Morphological Studies of the Immune Response to Vasectomy

1. The morphological changes in the epididymis, testes, and spleen, were studied at seven postoperative periods (6 wks and 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 mos.) after unilateral (left) vasectomy or sham operation, in a series of 72 mature Albino rats

Long-term discolouration modelling for cast iron mains

Water companies have been working to introduce strategies to reduce discolouration customer contacts via non-specialist ‘business as usual’ practices. A greater understanding of discolouration material behaviour, however, is still needed to accurately inform the mobilisation response and regeneration rates in mains of different materials. The Variable Condition Discolouration Model (VCDM) that tracks both accumulation and mobilisation processes has been validated in some pipe materials using long-term time series data. This paper investigates calibration for a 15 km cast iron (CI) main, using daily turbidity responses with VCDM parameter sensitivity and temporal stability investigated using a statistical approach comparing three periods of the data. Results highlight the VCDM as widely applicable to determine long-term discolouration behaviour and improve behavioural understanding. In this case, analysis of different time periods indicates flow-conditioning not only improves network resilience but can also reduce mobilisation rates and discolouration risk

Immunoreactivity of various peptides in typical and atypical bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumours.

The presence of a number of regulatory peptides (bombesin, gastrin, glucagon, somatostatin, calcitonin and ACTH) was compared in 30 typical carcinoid tumours and 27 well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (atypical carcinoids) using conventional immunocytochemistry. Strong immunostaining for one or more peptide was observed in 97% of the typical carcinoids (29/30) whereas only 67% of the neuroendocrine carcinomas showed immunoreactivity. The peptide most frequently detected in typical carcinoids was bombesin (67%), while gastrin was more common in neuroendocrine carcinomas (44%). Immunoreactivity for more than one peptide was present in 33 tumours and in three cases, six different peptides were detected. The study shows that immunoreactivity to various peptides is more common in typical carcinoids than well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas. The significance of these findings is discussed

A review and illustrated description of Musca Crassirostris, one of the most neglected livestock hematophageous flies

Tabanids, stomoxyine flies, hippoboscids and tsetse flies are the most well‐known brachyceran biting flies of livestock. Only a few other higher Diptera have developed the unique mouthparts required for blood feeding. These neglected blood feeders can also have direct effects on hosts through blood loss, and are likely to contribute to the transmission of pathogens. Musca crassirostris (Diptera: Muscidae) is one of the most abundant of the muscid flies with this haematophagous lifestyle; it is widespread in the Palaearctic, Afrotropical and Oriental regions. The present study reviews and summarizes the biology and morphology of this species, and its potential for impact on animals and humans. The study also provides a fully illustrated description of the fly to facilitate its identification, and reviews information on abundance, with a focus on recent trapping surveys in Thailand. When sampled using traps designed for other biting flies, M. crassirostris appears to be four and 45 times more abundant than stomoxyines and tabanids, respectively. High numbers of M. crassirostris in the vicinity of livestock have also been associated with outbreaks of disease, such as that of a fatal plague in bovine farms in Egypt. This calls for a reconsideration of its potential impacts on livestock economics and health, and thus the development of suitable control methods

The Endogenous Th17 Response in NO<inf>2</inf>-Promoted Allergic Airway Disease Is Dispensable for Airway Hyperresponsiveness and Distinct from Th17 Adoptive Transfer

Severe, glucocorticoid-resistant asthma comprises 5-7% of patients with asthma. IL-17 is a biomarker of severe asthma, and the adoptive transfer of Th17 cells in mice is sufficient to induce glucocorticoid-resistant allergic airway disease. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is an environmental toxin that correlates with asthma severity, exacerbation, and risk of adverse outcomes. Mice that are allergically sensitized to the antigen ovalbumin by exposure to NO2 exhibit a mixed Th2/Th17 adaptive immune response and eosinophil and neutrophil recruitment to the airway following antigen challenge, a phenotype reminiscent of severe clinical asthma. Because IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) signaling is critical in the generation of the Th17 response in vivo, we hypothesized that the IL-1R/Th17 axis contributes to pulmonary inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in NO2-promoted allergic airway disease and manifests in glucocorticoid-resistant cytokine production. IL-17A neutralization at the time of antigen challenge or genetic deficiency in IL-1R resulted in decreased neutrophil recruitment to the airway following antigen challenge but did not protect against the development of AHR. Instead, IL-1R-/- mice developed exacerbated AHR compared to WT mice. Lung cells from NO2-allergically inflamed mice that were treated in vitro with dexamethasone (Dex) during antigen restimulation exhibited reduced Th17 cytokine production, whereas Th17 cytokine production by lung cells from recipient mice of in vitro Th17-polarized OTII T-cells was resistant to Dex. These results demonstrate that the IL-1R/Th17 axis does not contribute to AHR development in NO2-promoted allergic airway disease, that Th17 adoptive transfer does not necessarily reflect an endogenously-generated Th17 response, and that functions of Th17 responses are contingent on the experimental conditions in which they are generated. © 2013 Martin et al

How do general practitioners experience providing care to refugees with mental health problems? A qualitative study from Denmark

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

EMBRYONIC AND FETAL HISTOMORPHOLOGICAL DIFFERENTIATION OF THE OCULAR STRUCTURES IN SPRAGUE DAWLEY RAT (Rattus norvegicus)

Histological sections of the embryos and fetuses of the Sprague Dawley rats were usedto study the ocular developmental stages. Microscopic examination indicated that the primordialtissue related to the eye is found in the head fold region as an optic pit, then form the opticvesicle. The latter is invaginated upon itself to form the optic cup. The lens vesicle, which hadseparated from the ectoderm, was distinctly visible. Hence, lens capsule and fibers were evident.The front lens of the eye is derived from the superficial ectoderm and from the cornea.The optic vesicle is destined to form the retina. The mesenchymal cells found between themargins of the cup and the lens is involved in the formation of the vitreous body. In conclusion,the organogenesis of the ocular tissues in studied rats becomes evident when the optic cup andinvaginated lens placode were begun to be formed which can bemorphologically identified on the 12th embryonic day. The current information about theembryonic and fetal development of the rat&rsquo;s eye gives more concepts for subsequentmorphological and physiological works or experiments

Characterization of Niti Super Elasticity Shape Memory Alloys

Ni-Ti samples were prepared by powder metallurgy. The prepared samples were master samples M1 (55% Ni- 45%Ti) and M2 (56% Ni- 44%Ti). The additive percentage of Ta was 5%, 7% and 9% to master sample M1 and M2, while Nb addition was 1%, 2% and 4% to M1 and M2. The pressure of pressing was 800 Mpa. The samples were sintered at 950 °C for a time of 9 hr. Samples were then examined by using SEM technique, XRD, DSC, Vickers hardness. The porosity was measured according to Archimedes method. Scanning electronic microscopy images showed that most prepared samples have porosity, which in turn imparts decreasing microhardness values across the surface. Better increase of microhardness values is found in M2+5%Ta. Scanning electron microscopy indicated also the best martensitic structure in M1+4% Nb and M2+4%Nb. X-ray diffraction observations indicated that NiTi, Ni3Ti and NiTi2 phases exist in all samples. NiTi phase is playing a dramatic role in enhancing shape memory effect and superelasticity. DSC results show that transformation temperatures range in (46-134°C). This indicates that all samples at room temperature have one phase which is martensite

Histopathological Study of Bee Venom with Different Concentrations in Laboratory Mice

Bee venom (BV) of Apis mellifer L has recently been utilized as a traditional medicine for treating a variety of medical conditions. When mice were given different concentrations of bee venom, it was found to be effective in repairing some histopathological changes. Then, when applying BV as a treatment material for some disorders, as indicated by the amount of damage to the liver and kidney tissues. The animals were randomly divided into 7 groups. Six of which were treated with BV extraction, and one group was designated as the control group, was treated with distilled water. Mice were injected intraperitoneally by 0.2ml of BV extraction in concentrations (1000, 750, 500, 350, 300, and 250) μg/ml. In some cases, histopathological studies revealed mild to moderate alterations in the liver and renal tissues, characterized by congestion, acute cell swelling, and focal coagulated necrosis. Atherosclerotic changes in the aorta and some arteries were found in two groups. Whereas several mild degenerative changes were observed in hepatic cells of one group. In conclusion, bee venom administered to groups in different concentrations revealed hepatic and renal complications at histological investigations of hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of liver and kidney section

SPARC 2018 Internationalisation and collaboration : Salford postgraduate annual research conference book of abstracts

Welcome to the Book of Abstracts for the 2018 SPARC conference. This year we not only celebrate the work of our PGRs but also the launch of our Doctoral School, which makes this year’s conference extra special. Once again we have received a tremendous contribution from our postgraduate research community; with over 100 presenters, the conference truly showcases a vibrant PGR community at Salford. These abstracts provide a taster of the research strengths of their works, and provide delegates with a reference point for networking and initiating critical debate. With such wide-ranging topics being showcased, we encourage you to take up this great opportunity to engage with researchers working in different subject areas from your own. To meet global challenges, high impact research inevitably requires interdisciplinary collaboration. This is recognised by all major research funders. Therefore engaging with the work of others and forging collaborations across subject areas is an essential skill for the next generation of researchers