The recovery of ovarian function during breast-feeding

The pattern of breast-feeding was daily recorded and the serum concentrations of prolactin (PRL), FSH, LH, estradiol (E2) and progesterone (prog) were measured at weekly intervals in 26 breast-feeding mothers from the time of delivery and up to the resumption of regular ovulation or to the end of the first postpartum year. Twelve postpartum non-breast-feeding women were similarly studied as controls. An algorithm was used to characterize ovulatory events into three types: the first, with evidence highly suggestive of normal ovulation (EHSO), the second, with evidence of probable ovulation (EPO) and the third with evidence indicating questionable ovulation or deficient corpus luteum function (QO/DCT). Pregnancy preceded the first menstruation in one woman in each of the breast-feeding and control groups. Of the 19 breast-feeding women who started to menstruate during the first postpartum year, five had EHSO, one had EPO, 5 had EQO/DCL and 7 had anovulatory (AO) menstruation. The corresponding figures in the 11 controls were 6, 2, 3 and 0. Pregnancy occurred before a second menstruation in one woman in both the study group and the controls. In 18 breast-feeding women observed, the second menstruation was preceded by EHSO in 7, by EPO in 3, by EQO/DCL in one and AO in 7. In 10 controls the corresponding figures were 7, 3, 0 and 0. Out of a total of 79 menstruations observed during breast-feeding the incidence of AO was 30% and of QO/DCL was 15%. In actively breast-feeding mothers, hyperprolactinemia persisted for more than 1 yr. However, menstruation and ovulation occasionally occurred before the drop of PRL to concentrations seen during the normal menstrual cycle. In the majority of women, low E2 levels were present during lactational amenorrhea, but with occasional spikes in some. A few women maintained somewhat high values of E2 for several weeks before the resumption of menstruation. The implications of these hormonal findings to the attempts to improve on the contraceptive effect of breast-feeding are discussed.     

Assessment of eye doses to staff involved in interventional cardiology procedures in Kuwait

In this study, which is the first of its kind in the gulf region, eye doses of interventional cardiologists and nurses were measured using active dosimeters for left and right eyes, in 60 percutaneous coronary interventions in three main hospitals in Kuwait. The dose given in terms of H_p(0.07) per procedure when ceiling suspended screens were used by main operators ranged from 18.5 to 30.3 µSv for the left eye and from 12.6 to 23.6 µSv for the right eye. Taking into account typical staff workload, the results show that the dose limit of 20 mSv/year to the eyes can be exceeded for interventional cardiologists in some situations, which demonstrates the need of using additional effective radiation protection tools, e.g. protective eye spectacles, in addition to the regular and proper use of ceiling suspended screens. With indications of increase in workload, the need for availability of a dedicated active dosimeter for the regular monitoring of eye doses is emphasized.

     

A benign approach to the preparation of freshwater bryozoan statoblasts for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging

Abstract

Several different species of freshwater Bryozoa, belonging to the genera Plumatella, Rumarcanella and Fredericella, were detected within the Northern Mallee Pipeline (NMP) system in Victoria, Australia, that required definitive identification. These organisms produce asexual buds called statoblasts, with valves composed of sclerotised chitin that bear minute micro-ornamentations of considerable taxonomical significance. Imaging and analysis of these distinctive micro-ornamentations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is often employed for species identification. Meticulous preparation of statoblast samples is therefore required that necessitates the removal of adhering debris, dehydration and drying—whilst mitigating specimen damage and distortion. This technical note describes an approach whereby each of these three steps have been individually designed to be as benign as possible, using mild detergent/sonication to remove debris, a gradual and gentle dehydration procedure using ethanol, and critical point drying. For the overall process, these methods are chosen to optimise control and to minimise the use of harsh and hazardous chemicals.     

The use of adjunctive GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients with unstable angina/non-Q-wave MI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors represent a relatively new therapeutic approach in the field of antiplatelet therapy. Following the development of abciximab a number of small molecule GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors have been introduced such as tirofiban and eptifibatide. In this fast-moving field the interventional cardiologist needs a framework to guide decision-making for the individual patient. This review covers the efficacy and safety data from the clinical trials of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in the context of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for unstable angina/non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. There is an increasing body of evidence to support the efficacy of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in reducing the risk of adverse ischemic events in high and low risk patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. A number of unresolved efficacy and safety issues remain, including the duration of treatment before and after intervention; whether a reduction in the heparin dose would further decrease the risk of hemorrhage without affecting the periprocedural thrombotic rate in patients undergoing PTCA with adjunctive GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors; and the cost-effectiveness of this therapy. When a thorough analysis of cost-effectiveness has been made, it will be easier to advocate the widespread use of these agents in all patients undergoing coronary intervention.     

A high-throughput cloning system for reverse genetics in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trypanosoma cruzi</Emphasis>

Background  

The three trypanosomatids pathogenic to men, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major, are etiological agents of Chagas disease, African sleeping sickness and cutaneous leishmaniasis, respectively. The complete sequencing of these trypanosomatid genomes represented a breakthrough in the understanding of these organisms. Genome sequencing is a step towards solving the parasite biology puzzle, as there are a high percentage of genes encoding proteins without functional annotation. Also, technical limitations in protein expression in heterologous systems reinforce the evident need for the development of a high-throughput reverse genetics platform. Ideally, such platform would lead to efficient cloning and compatibility with various approaches. Thus, we aimed to construct a highly efficient cloning platform compatible with plasmid vectors that are suitable for various approaches.     

Impact of nano-zinc-oxide as an alternative source of zinc in date palm culture media

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Leaf chlorosis is often a problem in micropropagated&nbsp;Rubus&nbsp;idaeus, which makes successful acclimatization difficult. We found that...