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Background. Currently, therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the only approved method for treating hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) that helps improve outcomes. However, it also has significant drawbacks, including the necessity for expensive equipment and treatment technologies, poorly understood pathophysiological mechanisms, and, most importantly, not always well-understood long-term results. Numerous scientific studies report the potential benefits of TH, but the actual risk/benefit ratio is still unknown. The results of long-term follow-up of children who underwent TH and did not have serious neuromotor or intellectual disorders are variable. It is believed that the correlation between neonatal neuroimaging and the degree of nervous system impairment remains poorly defined. Chronic brain injuries diagnosed after the neonatal period, such as parenchymal volume loss, appear to be more prognostically significant, which may be reflected by moderate enlargement of the ventricular system of the brain. The method for determining the size of the ventricular system using ultrasound can be accessible for infants of the first year of life who had HIE but do not have direct indications for magne­tic resonance imaging. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the characteristics of the cerebral ventricular system in infants of the first year of life who suffered severe asphyxia at birth, depen­ding on the method of post-resuscitation care (with or without TH). Materials and ­methods. The study examined the results of neurosonographic examinations of 309 infants during their first year of life. Inclusion criteria were gestational age at birth ≥ 36 weeks and birth weight ≥ 2000 g, manifestations of HIE in the early neonatal period without adverse short-term outcomes (at the time of discharge from the neonatal hospital, the children showed no signs of destructive hypoxic-ischemic lesions of the central nervous system (CNS), seizures, or pathological muscle tone, and had full oral feeding). Exclusion criteria were diagnosed congenital CNS abnormalities, neuroinfections, psychomotor development delay of more than 3 months during the first years of life, progressive obstructive ventriculomegaly or ventriculomegaly associated with non-atrophic subarachnomegaly. The children were divided into three groups: hypothermia group — 19 infants who underwent TH after birth; normothermia group — 14 children who conditio­nally had indications for TH but did not undergo it; comparison group — 276 children in their first year of life who did not require TH (Apgar score > 5 at 10 minutes of life, manifestations of mild or moderate HIE (according to the Sarnat scale) during the first days of life). Neurosonographic examinations were conducted at the age of 2–7 months (mean of 2.12 ± 0.07 months). The sizes of the lateral ventricles were assessed in comparison with the results from the control group of infants of the same age (34 healthy children with no recorded factors of complicated perinatal period, no signs of neurological dysfunction during the neonatal period, and the seven-month observation). Enlargement of the lateral ventricles was recorded when the size of the anterior horn or body of the ventricle in the parasagittal projection exceeded the 95th percentile of the corresponding measurements from the control group. Results. Enlargement of the lateral ventricles during the neurosonographic examination was detected in 36.8 % of children in the hypothermia group, 14.3 % in the normothermia group, and 8.0 % of children in the comparison group. Significant differences were registered only when comparing the results of the hypothermia group with the comparison group (p < 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). Significant correlations (p < 0.05) were found between the size of the lateral ventricles and clinical signs such as sleep disturbances, decreased muscle tone in the arms, increased tendon reflexes, delayed motor development, increased muscle tone in a pyramidal pattern, and diffuse muscle hypotonia. Conclusions. Thus, infants who had severe asphyxia at birth and underwent TH significantly more often had enlargement of the cerebral ventri­cular system (versus the comparison group). Therefore, although therapeutic hypothermia improves outcomes for the development of the nervous system in children who have moderate and severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, brain morphology (particularly the state of the ventricular system) may still be altered in infants during the first year of life. And the presence of significant correlations between the size of the lateral ventricles and clinical signs of neurological dysfunction argues for further clinical monitoring of children after therapeutic hypothermia throughout the first years of life and in the absence of short-term adverse outcomes of HIE or significant delays in psychomotor development during the first year of life.

Due to the immaturity of the digestive system and gastrointestinal motility the preterm infants have a critical challenge in establishing adequate enteral nutrition, which is a frequent cause of gastrointestinal complications such as food intolerance and necrotizing enterocolitis. Modern clinical methods of assessing the maturity of the intestines and the child's readiness for enteral nutrition are subjective, this slows down the expansion of enteral nutrition, increases the duration of parenteral nutrition, and accordingly , period of a child`s hospitalizing. Objective methods of diagnosis are needed, which would contribute to the effective diagnosis and monitoring of food intolerance in preterm infants. Therefore, the purpose of our review was to search and summarize literature data on objective methods of diagnosing impaired food tolerance in premature baby, which could to provide daily monitoring, would be safe, cost-effective and easily accessible. Results and their discussion. Accordingly, three leading and most promising methods of examining the newborns gastrointestinal tract were analyzed. The were ultrasound examination (absence or reverse diastolic blood flow in the umbilical artery, high pulsation index in the fetal venous duct, indicators of blood flow in the upper mesenteric artery of the newborn), near-infrared spectroscopy (estimation of oxygen saturation of splanchnic tissue), and auscultation of intestinal sounds (phonoenterogram). Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages, but to solve these existing problems, there has been recently an increasing amount of research on the bowel sounds using (namely their computerized assessment) as a new diagnostic tool. New research and further study of intestinal murmurs in premature newborns of different gestational ages with the development of clear criteria for data interpretation are needed to assess the maturity of the gastrointestinal tract, to create a diagnosis plan of food intolerance, and to develop an algorithm for early intervention.

Background. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is an extremely rare but life-threatening di­s­order in children since it may cause acute kidney injury. Patients with aHUS are at risk of recurrence. Hence, in this paper, we present a case of a 9-year-old boy with aHUS relapse. The child was admitted to the emergency department on the fifth day of illness with main complaints of facial puffiness and decreased urine output. Based on the medical history, the patient developed the second episode of aHUS after 6 years of complete recovery from the first episode. There was no preceding diarrheal illness, instead, the clinical manifestation of both aHUS episodes was triggered by a respiratory tract infection. The results of diagnostic studies performed during the first episode of aHUS were as follows: stool tests for Esche­richia coli and Shiga toxins were negative; a complement assay showed no abnormalities; ADAMTS13 activity and anti-complement factor H antibodies were normal. The results of the kidney ultrasonography and biopsy were consistent with the diagnosis. Family history was remarkable for aHUS in a younger sibling confirmed by molecular genetic testing, in particular, a pathogenic variant in the CD46/MCP (membrane cofactor protein) gene in the heterozygous state has been identified. Physical examination revealed paleness, facial swelling, moderate hypertension, and oliguria. Laboratory findings demonstrated hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, significant azotemia, a severe reduction in the glomerular filtration rate, a high level of aspartate aminotransferase, insignificant electrolyte imbalance, and proteinuria. Supportive treatment included fluid and electrolyte management, fresh frozen plasma, furosemide, and dexamethasone. The child commenced acute hemodialysis due to severe acute kidney injury. Conclusions. A recurrence of aHUS is characterized by severe renal failure requiring acute hemodialysis. Viral infections are potential triggers of aHUS. A relapsing course of the disease and a family history of aHUS indicate the importance of genetic screening, as familial aHUS should be considered.

Домашнє телеконсультування в амбулаторній педіатричній практиці набуло значного поширення в багатьох країнах світу незалежно від економічного становища. Кожна країна має власний досвід практичної реалізації домашнього телеконсультування в наданні медичної допомоги пацієнтам, проте підвищення її ефективності залишається актуальним. Мета - висвітлити питання підвищення ефективності та безпечності домашнього телеконсультування дітей до 5 років із лихоманкою. Матеріали та методи. За словами «домашнє телеконсультування», «телемедичне консультування», «телемедичне сортування», «діти», «лихоманка» здійснено пошук інформації з використанням баз даних «Pub Med Central». Для визначення рекомендацій взято до уваги дані чинних в Україні нормативно-правових актів. Результати. Дослідження останніх років доводять, що нові форми спілкування між лікарем і пацієнтом, його батьками або опікунами створюють як додаткові можливості, так і ризики стосовно різних аспектів якості надання медичної допомоги. На якість домашнього телеконсультування дітей до 5 років впливають відсутність стандартів/сценаріїв телеконсультування при конкретній патології; відсутність відповідної професійної підготовки лікарів. У статті наведено заходи щодо поліпшення домашнього телеконсультування: застосування сценаріїв телесортування (протокол/стандарт NICE для дітей до 5 років із лихоманкою) з використанням системи «світлофора», симптомів тривоги («червоних прапорців»), за допомогою яких можна передбачати ризик серйозних захворювань; урахування доступності медичної допомоги для сім’ї та особливостей поведінки батьків. Для підвищення безпеки пацієнтів рекомендовано використовувати «захисну сітку». Обґрунтовано необхідність професійної підготовки медичних працівників із питань телемедичного консультування. Висновки. Впровадження послуг домашнього телеконсультування в амбулаторну педіатричну практику в ситуаціях, коли стан дитини оцінюється медичним працівником, який не може її оглянути, оскільки дитина географічно віддалена, сприятиме більш швидкій розстановці пріоритетів для надання первинної медичної допомоги. У сучасних умовах керівництва «Лихоманка до 5 років: оцінка та початкове лікування», «Інструмент дистанційної клінічної оцінки дитини» щодо оцінки та початкового лікування лихоманки в дітей до 5 років є клінічним сценарієм, який відповідає вимогам домашнього телеконсультування. Запровадження провідного міжнародного досвіду в організації домашнього телеконсультування дітей до 5 років є підставою для удосконалення програм безперервного професійного розвитку педіатрів і лікарів загальної практики - сімейних лікарів. Автори заявляють про відсутність конфлікту інтересів.

Background. Тhe incidence of diagnostic errors in neonatology and their impact on children’s health remain relatively unknown. The limited available evidence, however, suggests that diagnostic errors in the neonatal unit result in significant and long-term consequences. The purpose of the study was to generalize the literature data on diagnostic errors in neonatal units in view of their prevalence, impact on health status, and contributing factors. Materials and methods. The search was done in the PubMed Central® database using the keywords “misdiagnosis”, “diagnostic errors”, “neonatal intensive care unit”, “neonatal unit”, “neonatology”, “newborns”. Results. Methods to identify diagnostic errors were analyzed: autopsy results, consideration of complaints and conflicts, voluntary survey of doctors and patients, symptom-disease pair (SPADE approach), trigger methodology, Safer Dx Instrument (measurement and improvement of diagnostic safety). The incidence of detecting diagnosis errors ranged from 19.2 % when analyzing pathology studies (including 3.7 % of those that harmed a patient) to 6.2 % when using Safer Dx Instrument (including 8.0 % of those that that harmed a patient). A real assessment of this situation can be provided by a combination of the above methods. Conclusions. Further research is needed to better quantify misdiagnosis in neonatal intensive care units and to identify potential strategies to reduce its incidence or mitigate the harm associated with misdiagnosis.

The tessellation problem is interesting to study, especially when it is associated with mathematical concepts. In this study, a graph coloring technique will be applied to solve the problem of wallpaper tessellation decoration. The main objective of this study is to improve students' meta-literacy abilities when applying coloring techniques in completing tessellation wallpaper decorations in RBL-STEM learning. RBL is a learning model that stands for Research-Based Learning. This model is now becoming the focus of attention of learning practitioners, while the STEM approach is an approach that involves four studies in the field of science, namely science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The method used in this study is a mixed method, a combination of quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative methods were used to analyze the significant differences in the students' meta-literacy learning achievement between the control and experimental classes. In contrast, the qualitative method was used to analyze the results of in-depth interviews, a triangulation process from the quantitative research results. The results of this study indicate that there is a significant difference in meta-literacy ability between the control class (the class that applies RBL-STEM but without using the learning materials developed by the researcher) and the experimental class (the class that applies RBL-STEM using the learning materials developed by the researcher). The independent sample t-test on the post-test learning outcomes of meta-literacy abilities on Sig (2 Tailed) showed a significant difference of 0.013

Background. Telemedicine is defined as “the use of electronic information and communications technologies to provide and support health care when participants are separated” (Field M.J., 1998). The technologies range from standard telephone audio consultations to virtual reality scenarios. The accelerated uptake of telemedicine during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has resulted in valuable experience and evidence on the delivery of telemedicine for pediatric patients. Despite the well-documented benefits of telephone medicine in both triage and disease management, the complexity of medically related telephone communications leaves patients vulnerable to errors in management. The purpose of our work was to describe medical errors related to the use of the telephone during communication between the patient/parents of the patient and the doctor, and the means of countering these errors in pediatrics. Materials and methods. The PubMed Central® database was searched using the keywords “telemedicine”, “telephone consultation”, “pediatrics”, “children”, and “patient safety”. Results. According to literature, the main types of mistakes were absence of records of the virtual consultation episode, incorrect triage decisions, incorrect diagnosis, failure to recognize the potential seriousness of repeat calls, lack of telephone consultation protocols and insufficient patient information. Measures to increase patient safety were presented: the use of empirical rules and protocols, experience and intuition, taking into account the thoughts and wishes of parents, non-medical factors and the accessibility of health care for the family, the use of a “safety net”. Conclusions. Further researches that would examine specific ways of the delivering and use of telemedicine are needed to develop evidence-based guidelines for virtual pediatric care.

Стаття присвячена проблемі малознайомій як медичним працівникам, так і юристам, і судовим медикам - «синдрому струшеної дитини». На сьогодні цей стан називається «насильницька травма голови». Насильницька травма голови в немовлят є варіантом прояву синдрому жорстокого поводження з дитиною і асоціюється з високою летальністю і порушенням розвитку дитини не тільки в ранньому віці, але й у подальшому житті, що позначається на якості життя дітей та їхніх сімей. Описано соціальні та психологічні причини насильства над немовлятами, механізми травми, отримані в рамках імовірності жорстокого поводження з дитиною. Запропоновано інтегроване ведення за встановленим ступенем імовірності жорстокого поводження з дітьми. Особливу увагу приділено сучасним методам діагностики. При насильницькій травмі голови в немовлят зазвичай відсутні сліди зовнішньої травми, а клінічні симптоми вирізняються широкою варіабельністю. Саме тому основними методами діагностики є нейровізуалізація (комп’ютерна томографія, магнітно-резонансна томографія, нейросонографія), R-дослідження скелета, огляд офтальмолога. Діагноз встановлюють за наявності класичних симптомів тряски немовлят: субдуральні та субарахноїдальні крововиливи, двобічний крововилив у сітківку ока, дифузне ушкодження мозку. Оцінено ймовірність насильницької травми голови як причини гострої внутрішньочерепної травми немовлят. Автори заявляють про відсутність конфлікту інтересів.

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are the most used tobacco products among middle and high schoolers in the United States (U.S.). Familial relations and access play a major role in uptake among adolescents; yet the role of social media in this phenomenon in the context of communities impacted by tobacco-related health disparities is understudied. In Spring 2019, data were collected from adolescents in 8th and 9th grades in a school located in a rural distressed county in Tennessee to assess social media’s role in ENDS uptake. Descriptive and multivariable statistical analyses were performed to delineate factors associated with ENDS use. Of a total of 399 respondents, 12.5 % reported current ENDS use and 22.1 % indicated having ever discussed ENDS on social media. Closed messaging platforms (Snapchat) and video platforms (Facebook/Instagram/You Tube) were the most reported form of social media used (8.31 % and 8.31 % respectively). Social media use was positively associated with both ever ENDS use (odds ratio [OR] = 2.9) and current ENDS use (OR = 3.98). Parental advice against ENDS use was positively associated with ever ENDS use. In conclusion, social media use was positively associated with both ever and current ENDS use, and Snapchat was the most popular platform among this population of students. The results indicate that youth social media engagement may lead to exposure that can influence ENDS uptake. Future studies are needed to further examine these associations among distressed communities.

Цель: исследование возможности использования анализа тонов сердца в скрининговой диагностике состояния артериального протока у недоношенных детей на основании анализа параметров компьютерной фонокардиограммы при различных степенях гемодинамической значимости открытого артериального протока (ОАП). Материалы и методы. Обследовано 45 недоношенных новорожденных детей, находившихся на лечении в отделении интенсивной терапии. Проведены фонокардиография (ФКГ) с помощью электронного стетоскопа, эхокардиография. 40 (89%) новорожденных имели ультразвуковые признаки гемодинамически незначимого ОАП (ОАП с незначительным шунтированием), 5 (11%) младенцев имели признаки гемодинамически значимого ОАП (ГЗОАП). Проведено сравнение показателей компьютерного анализа ФКГ, характеризующих тоны сердца и промежуток между первым и вторым тоном, между группами недоношенных детей с разной степенью шунтирования через ОАП. Результаты. При сравнении показателей ФКГ в группах детей с незначительным и умеренным шунтированием через ОАП во всех точках выслушивания были зафиксированы достоверные различия параметров, характеризующих промежуток между первым и вторым тоном (признаки систолического шума). При сравнении данных компьютерного анализа ФКГ с умеренным и значительным шунтированием кроме различий в показателях, характеризующих промежутки между тонами, в первой и второй точках выслушивания достоверно отличалось соотношение параметров первого и второго тонов (что может характеризовать разницу в объемах шунтирования крови). Выводы. Установлены статистически значимые различия показателей компьютерного анализа ФКГ у недоношенных новорожденных с различными степенями гемодимической значимости ОАП. Полученные результаты могут быть использованы в качестве скринингового теста у недоношенных новорожденных с ОАП. Исследование было выполнено в соответствии с принципами Хельсинкской Декларации. Протокол исследования был одобрен Локальным этическим комитетом учреждения. На проведение исследований было получено информированное согласие родителей детей (или их опекунов).

In controlled laboratory conditions, 62 samples of domestic fuels collected from 56 grids of Delhi were burnt to quantify the emissions of 23 non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), i.e., alkanes (11), alkenes (6), alkynes (1) and aromatic compounds (5). The domestic fuels used for residential activities were comprised of 20 unique types of fuel woods, 3 species of crop residue, dung cakes and coal. These fuels are primarily used for cooking and water/space heating during winters. The current study reports the total emission budget of NMVOCs from domestic burning over Delhi. Furthermore, this study also compares the differences in EFs of NMVOCs which are calculated for different burning cycles and sample collection methods. The EFs of NMVOCs calculated from the samples collected during the flaming stage using canisters were analysed for 23 NMVOCs and then compared with same species emitted from complete burning cycle. In addition to this, 10 consumption and emission hotspot grids were also identified in Delhi; based on the ground survey and laboratory simulated results. The total annual usage of domestic fuels for the year 2019 was found to be 0.415 Mt/yr (million tonnes) in Delhi. 12.01 Gg/yr of annual NMVOC emissions was calculated from domestic fuel burning in which the emissions from dung cake and fuel wood dominated with 6.6 Gg/yr and 5.4 Gg/yr, respectively. The EFs of NMVOCs calculated using canister and online collection method differ significantly from each other. The flaming stage presented enhanced emissions compared to the complete burning cycle by ~7 times which suggests that the method of data analysis and the period of sample collection play a pivotal role in the preparation of an emission inventory and estimating the budget.

Energy of a graph is defined as the sum of the absolute values of the eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix of a graph and is denoted by . The graph with vertices is called nonhypoenergetic if and hypoenergetic if . Singular graphs are graphs with nullity . In this paper we study about nonhypoenergetic and hypoenergetic graphs among singular graphs. We also construct singular graphs of larger nullity using coalescence.

MAS, which is currently grouped under secondary or acquired haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH), is a rare and fatal disorder that results from excess activation of T-cells and macrophages. Though the pathogenesis of MAS is poorly understood, various proinflammatory cytokines like interleukins (IL-1, IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α), interferons are thought to play significant roles. MAS is associated with various clinical features such as non-remitting fever, bleeding, cytopenias, splenomegaly, hepatic dysfunctions, increased levels of triglyceride, ferritin and decreased levels of albumin and fibrinogen. Early diagnosis and interventions are crucial to reduce mortality risk but diagnosis is not often easy due to persistence of wide range of features that overlap with other rheumatic diseases, most commonly sJIA (systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis). Corticosteroids and cyclosporins are commonly used for MAS treatment. Intravenous immunoglobulins, biologic agents like IL-1 blockers (anakinra, canakinumab), IL-6 blockers (tocilizumab) are also frequently used. Moreover there is still the need of genetic and immunohistological study in order to understand the exact mechanism of the syndrome development and establishment of novel therapies with lesser toxicities.

Transient and steady-state multiphysics numerical simulations are performed to investigate the thermal and electrical performances of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) module placed between hot and cold blocks. Effects of heat radiation, leg length and Seebeck coefficient on the TEG thermal and electrical performances are identified. A new correlation for the Seebeck coefficient with temperature is proposed. Radiation effects on the thermal and electric performances are found to be negligible under both transient and steady-state conditions. The leg length of the TEG module shows a considerable influence on the electrical performance but little on the thermal performance under transient conditions. A nearly linear temperature profile on a leg of the TEG module is identified. The temperature profile of the substrate surfaces is non-uniform, especially in the contacted areas between the straps (tabs) and the substrates.

The natural convective heat transfer phenomenon in an isolated, walled CCPC with PV cell is studied experimentally at 1000 W/m2 irradiance and 28.5 °C ambient temperature as well as 0°, 10°, 20°, 30° and 40° incidences in indoor laboratory by using solar simulator. Then a series of numerical simulations are launched to estimate the CCPC natural heat transfer behaviour and optical performance based on steady heat transfer and laminar flow models with grey optical option. It is identified that the heat transfer and optical performances of CCPC are dependent on the incidence. Especially, the PV cell is subject to the highest temperature at an incidence less than 20°, and otherwise the top glass cover is with the highest temperature. The predicted temperatures, Nusselt numbers and heat loss ratios are consistent with the experimental observations basically, especially at the incidence less than 20° with (−10.1~+3) % error in temperature, (−35.6~+12.6) % in Nusselt number, and (−1.2~+20.5) % in CCPC wall heat loss ratio. The optical parameters predicted agree very well with the measurements. The heat loss from the CCPC walls accounts for nearly 60% of the total incoming solar irradiance and should be paid significant attention in the design of CCPC.

Objectives: To study the presentation and management of the exstrophy-epispadias complex in adolescents and adults and to evaluate the outcome of the repair. Subjects and methods: This retrospective review of our medical records of adult patients with an exstrophy-epispadias complex managed between January 2010 and June 2015 included one female and 7 male patients. Only patients aged above 10 years who had not undergone any surgical treatment during childhood were included in the study. All patients were subjected to preoperative biopsy from the urinary bladder plate. None of them underwent cystectomy. Seven patients underwent urinary bladder augmentation using ileocystoplasty, bladder neck reconstruction with para-urethral tissue closure using a wedge of pubic bone, and single-stage epispadias repair. In one patient epispadias repair was not done due to intraoperative hemodynamic instability. Results: All patients are continent but one in whom epispadias repair was not done and who is waiting for epispadias repair. One patient has developed a urethro-cutaneous fistula at the base of the penis. Two patients developed urinary bladder stones, and both of them were managed by minimally invasive methods. All the patients are on clean intermittent self-catheterization. They are all doing well socially and psychologically. Conclusion: Though exstrophy-epispadias in adolescents and adults is a rare entity, the described modified surgical technique provides good results and improves the patients’ social and psychological well being.

В статье с современных позиций анализируется одно из наиболее тяжелых заболеваний новорожденных — некротический энтероколит (НЭК). НЭК остается важной причиной заболеваемости и смертности новорожденных и поражает в основном недоношенных детей. При улучшении исходов респираторных заболеваний, у НЭК есть шанс стать ведущей причиной смерти глубоконедоношенных детей. Однако диагностика этого заболевания затрудняется неспецифичностью клинической картины и недостаточной точностью большинства дополнительных методов обследования. Оптимальное ведение новорожденных с НЭК является общей проблемой неонатологов и детских хирургов. Многие исследования, направленные на изучение эффективности профилактической помощи и медикаментозной терапии НЭК, имеют неоднозначные результаты. Более того, имеются различные стандарты хирургической помощи. Целью этой статьи является обзор и оценка имеющихся в настоящее время данных доказательной базы ведения новорожденных с НЭК. Рассматриваются также факторы риска развития заболевания.

Prostaglandins (PG) are present in different tissues specially in brain tissues endowed with different central nervous system activities. Similarly, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) a biogenic amine with its presence in different central and peripheral tissues as neurotransmitter plays an important role in the regulation of physiological functions specially hypnosis, convulsions, analgesia in rats, mice, cats and chicks etc. Pentobarbitone (PB) induced sleep appear to be a serotonergic modulator activity in different animals. PGE1 potentiates the pentobarbitone hypnosis also mediated through serotonin. In the present study, PGE1 induced sleeping time in chicks was evaluated. Drugs affecting 5-HT synthesis, metabolism and receptor activity modulate the potentiating response, while adrenergic receptor antagonists did not showed any response. This study suggest that PGE1 potentiate PB induced sleep through serotonergic signaling pathway as PGE1 increased 5-HT synthesis rate in chick brain.

Whey beverage was prepared by utilizing Lactobacillus rhamnosus NCDO 243, Bifidobacterium bifidum NCDO 2715 and Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii MTCC 1371 in order to make a fermented probiotic healthy drink. The product made with 4 % mixed culture (1:1:1) inoculated (initial count - lactobacilli 6.2 x 107 CFU/mL, bifidobacteria 5.4 x 107 CFU/mL, propionibacteria 3.9 x 107 CFU/mL) in deprotienized whey (4.6 % lactose, 0.62 % ash, 0.48 % fat and 0.5 % protein) adjusted to pH 6.4 and incubated at 37 °C for 8 h has a good technological and dietetic criteria required for a probiotic product. Total bacterial count, lactobacilli count, bifidobacteria count, propionibacteria count, titratable acidity, β-D galactosidase activity, concentration of lactic acid and sensory properties were monitored during storage period. The whey beverage fermented for 8 h and prepared with 4 % inoculum of mixed culture (1:1:1) met the probiotic criterion by maintaining each type of bacterial population at counts greater than 108 CFU/mL up to 10 days of storage period. The titratable acidity as well as sensory properties did not change appreciably during first 7 days of storage. At the end of 15 days of storage, slight acidification was detected, although the beverage still retained an acceptable flavour.

Runaway currents following disruptions have an important effect on the first wall in current tokamaks and will be more severe in next generation tokamaks. The behavior of runaway currents in massive gas injection (MGI) induced disruptions have been investigated in the J-TEXT tokamak. The cold front induced by the gas jet penetrates helically along field lines, preferentially toward the high field side and stops at a location near the q  =  2 surface before the disruption. When the cold front reaches the q  =  2 surface it initiates magnetohydrodynamic activities and results in disruption. It is found that the MGI of He or Ne results in runaway free shutdown in a large range of gas injections. Mixture injection of He and Ar (90% He and 10%Ar) consistently results in runaway free shutdown. A moderate amount of Ar injection could produce significant runaway current. The maximum runaway energy in the runaway plateau is estimated using a simplified model which neglects the drag forces and other energy loss mechanisms. The maximum runaway energy increases with decreasing runaway current. Imaging of the runaway beam using a soft x-ray array during the runaway current plateau indicates that the runaway beam is located in the center of the plasma. Resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) is applied to reduce the runaway current successfully during the disruption phase in a small scale tokamak, J-TEXT. When the runaway current builds up, the application of RMP cannot decouple the runaway beam due to the lower sensitivity of the energetic runaway electrons to the magnetic perturbation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The suppression of runaways following disruptions is key for the safe operation of ITER. The massive gas injection (MGI) has been developed to mitigate heat loads, electromagnetic forces and runaway electrons (REs) during disruptions. However, MGI may not completely prevent the generation of REs during disruptions on ITER. Resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) has been applied to suppress runaway generation during disruptions on several machines. It was found that strong RMP results in the enhancement of runaway production instead of runaway suppression on J-TEXT. The runaway current was about 50% pre-disruption plasma current in argon induced reference disruptions. With moderate RMP, the runway current decreased to below 30% pre-disruption plasma current. The runaway current plateaus reach 80% of the pre-disruptive current when strong RMP was applied. Strong RMP may induce large size magnetic islands that could confine more runaway seed during disruptions. This has important implications for runaway suppression on large machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We studied the urinary sediment mRNA level of Th9- and Th22-related cytokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)., Methods: We quantified urinary mRNA levels of interleukin (IL) 9, IL-10, IL-22, and their corresponding transcription factors in 73 patients with active lupus nephritis, 13 patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis (HTN), and 25 healthy subjects., Results: There was no detectable IL-9 mRNA in all samples. Patients with proliferative lupus nephritis had significantly lower urinary IL-22 mRNA levels than those with nonproliferative nephritis (2.2 ± 5.4 vs 8.6 ± 20.0 copies, p = 0.019), and urinary IL-22 mRNA level inversely correlated with the histological activity index (r = -0.427, p < 0.0001). In contrast, patients with lupus nephritis had significantly higher urinary IL-10 mRNA levels than patients with HTN (7.8 ± 18.5 vs 1.9 ± 4.0 copies, p = 0.012), and urinary IL-10 mRNA levels correlated with its intrarenal mRNA levels (r = 0.337, p = 0.004) and SLE disease activity index (r = 0.277, p = 0.018). Urinary IL-10 mRNA level was significantly lower among patients who achieved complete remission than those with partial remission or no response (4.1 ± 6.5 vs 14.1 ± 28.0 copies, p = 0.036)., Conclusion: Urinary IL-22 mRNA level is decreased in patients with SLE with proliferative nephritis, while urinary IL-10 mRNA levels correlates with its intrarenal mRNA level and disease activity. Urinary IL-10 mRNA levels may also predict treatment response. These results suggest that urinary mRNA levels of IL-10 and IL-22 might be used as biomarkers for assessing disease activity and risk stratification in lupus nephritis.