Cystoscopic suction diathermy for the treatment of superficial bladder tumours

The treatment of superficial bladder tumours (Ta, T1) is a time-consuming exercise for urological surgeons and patients. A method of treating the tumours, whether primary or recurrent, by endoscopic suction diathermy has been developed. The technique significantly reduces the amount of tumour debris within the bladder during treatment as well as the amount of diathermy employed. By removing the free tumour cells in the irrigation fluid the risk of tumour cell implantation may be kept to a minimum.     

Porcine dermal collagen repair of incisional herniae

Dermal collagen implants have been used to repair large incisional hernias in 11 patients (7 women, 4 men). The youngest was 37 years and the oldest 67, with a mean age of 49.9 years. Single-, or double-layered dermal collagen was used to bridge the defect, secured with interrupted 3/0 Prolene. Postoperatively, three patients required single aspiration of seromas and one, exploration of a sinus to remove a suture. There were no recurrences during a median follow-up period of 4.75 years. It is suggested that collagen implants are a good alternative to other methods of repair.     

Comparison of the effects of three different (-)-hydroxycitric acid preparations on food intake in rats: response

A response to Louter-van de Haar J, Wielinga PY, Scheurink AJ, Nieuwenhuizen AG: Comparison of the effects of three different (-)-hydroxycitric acid preparations on food intake in rats. Nutr Metabol 2005, 2:23     

Ureteric Suture Urolithiasis Following Open Emergency Ureteric Repair

Suture urolithiasis is an unusual but recognised phenomenon following surgery on the urinary tract. We report a case in a 30-year-old man who sustained a gunshot injury to the left ureter in Burundi and underwent open ureteric repair in a regional hospital. He migrated to the UK and presented one year later with left loin pain. An intravenous urogram revealed two foci of calcification to the left of L3, within a peri-ureteric position. The patient underwent left-sided ureteroscopy where two calculi each formed around a nylon suture were discovered within a ureteric pseudo-diverticulum, and basketed. This is the first reported case of suture urolithiasis occurring following ureteric surgery.Key Words: Ureter, Suture, Urolithiasis, Surgical repair     

Cell adhesion molecule cadherin‐6 function in zebrafish cranial and lateral line ganglia development

Cadherins regulate the vertebrate nervous system development. We previously showed that cadherin‐6 message (cdh6) was strongly expressed in the majority of the embryonic zebrafish cranial and lateral line ganglia during their development. Here, we present evidence that cdh6 has specific functions during cranial and lateral line ganglia and nerve development. We analyzed the consequences of cdh6 loss‐of‐function on cranial ganglion and nerve differentiation in zebrafish embryos. Embryos injected with zebrafish cdh6 specific antisense morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs, which suppress gene expression during development; cdh6 morphant embryos) displayed a specific phenotype, including (i) altered shape and reduced development of a subset of the cranial and lateral line ganglia (e.g., the statoacoustic ganglion and vagal ganglion) and (ii) cranial nerves were abnormally formed. These data illustrate an important role for cdh6 in the formation of cranial ganglia and their nerves. Developmental Dynamics 240:1716–1726, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Microarray gene expression: a study of between-platform association of Affymetrix and cDNA arrays

Microarrays technology has been expanding remarkably since its launch about 15 years ago. With its advancement along with the increase of popularity, the technology affords the luxury that gene expressions can be measured in any of its multiple platforms. However, the generated results from the microarray platforms remain incomparable. In this direction, we earlier developed and tested an approach to address the incomparability of the expression measures of Affymetrix^®- and cDNA-platforms. The method was an exploit involving transformation of Affymetrix data, which brought the gene expressions of both cDNA and Affymetrix platforms to a common and comparable level. The encouraging outcome of that investigation has subsequently acted as a motivator to focus attention on examining further in the direction of defining the association between the two platforms. Accordingly, this paper takes on a novel exploration towards determining a precise association using a wide range of statistical and machine learning approaches, specifically the various models are elaborately trailed using—regression (linear, cubic-polynomial, LOESS, bootstrap aggregating) and artificial neural networks (self-organizing maps and feedforward networks). After careful comparison, the existing relationship between the data from the two platforms is found to be non-linear where feedforward neural network captures the best delineation of the association.     

Spatial distribution and characteristics of injecting drug users (IDU) in five Northeastern states of India

Background  

Injecting drugs is the major driving force of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in Northeastern India. We have assessed the spatial distribution of locations where injecting drug users (IDU) congregate, as well as the risk behaviour and key characteristics of IDUs to develop new strategies strengthening intervention measures for HIV prevention in this region.     

Therapeutic spectrum of interferon-β in ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is devastating and a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. To date, only clot retrieval devices and/or intravenous tissue plasminogen activators (tPA) have been approved by the US-FDA for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an effective treatment for stroke that can have limited shortcomings and broad spectrum of applications. Interferon-beta (IFN-β), an endogenous cytokine and a key anti-inflammatory agent, contributes toward obviating deleterious stroke outcomes. Therefore, exploring the role of IFN-β may be a promising alternative approach for stroke intervention in the future. In the present review, we have discussed about IFN-β along with its different mechanistic roles in ischemic stroke. Furthermore, therapeutic approaches targeting the inflammatory cascade with IFN-β therapy that may be helpful in improving stroke outcome are also discussed.     

Spectroscopic investigation of the seeds of chilli (Capsicum annum L.)

In addition to their use as food and spice, chillies have been popular in both Ayurvedic and homoeopathic treatments since ancient times. Elemental analyses on their seeds with the help of X-ray fluorescence spectra reveal the presence of hitherto undetected magnesium, along with sulphur and chlorine. Fourier transform infrared and Fourier transform Raman spectra of the seeds reveal the presence of specific functional groups, attributed to the different bands present in the spectra. Ascorbic acid, reported to be the vitamin present in maximum amount in chilli peppers, is conspicuous by its absence in the seeds.