Erysipelas During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a physiologic condition with a significant alteration of the immune functions and during which extremities erysipelas are rarely reported. We report in the light of a literature review the results of 6 patients treated for leg erysipelas between 2012 and 2016.

Anthropocene nostalgia for the 1980s in Netflix’s Stranger Things

Expressions of nostalgia for the 1980s in contemporary American culture are diverse. The most interesting of them go beyond a wistful longing for the past. A complex ‘nostalgia trip’ offered by Netflix’s Stranger Things serves as a notable case study of a distinctive type of this sentiment. Instead of yearning for the restoration of previous times, it plays with past aesthetics in a critically articulate manner, effectively demythologizing the depicted decade. I argue that this significant alteration of the traditional sentiment stems largely from the recent acknowledgment of the Anthropocene and its irreversibility. This article aims to examine the peculiar, self-aware, paradoxical nostalgia, which is coloured by the current, Anthropocene-induced fears for the environment and, thus, our future. The analysis of Stranger Things – its thematics, genre, visuals and the meticulously reconstructed image of the presented era – draws parallels to the techniques employed by the ‘novel nostalgia’: bitter, ironic depiction of the past and references to natural phenomena. The study thus investigates the show at the intersection of contemporary nostalgia for the 1980s and the cultural repercussions of the Anthropocene. In so doing, it will unravel the innovation in the programme’s discourse on the 1980s decade in American culture.

The Effect of Castration on Peripheral Autonomic Neurons Supplying Mammalian Male Genitourinary System

This review paper deals with the influence of androgens (testosterone) on pelvic autonomic pathways in male mammals. The vast majority of the relevant information has been gained in experiments involving castration (testosterone deprivation) performed in male rats, and recently, in male pigs. In both species, testosterone significantly affects the biology of the pathway components, including the pelvic neurons. However, there are great differences between rats and pigs in this respect. The most significant alteration is that testosterone deprivation accomplished a few days after birth results some months later in the excessive loss (approximately 90%) of pelvic and urinary bladder trigone intramural neurons in the male pig, while no changes in the number of pelvic neurons are observed in male rats (rats do not have the intramural ganglia). In the castrated pigs, much greater numbers of pelvic neurons than in the non-castrated animals express CGRP, GAL, VIP (peptides known to have neuroprotective properties), and caspase 3, suggesting that neurons die due to apoptosis triggered by androgen deprivation. In contrast, only some morpho-electrophysiological changes affecting neurons following castration are found in male rats. Certain clinicopathological consequences of testosterone deprivation for the functioning of urogenital organs are also discussed.

Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo toxicity of pristine molybdenum disulphide nanosheets in Swiss albino mice

The Molybdenum disulfide nanosheets (MoS2-NSs) thin films has received increasing attention recently due to their versatile multi functionality including catalytic properties, photoluminescence and flexibility, which suggests their future, uses for biomedical applications. However, there are no studies in detail related with biocompatibility of MoS2 thin sheets. Here, weevaluated the dose-dependent effects of MoS2-NSs on cell viability (MTT assay) and release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into culture media using MG-63 cells, as well as haemolysis, hematological, serum biochemical, antioxidants and histopathological parameters in Swiss albino mice. The MoS2-NSs was synthesized via facile hydrothermal method and characterized using XRD, Raman, SEM, TEM and HRTEM. The in vitro study results suggest that at lower concentration MoS2-NSs does not causes any toxicity. The lethal dose (LD50) was evaluated by intraperitoneal administration with different concentrations and estimated as ~1.0 mg kg-1. The higher dose (1.5 mg kg-1) of MoS2-NSs showed significant alteration in hematological markers and serum biochemical enzymes, as compared to control. Lipid peroxidation also shows significant alteration with respect to the control. Histopathological, hematological and biochemical examination, revealed no remarkable changes at lower concentration (less than 1.0 mg kg-1), however, higher concentration (1.5 mg kg-1) causes significant histopathological, antioxidants and biochemical alterations in tissues and serum, respectively. The results suggest that the lower concentration of MoS2-NSs can be used in future biomedical applications.

Does a Relationship Exist Between Posterior Vitreous Detachment, Macular Thickness and Foveal Avascular Zone Dimensions in Myopic Eyes?

Background: The posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a separation of the posterior vitreous cortex from the internal limiting membrane of the retina. The PVD induces several potentially serious pathologic events at the vitreoretinal interface. The aim of the study is to determine if relationships exist between PVD, macular thickness (MT) and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in myopic eyes. Methods: This is a retrospective case study of 63 myopic subjects who underwent comprehensive eye examination including the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) between January 1 and Jun 30, 2019. The spherical equivalent (SE) was calculated using the manifest refraction. The myopia grouping was based on a severity scale, namely mild, moderate, high and very high using standard refractive error classifications. The PVD classification was based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. The status of the PVD and MT were evaluated with Macular Cube 200 × 200 images and the FAZ was imaged with an OCTA, Angioplex. The MT and FAZ dimensions were calculated using a custom algorithm. Results: A total of 114 myopic eyes subjects had median (range) age of 26.00 (22.00 - 28.00) years. Of this cohort, females comprised 62.3 % of the dataset, and the right eyes were 50.00 %. In this population, 10 eyes had no PVD in any quadrant, and 73 eyes had incomplete PVD in all four quadrants. The inferior quadrant had the maximum number of PVD cases and the nasal quadrant had the least number of cases. High myopic eyes exhibited significantly increased low foveal volume (p = 0.000). The inferior part of para- and perimacular area showed a significant thinning in very high myopic eyes (p = <0.05). A statistically significant alteration of FAZ circularity index found in very high myopic eyes (p = 0.002). Conclusion: In high and very high myopic eyes, an increasing trend of partial PVD is seen. The most commonly involved location was the inferior quadrant. A significant alteration in foveal volume and circularity index of the FAZ is seen in high and very high myopic eyes.

Genetic barcoding of museum eggshell improves data integrity of avian biological collections

Natural history collections are often plagued by missing or inaccurate metadata for collection items, particularly for specimens that are difficult to verify or rare. Avian eggshell in particular can be challenging to identify due to extensive morphological ambiguity among taxa. Species identifications can be improved using DNA extracted from museum eggshell; however, the suitability of current methods for use on small museum eggshell specimens has not been rigorously tested, hindering uptake. In this study, we compare three sampling methodologies to genetically identify 45 data-poor eggshell specimens, including a putatively extinct bird’s egg. Using an optimised drilling technique to retrieve eggshell powder, we demonstrate that sufficient DNA for molecular identification can be obtained from even the tiniest eggshells without significant alteration to the specimen’s appearance or integrity. This method proved superior to swabbing the external surface or sampling the interior; however, we also show that these methods can be viable alternatives. We then applied our drilling method to confirm that a purported clutch of Paradise Parrot eggs collected 40 years after the species’ accepted extinction date were falsely identified, laying to rest a 53-year-old ornithological controversy. Thus, even the smallest museum eggshells can offer new insights into old questions.

Evaluation of anxiolytic potential of Cichorium Intybus methanolic root extracts

Cichorium Intybus L. is a medicinally important plant that belongs to the family Asteraceae. The plant root is used as anti-hepatotoxic, antiulcerogenic, antiinflammatory, appetizer, digestive, stomachic, liver tonic, cholagogue, cardiotonic, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, alexeteric and also as tonic. The present study was carried to screen the anxiolytic potential of Cichorium Intybus L methanolic root extracts by using different animal models like actophotometer, rotarod, staircase, holeboard, elevated plus maze tests . In the experiment the extracts found to decrease the anticipatory anxiety of the animal without significant alteration in motor coordination. Efficacy may be attributed to the presence of different phytochemicals like coumarins, flavonoids in the extracts.

Effect of different thermocouple constructions on heat-level vapour phase soldering profiles

Purpose To improve productivity and reach better quality in assembling, measurements and proper process controlling are a necessary factor. This study aims to focus on the monitoring heat-level-based vapour phase reflow soldering (VPS), where – as it was found – different thermocouple constructions can affect the set parameters of the oven and resulting soldering profiles significantly. Design/methodology/approach The study experiments showed significant alteration of the heating profiles during the process of the reflowing using different construction of k-type thermocouples. In a heat-level-based VPS oven, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) gas and water-resistant, fibreglass, thin PFA and ultrathin PFA-covered thermocouples were tested with ±1 °C precision. The oven parameters were swept according to the heating power; the length of the introduced thermocouple cables was also taken into account. An FR4-based sample PCB was used for monitoring the temperature. Findings According to the results, due to the mass and volume of the thermocouples’ wires, different transients were observed on the resulting soldering profiles on the same sample PCB. The thermocouples with lower thermal mass result in faster profiles and significantly different heating factor values compared to the thermocouples that have larger thermal mass. Consequently, the length of the thermocouple wires put in the oven has also considerable effect on the heat transfer of the PCB inside the oven as well. Originality/value The paper shows that the thermocouple construction must be taken into account when setting up a required soldering profile, while the thermal mass of the wires might cause a significant difference in the prediction of the actual and expected soldering temperatures.