Abstract
Background
Nonhuman primates are used for research purposes such as studying diseases and drug discovery and development programs. Various clinical pathology parameters are used as ...biomarkers of disease conditions in biomedical research. Detailed reports of these parameters are not available for Indian-origin rhesus macaques. To meet the increasing need for information, we conducted this study on 121 adult Indian rhesus macaques (57 wild-sourced and 64 inhouse animals, aged 3–7 years). A total of 18 hematology and 18 biochemistry parameters were evaluated and reported in this study. Data from these parameters were statistically evaluated for significance amongst inhouse and wild-born animals and for differences amongst sexes. The reference range was calculated according to C28-A3 guidelines for reporting reference intervals of clinical laboratory parameters.
Results
Source of the animals and sex appeared to have statistically significant effects on reference values and range. Wild-born animals reported higher WBC, platelets, neutrophils, RBC, hemoglobin, HCT, MCV, and total protein values in comparison to inhouse monkeys. Sex-based differences were observed for parameters such as RBCs, hemoglobin, HCT, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, albumin, and total protein amongst others.
Conclusions
Through this study, we have established a comprehensive data set of reference values and intervals for certain hematological and biochemical parameters which will help researchers in planning, conducting, and interpreting various aspects of biomedical research employing Indian-origin rhesus monkeys.
Brucellosis is an important zoonosis and a significant cause of reproductive losses in animals. Abortion, placentitis, epididymitis and orchitis are the most common clinical manifestations in ...animals. The present study a total of 168 clinical samples were collected from buffaloes (87) and cattle (81). All clinical samples were processed by cultural isolation on Brucella agar medium (BAM) with selective antibiotic supplements and genus specific PCR using B4/B5 (223bp) and F4/R2 (905bp) primer. Out of 168 clinical samples 15 samples yielded Brucella isolates by cultural isolation and 19 samples positive for Brucella organism by genus specific PCR. All genus specific PCR positive 19 samples also positive by Species specific PCR based on omp31, B. abortus +IS711 (498bp) primer. Amplicon of 498bp by B. abortus +IS711 primers indicates that all nineteen samples of cattle and buffaloes were found to be Brucella abortus. Keywords: Brucella abortus, Cultural isolation, Molecular characterization, PCR.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is associated with a significant learning curve. There is paucity of data regarding the effect of hospital volume on outcomes after TAVI. This is a ...cross-sectional study based on Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample database of 2012. Subjects were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedure codes, 35.05 (Trans-femoral/Trans-aortic Replacement of Aortic Valve) and 35.06 (Trans-apical Replacement of Aortic Valve). Annual hospital TAVI volumes were calculated using unique identification numbers and then divided into quartiles. Multivariate logistic regression models were created. The primary outcome was inhospital mortality; secondary outcome was a composite of inhospital mortality and periprocedural complications. Length of stay (LOS) and cost of hospitalization were assessed. The study included 1,481 TAVIs (weighted n = 7,405). Overall inhospital mortality rate was 5.1%, postprocedural complication rate was 43.4%, median LOS was 6 days, and median cost of hospitalization was $51,975. Inhospital mortality rates decreased with increasing hospital TAVI volume with a rate of 6.4% for lowest volume hospitals (first quartile), 5.9% (second quartile), 5.2% (third quartile), and 2.8% for the highest volume TAVI hospitals (fourth quartile). Complication rates were significantly higher in hospitals with the lowest volume quartile (48.5%) compared to hospitals in the second (44.2%), third (39.7%), and fourth (41.5%) quartiles (p <0.001). Increasing hospital volume was independently predictive of shorter LOS and lower hospitalization costs. In conclusion, higher annual hospital volumes are significantly predictive of reduced postprocedural mortality, complications, shorter LOS, and lower hospitalization costs after TAVI.
Rhesus monkeys are a non-rodent species employed in the preclinical safety evaluation of pharmaceuticals and biologics. These nonhuman primate species have been increasingly used in biomedical ...research because of the similarity in their ionic mechanisms of repolarization with humans. Heart rate and QT interval are two primary endpoints in determining the pro-arrhythmic risk of drugs. As heart rate and QT interval have an inverse relationship, any change in heart rate causes a subsequent change in QT interval. This warrants for calculation of a corrected QT interval. This study aimed to identify an appropriate formula that best corrected QT for change in heart rate. We employed seven formulas based on source-species type, clinical relevance, and requirements of various international regulatory guidelines. Data showed that corrected QT interval values varied drastically for different correction formulas. Equations were compared on their slope values based on QTc versus RR plots. The rank order of the slope for different formulas was (closest to farthest from zero) QTcNAK, QTcHAS, QTcBZT, QTcFRD, QTcVDW, QTcHDG, and QTcFRM. QTcNAK emerged to be the best correcting formula in this study. It showed the least correlation with the RR interval (r = −0.01) and displayed no significant difference amongst the sexes. As there is no universally recognized formula for preclinical use, the authors recommend developing a best-case scenario model for specific study designs and individual organizations. The data from this research will be helpful in deciding an appropriate QT correction formula for the safety assessment of new pharmaceuticals and biologics.
Aim: The present study was done to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of different provisional materials, especially polycaprolactone (PCL) and their application in prosthodontic practice.
Setting ...and Design: A questionnaire based survey was carried out to assess the knowledge and awareness of PCL and its applications as provisional material in prosthodontic practice.
Materials and Method: A questionnaire-based descriptive study consisting of 10 questions related to different provisional materials and their applications in prosthodontic practice was formulated on Google Forms. The link was created and circulated among the prosthodontist faculty members of various dental institutes and private practitioners of India with the use of digital platforms such as E-mail and social media. The data were collected and examined using Microsoft Excel software for statistical evaluation.
Statistical Analysis Used: For this descriptive type of study, knowledge and awareness among prosthodontists across India was evaluated using Microsoft Excel software.
Results: The use of PCL was known only to 20.75% of prosthodontists. Moreover, its application and indications are known to only <1% of the study participants. Autopolymerizing resin was most commonly used for the custom tray and temporary base fabrication as well as temporization in crown and bridge prosthesis, while muscle deprogrammer and surgical template were commonly fabricated in heat-cure and clear acrylic resin, respectively. Pattern resin was found to be commonly used in splinting implant impression copings.
Conclusion: The use of PCL as a temporary denture base, custom tray, muscle deprogrammer, implant impression splinting, and provisional for crown and bridge and templates should be encouraged and incorporated to get benefits of its characteristic properties. Considering the overall performance of PCL, its use should be incorporated into prosthodontic research and practice.
Worldwide dissemination of extended-spectrum -lactamase (ESBL)-producing
Escherichia coli
constitutes an emerging global health issue, with animal food products contributing as potential reservoirs. ...ESBL
E. coli
infection is associated with the high mortality and mobility rate in developing countries due to less susceptibility to antibiotics. The present study aimed to elucidate the molecular characteristics and sequence-based analysis of ESBL
E. coli
in the Gujarat state of India. This study included 108
E. coli
strains were isolated from different poultry farms (broiler and layer) in the Banaskantha District. PCR was employed to identify genotypic ESBL-producing antimicrobial resistance genes. Overall, a high occurrence of ESBL genes was found in poultry farms due to the high usage of antimicrobials. The PCR analysis revealed that 79.62% of isolates were detected positive with one or more ESBL genes. Among them,
bla
TEM
(63.88%) was found to be the predominant genotype, followed by
bla
SHV
(30.55%) and
bla
OXA
(28.70%). In the
bla
CTX-M
group, a higher occurrence was observed in
bla
CTX-M-9
(23.14%), followed by
bla
CTX-M-2
(24.07%) and
bla
CTX-M-1
(22.22%). We used the whole-genome sequencing (WGS) method to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance genes, virulence factors, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), plasmid replicons, and plasmid-mediated AMR genes of one ESBL
E. coli
isolated. We examined the genetic relatedness of a human pathogenic
E. coli
strain by comparing its sequence with the broad geographical reference
E. coli
sequences.
Escherichia coli
ST 681 was determined using multi-locus sequence typing. We compared our findings to the reference sequence of
Escherichia coli
str. K- 12 substr. MG1655. We found 24,937 SNPs with 21,792 in the genic region, 3,145 in the intergenic region, and six InDels across the genome. The WGS analysis revealed 46 antimicrobial resistance genes and seven plasmid-mediated AMR genes
viz.
,
tetA
,
qnrS1, dfrA14
,
sul2
,
aph(3”)-lb
,
aph(6)-ld
, and
Aph(3’)-la
. The ST 681 was found to have
Cib
,
traT
, and
terC
virulence factors and two plasmid replicons, IncFII(pHN7A8) and IncI1-I(Alpha). This study revealed a higher occurrence of ESBL
E. coli
detected in poultry.
Background: Compound tincture benzoin (CTB) is used as a post-procedure skin seal antiseptic agent since ancient times; but this drug is reported to cause allergic contact dermatitis and other ...unwanted side effects. Our aim of the present study was to compare alternative agent like Medicated Adhesive dressing (MAD) with CTB as a post-procedure skin seal dressing. Design: This prospective randomized controlled experimental study included an equal number of patients in MAD and CTB as a post-operative seal dressing material for percutaneous interventions. Both the groups were graded for various efficacy parameters like comfort, applicability, dressing material, and immediate post-operative complications by operating doctor and attending nurse with a maximum 10 points in each group. Results: 120 patients were studied in each MAD and CTB group. Out of total patients 31.25% were males and the mean age of the patient was 33.56 ± 11.10. Allergic contact dermatitis developed in 9 (7.49%) of CTB group and in 1 (0.83%) of MAD group (P < 0.002), while local site skin infections were noted in 8 (6.67%) of CTB group and in 1 (0.83%) of MAD (P < 0.002). Operating doctor graded MAD and CTB to 7.60 ± 0.49 and 3.62 ± 0.48 (P < 0.003); and attending nurse 7.40 ± 0.49 and 3.41 ± 0.49 (P < 0.003) respectively. Conclusion: MAD is a safe, efficient and non-inferior alternative dressing material for post-procedure skin incision seal in comparison to CTB.
A simple procedure for designing a sinusoidally-modulated reactance surface (SMRS) that radiates at an arbitrary off-broadside angle is outlined. The procedure allows for nearly independent control ...of the leakage and phase constants along the surface. Printing an array of metallic strips over a grounded dielectric substrate is discussed as a way to practically implement the theoretical SMRS. A method of mapping the gaps between metallic strips to a desired surface impedance is presented as an efficient alternative to mapping methods used in the past. A printed leaky-wave antenna with a sinusoidally-modulated surface reactance is designed using the procedure mentioned above. The TM-polarized antenna radiates at 30° from broadside at 10 GHz, and exhibits an experimental gain of 18.4 dB. Theoretical, simulated, and experimental results are presented.
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