author
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Background: lifestyle modification is known as the cornerstone for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. To promote individual’s lifestyle, the first step is to measure their lifestyle by a valid and reliable tool. The aim of present study was to evaluate psychometric properties of the Persian version of Healthy Lifestyle and Personal Control Questionnaire (HLPCQ). Method: A crosssectional study carried out on 300 medical students in Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Data collected using a questionnaire contained demographic data and Persian version of HLPCQ. The reliability of the questionnaire determined using Cronbach’s alpha and intra class correlation coefficient (ICC). The construct validity of the questionnaire evaluated by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 19 and Lisrel 8.8. Results: Internal consistency of HLPCQ was 0.78 using Cronbach’s alpha and 0.80 by ICC. In confirmatory factor analysis, the scale had acceptable goodness of fit indices. Conclusions: The Persian version of HLPCQ had excellent psychometric properties and can be used in in primary health care settings.
Nov 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-4526.jddd-17-1792
Angelou AnastasiosCorresponding author
Department of Surgery, Laiko Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Objectives: Bariatric surgery has been established as the cornerstone of treatment of morbid obesity with good immediate and long-term results. Nutrient deficiencies though, can be an important long-term complication and may lead to hematological, metabolic and especially neurological disorders which are not always reversible. Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency has been reported both after restrictive and malabsorptive procedures. The aim of this study is to review all cases that presented with Wernicke Encephalopathy after sleeve gastrectomy. Methods: A review of the literature was conducted to evaluate all sleeve gastrectomies performed till today and caused Wernicke encephalopathy to the patients. Demographic data, operative parameters, postoperative outcomes were collected and assessed. Results: A total of 13 studies, including 13 patients were analyzed. Patients ranged in age from 17 to 55 years. The onset of Wernicke encephalopathy occurred as early as 3 weeks after surgery to as late as 60 weeks after surgery. When symptoms of Wernicke encephalopathy developed, patients had lost from 19 kg up to 60 kg of body weight. Conclusions: Micronutrient deficiencies and particularly B1 deficiency can occur after LSG, although rarely. Preoperative nutritional assessment and postoperative follow-up plan, should signs of Wernicke’s encephalopathy be traced, is recommended in all patients.
Nov 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-7669.ject-17-1790
Hosseini HedayatCorresponding author
Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences, Food Science and Technology/National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Solvent residue such as hexane in foodstuff, especially edible oil could be considered as the undesirable substances when exceeds maximum residue limit (MRL). The aim of this study is to determine the hexane content in various brands of edible oils. Totally forty samples (23 brands) of different types of vegetable oils including frying oils (n=14), blended oils (n=13), sunflower oils (n=6), corn oils (n=5) and canola oils (n=2) from Iran´s market were analyzed for hexane content using solid phase microextraction gas chromatography equipped with a flame-ionization detector (SPME)-GC-(FID). The hexane residue was detected in thirty-six out of forty examined samples, ranged from lower than LOD to 42.6 µg/kg. However, in all of them hexane content were below the MRL of 1 mg/kg which set by the European Union.
Sep 2017
Toto LisaCorresponding author
Department of Medicine and Science of Aging
Background: To evaluate cumulative dissipated energy (CDE), laser time, central corneal thickness and endothelial cell loss after two different fragmentation pattern by means of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS). Methods: Eighty eyes of 80 patients that underwent FLACS were randomized in two groups: mixed chop and dice lens fragmentation pattern (group 1 with 40 eyes) and mixed chop and cylindrical lens fragmentation pattern (group 2 with 40 eyes). Results: Cumulative dissipated energy was significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2 (p<0.001). Postoperatively there was a decrement of endothelial cells count at the centre of the cornea in both groups compared with preoperative values with greater decrease in Group 2 (p<0.001). The thickness at the tunnel site showed a greater increase in group 2 compared to group 1 immediately after surgery (p<0.001) The thickness measured at the center of the cornea increased slightly immediately after surgery and showed a similar decrease in both groups. The increase was greater in Group 2 (p<0.001). Conclusions: Both lens fragmentation patterns were effective in nucleus disassembly. Nevertheless dice pattern was related with a lower amount of CDE and induced lower central endothelial cell loss and lower increase of corneal thickness.
Jul 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-1716.jn-17-1495
J Gonzalez MichaelCorresponding author
University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, Schools of Public Health and Pharmacy, San Juan PR.
Diets high in unsaturated fatty acids, especially those containing high levels of linoleic acid, e.g., corn oil, enhance mammary gland tumorigenesis in experimental animals. In contrast, diets high in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA), e.g. menhaden oil, appear to have a suppressive effect on this tumorigenic process. Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain the tumor inhibitory action exerted by menhaden oil and other fish oils, e.g., differences in prostaglandin metabolism, energy efficiency, alterations of the immune system, changes in lipid peroxidation, etc. Fundamental to a mechanistic understanding of this phenomenon, however, is an understanding as to whether or not the tumor inhibitory activities of dietary fish oil is mediated via an inhibition of tumor cell proliferation or mediated via an enhancement of tumor cell loss. Whether the amount of dietary fat or the type of fat effects mammary tumorigenic processes, via an effect on tumor cell proliferation or tumor cell loss, has not been clearly established. In the studies described in this communication, three methods were utilized to study tumor cell proliferation, i.e., H3-thymidine autoradiographic analysis, 5-bromo 2'-deoxyuridine (Brdu) flow cytometric analysis, and proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) flow cytometric analysis. Two methods were used to study tumor cell loss, i.e., a determination of the I125Urd tumor emission rate and a determination of a cell loss factor from the formulas of Steel and Begg. The tumor examined was the human breast carcinoma cell line MDA- MB231 maintained in athymic nude mouse. No significant difference in cell proliferation between carcinomas of mice fed a high corn oil diet (20% w/w) and a diet high in fish oil (19% menhaden oil, 1% corn oil). In contrast, a significant (p<0.05) increase in the rate of I125Urd emission rate and cell loss factor from the carcinomas in the fish oil fed mice compared to the corn oil fed mice was observed. In summary, the decreased tumor volume in the human breast carcinomas maintained in athymic nude mice fed a fish oil diet as compared to those fed a corn oil diet, appears to be due, at least in part, to an increased rate of carcinoma cell loss rather than a decreased rate of carcinoma cell proliferation.
Oct 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2572-5424.jgm-16-1170
Majid Khan GulCorresponding author
Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
Background: Skin is one the most important sites for administration of drugs to obtain desired pharmacological effects either locally or through systemic bioavailability; and this has placed the transdermal route of drug delivery as an attractive and as one of the most innovative areas for conducting drug delivery research. However the stratum corneum in skin creates hurdles and acts as significant barrier for the permeation of drugs through skin. Penetration enhancers play a pivotal role to overcome such barriers and help enhance the permeation of drug through skin. However, penetration enhancement technology is challenging development and needs to be properly and skillfully addressed. Objective: The present investigation aimed to study the penetration enhancing effect of a newly synthesized alcohol derivative of an acyclic monoterpene (Tetrahydrogeraniol-THG). Methodology: The new derivative, 5,9-Dimethyl-1-Decanol (DIMDOL), has been synthesized by a chemical reaction of the THG with Grignard reagent and ethylene oxide. Permeation enhancing effect of the synthesized derivative was explored for better transdermal penetration of the two model drugs viz. tramadol hydrochloride and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) through the excised rat skin by conducting in-vitro permeation experiments employing Franz diffusion cells apparatus. The standard enhancers Azone and THG were used to compare penetration enhancing effect of the enhancers. Results: It was revealed that DIMDOL could effectively enhance the permeability of both the drugs by 18.60 and 73.19 folds across the skin used with a lag time of 3.35 and 1.20 h, respectively. The newly synthesized derivative was found to significantly increase the partition coefficient and diffusion coefficient values. Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that DIMDOL can more effectively enhance the permeation of these model drugs, expectedly by affecting the stratum corneum and interacting with both lipid-rich layers and keratin-rich layers of the excised rat skin.
May 2015 DOI 10.14302/issn.2470-0436.jos-14-527
Sanjay SrinivasanCorresponding author
Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore
A 66 year old Chinese male with a medical history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hepatitis B carrier was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma in 2009. He underwent treatment with selective internal radiation spheres and sorafenib, and multiple cycles of chemotherapeutic agents such as bevacizumab, erlotinib, OXAFI ( intravenous oxaliplatin and doxorubicin given on days 1, 8 and 15 in a 28-day cycle, a daily continuous infusion of fluorouracil and subcutaneous interferon alfa-2b 5 million units administered thrice weekly), thalidomide, capecitabine, and rapamycin over the course of four years. Along the course of treatment, he developed pulmonary embolism and was initially started on anti-coagulation. Two months later, he developed hemoptysis and the anti-coagulants were stopped. During his routine ophthalmology visit for diabetic eye evaluation, he complained of blurring of vision of his left eye for the past four to five weeks. He was found to have central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) of the left eye, associated with macular edema. Visual acuity was 6/15 for the right eye and 6/60 for the left eye. Eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, anterior chamber, pupils, lens and ocular motility were normal. Humphrey visual field testing showed a superior arcuate and basal defect. This is the first reported case of CRVO in hepatocellular carcinoma. The etiology of CRVO is multifactorial, withhepatic malignancy, previous major surgery, multiple cycles of chemotherapy and cessation of anticoagulant therapyas possible aetiological factors. His background medical problems of diabetes and hypertension are further contributors.