Search

Copyright of International Journal of Surgery Case Reports is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To evaluate the local efficacy of image-guided thermal ablation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after ipsilateral partial nephrectomy. Pathology report revealed negative tumor margin in 3 patients, the fourth patient had surgery at another institution with no pathology report available. [Extracted from the article]

The hilly areas of Pakistan are very rich in medicinal plants. Among these, Hippophae rhamnoides ssp turkestanica L., Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. and Crataegus oxyacantha L. are native plants of Northern Pakistan. Intra- and interspecific comparisons were made to investigate their morphological and biochemical composition using morpho-molecular techniques. The comparisons indicated large genetic and biochemical variation among the populations of each species and between the different species. The sodium dodecyl sulphate polycrylamide gel electrophoresis comparisons using total seed proteins of Hippophae rhamnoides, Elaeagnus umbellata and Crataegus oxyacantha indicated many common proteins and some variable proteins among the species. The biochemical comparison of Vitamin C, fatty oil and phytosterol content was also found to be variable among the species. Vitamin C and fatty oil contents were highest in Hippophae rhamnoides while phytosterol content was highest in Crataegus oxyacantha when compared with the other species tested in this study. Significant variation in morphological characters including plant height, number of branches per plant, number of thorns, plant canopy and berry weight was also observed in these three plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica) a member of family Elaeagnaceae, is a very important multipurpose plant in the northern areas of Pakistan. It is an ideal plant for preventing soil erosion and land reclamation, can withstand extremes of temperature ranging from -43°C to 55°C and grows well under drought conditions and variable soil pH. The fruit is rich in nutrients and medicinal compounds such as vitamins, carotene, flavonoids, essential oil, carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids, and soluble sugars, The plants are also important as fuel wood, fencing, fodder, soil erosion control, to make soil fertile by nitrogen fixation in roots and for the purpose of shelterbelts. In order to compare various populations of Sea buckthorn for morphological and biochemical composition, ten populations from different areas of northern Pakistan were compared using plant and fruit characters, The purpose of the investigation was to identify the variable populations for different valuable characteristics to develop improved varieties for commercial cultivation and easy fruit harvesting. The comparison indicated a significant amount of variability on morphological and biochemical basis, The variability will be utilised to develop commercial varieties of the plant utilising the conventional techniques of selection and hybridisation for economic activities on degraded land of mountainous regions of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Glycosized porphyrins are promising compounds for using in PDT, since they combine the ability to act as a photosensitizer, and their saccharide residues provide an increased tumorotropicity of this compound in the affected cells. In this work, the modified 5,10,15,20-tetrakis [4-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl) phenyl] porphine (HOGalPor) synthesis procedure providing an increased yield of the desired product is described. The affinity of natural biopolymers with reference to synthesized porphyrin has been studied. It was found that synthesized porphyrin is associated in aqueous media. There were proposed some mixed solvents and water-solvent concentration ratios were established to ensure the monomerization of porphyrin and the preservation of the native conformation of biopolymers (BSA and DNA). The affinity constants of BSA and DNA were determined with reference to the synthesized porphyrin, as well as localization of porphyrin in biopolymers was established. As part of the protein complex, porphyrin fluoresces very intensively, and this feature makes it possible to use BSA as a transport system for HOGalPor, and HOGalPor itself can act as a fluorescent marker. The interaction of HOGalPor with the intercalation complex of DNA-EtBr leads to the destruction of the latter, while porphyrin does not intercalate in DNA, but forms external complexes with a change in the zeta potential of the surface. Highlights • The modified 5,10,15,20-tetrakis [4-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl) phenyl] porphine synthesis procedure providing an increased yield of the desired product is described • The affinity of DNA and protein to was studied • The porphyrin localization was established • A possibility of using albumin as a transport system for glycosidic substituted porphyrin was detected [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the influence of the position of the N-methyl group in tetra-(N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin on the features of its interaction with oligonucleotides using experimental physicochemical methods. Spectral methods detecting changes in the photophysical properties of chromophore ligands made it possible to prove the mechanism of binding to poly[d(AT) 2 ] and poly[d(GC) 2 ]. The thermochemical method made it possible to evaluate the structural consequences of ligation of oligonucleotides, and in the case of tetra-(3-N-methyl-pyridyl)porphyrin, to clarify the mechanism of binding to oligonucleotides. The combination of spectral and thermochemical analysis is useful for elucidating the structure of ligand complexes with synthetic and natural DNA. [Display omitted] • Spectral and thermochemical analysis of complexes of cationic ligands with oligonucleotides was carried out. • Changing the position of the N-methyl group of porphyrin changes the nature of its interaction with oligos. • Poly[d(AT) 2 ] and poly[d(GC) 2 ] bind ligands in different ways. • The informativeness of the estimation of the specific heat capacities of solutions in the study of DNA with ligands is shown. • The non-fluorescent EtBr minor groove poly[d(AT) 2 ] complex is AT-specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a harbinger of poor outcome for patients with cancer. The SIR guidelines for use of IVC filters state that patients with short life expectancies (≤ 6 months) should receive permanent filters. Our purpose was to develop a model for predicting 6 month survival in a cancer population referred for IVC filter placement. Materials and Methods: Clinical and laboratory parameters for patients, who received a permanent or optional IVC filter between January 2009 and December 2011, were reviewed. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the significant predictors of 6 month survival. Results: 405 IVC filters (n=213 permanent filters, n=192 retrievable filters) were placed at a single institution and analyzed. Survival at 6 months was 209/405 (51.6%). The significant predictive factors of 6 month survival were: 1. Cancer stage (local vs metastatic; hazard ratio [HR] 0.184; p=0.0044). 2. Cancer stage (locally advanced vs metastatic; HR 0.435; p=0.0005). 3. Major surgery 30 days before IVC filter placement (HR 0.470; p=0.0021). 4. Planned surgery 30 days after IVC filter placement (HR 0.355; p<0.0001) 5. Albumin (HR 0.540; p<0.0001). These variables can be used to calculate a risk score for patients with VTE and cancer (VTEC) referred for IVC filters (VTEC-IVC) (see Table). Conclusion: Clinical and laboratory parameters can be used to predict 6 month survival in a population of cancer patients with solid malignancies referred for IVC filter placement. The model can be used to help physicians decide on which type of filter to implant (permanent versus optional) and, ultimately, impact IVC filter retrieval rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Learning Objectives: To review indications, technique, and outcomes from percutaneous transesophageal gastrostomy (PTEG) catheters. We review 12 successfully placed PTEG catheters at our institution over four years. Background: Patients unable to receive percutaneous fluoroscopic gastrostomy (PFG) catheters are at risk for developing long-term complications from indwelling nasogastric (NG) tubes. PTEG catheters are a feasible alternative offering palliative relief for patients needing either venting or feeding support. Clinical Findings/Procedure Details: Once adequate sedation is achieved, a guidewire is passed through an existing NG tube, which is subsequently removed. A 25 mm x 4 cm balloon catheter is then advanced into the stomach. The balloon is insufflated with contrast and withdrawn under fluoroscopy to just below the thoracic inlet. An appropriate access site is chosen on the lower left neck, and a 21-gauge needle is used to puncture the balloon under ultrasound guidance. A 0.018” microwire is passed through the needle and coiled in the balloon. The balloon and microwire are then passed, in tandem, into the gastric lumen and the balloon is disengaged from the microwire. The neck access is then sequentially dilated to accommodate a 14-French, 45-cm Mac Lock catheter (Cook, Bloomington, IN), which is passed into the stomach or jejunum and used for venting or feeding, as appropriate. In our experience, the most commonly encountered malignancy in need of an alternative gastrostomy approach has been metastatic gastric carcinoma (67%), ovarian carcinoma (17%), esophageal carcinoma (8%), and gallbladder carcinoma (8%). Patients survived 40.5 days (mean, range 28-85 days) following placement. Conclusion and/or Teaching Points: PTEG catheters are an essential tool for an interventional radiologist, providing patients an alternative for feeding or venting when direct percutaneous access into the stomach or jejunum is contraindicated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thermal stability of polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose nanocrystals (PVA/CNCs) composites prepared with solution casting technique was studied. The PVA/CNCs composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. Due to the presence of CNCs nanoparticles, thermal degradation of the composites occurs at much higher temperatures compared to that of the neat PVA. Thermal stability of the PVA/CNCs composites is maximally enhanced with CNCs content of 8–12 wt%. Some thermal degradation products of the PVA/CNCs composites were identified by mass spectrometric analysis. TG measurements with synchronous recording of mass spectra revealed that the thermal degradation of both CNCs and PVA in the composites with CNCs content of 8–12 wt% occurs simultaneously at a much higher temperature than that of CNCs or the neat PVA. However, with increasing CNCs content more than 12 wt% the thermal stability of the composites decreases. In this case, the degradation of CNCs comes first followed by the degradation of PVA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]