Authors: Darshna , Rahul Kumar , Pradeep Srivastava , Pranjal Chandra

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Since the last decade, significant developments have been made in the area of bone tissue engineering associated with the emergence of novel biomaterials as well as techniques of scaffold fabrication. Despite all these developments, the translation from research findings to clinical applications is still very limited. Manufacturing the designed tissue constructs in a scalable manner remains the most challenging aspect. This bottleneck could be overcome by using bioreactors for the manufacture of these tissue constructs. In this review, a current scenario of bone injuries/defects and the cause of the translational gap between laboratory research and clinical use has been emphasized. Furthermore, various bioreactors being used in the area of bone tissue regeneration in recent studies have been highlighted along with their advantages and limitations. A vivid literature survey on the ideal attributes of bioreactors has been accounted, viz. dynamic, versatile, automated, reproducible and commercialization aspects. Additionally, the illustration of computational approaches that should be combined with bone tissue engineering experiments using bioreactors to simulate and optimize cellular growth in bone tissue constructs has also been done extensively.

Authors: Leta Alemu Diba , Abel Ambaye Anfucho

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Acute abdomen is an acute onset of abdominal disease entities that require immediate surgical intervention in most of the cases. It is the commonly encountered emergency in the practice of general surgery but there was no much information regarding its magnitude in our country. Objective: This study had assessed the pattern of acute abdomen of patients surgically treated at Ambo referral hospital from January 2018-Dec. 2019 Methodology: This study was conducted at Ambo referral hospital and retrospective analysis of surgically treated acute abdomen patients from January 2018-Dec. 2019G. C. Enrolled patients medical record number was collected from surgical operation registration book and the charts were collected from chart collection room. Results: During this study period there were total of one hundred and eleven (111) patients admitted with diagnoses of acute abdomen and surgically treated on emergency basis. Males were more affected than females and most affected group were young age falls in 2nd and 3rd decades. The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain and vomiting whereas abdominal tenderness and distension were the leading signs. The leading causes of acute abdomen were acute appendicitis followed by intestinal obstruction and abdominal trauma. The investigation was ordered according to clinical diagnoses to aid/ confirm diagnoses. Post-operative stay was relatively similar with studies conducted in some part of the country and all over the world. In the study period above 90% were discharged with improvement where as 9% were died. Conclusion: This study depicted the commonest presenting symptoms and signs, most common etiology of acute abdomen and pre and post op stay which affected the outcome. Still some variables need deep study like why trauma becomes a 3rd leading cause and less affected females.

Authors: Huseynova Ilhama Yelmar , Hasanov Alekber Qazanfar , Gafarov Ismayil Adil

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Today, the relationship between cytokines in blood serum and the pathogenesis of the disease during COVID-19 in children has not yet been fully clarified. Research shows that the course of the disease in children is more satisfactory than in adults. However, the clinical profiles and pathophysiology of COVID-19 in children remain unclear. The aim of our study was to determine the level of cytokines in children with COVID-19 pneumonia and to study their role in predicting the severity of the disease. For this purpose, 75 children under the age of 18 were included. The patients included in the study were divided into 2 groups according to the degree of severity: 49 (65.3%) moderately severe patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were included in group I, and 26 (34.7%) patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia were included in group II. Clinical, instrumental and laboratory examinations, determination of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, vitamin D, fibrinogen, ferritin and D-dimer levels were included in the examination methods of patients. Fever (66 cases (88.0%)) and cough (74 cases (98.7%)) were the most frequently reported cases. Laboratory examinations of blood in children with COVID-19 (PCR) showed a tendency to lymphocytosis and thrombocytopenia, an increase in ESR, CRP, ferritin, D-dimer, fibrinogen, and cytokines levels. In comparison between groups, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18 increased in group II compared to group I. Determination of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18 in children with COVID-19 (PCR), depending on the severity of the disease, is appropriate for early diagnosis and prediction of the course of the disease.

Authors: Shilpi Saha , Satyapriya Roy

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Menarche is the first onset of menstrual bleeding and considered as a significant marker of attaining sexual maturity in girls. Various factors may influence age at menarche like genetic, nutritional status, environment, socioeconomic status and education. The main purpose of this study is to determine mean age at menarche of Chakma tribal and Bengali non tribal girls of Tripura with their ethnicity and socio economic condition. Data on age at menarche have been collected by using Status quo method of recall from adolescent Chakma tribal and Bengali non tribal girls of different schools of North, Unokoti, Dhalai and South District of Tripura. An effect of socioeconomic condition on age at menarche was taken in consideration. Among studied sample 357 Chakma tribal girls and 368 Bengali girls have experienced menarche. Median age at menarche, estimated by probits, is 12.53 years (0.12) and 11.83 years (0.13) for the Chakma and Bengali girls respectively. However, the age differences are found to be statistically highly significant (P

Authors: Zhao Zhang , Guangfei Li , Zeyu Song , Xiaoying Tang

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A certain number of fMRI studies on subjective cognitive decline (SCD) have been widely debated. They mainly focus on the differences in brain structure and function between SCD and normal people, while more studies focus on objective cognitive decline. The relationship between psychological factors and SCD via cerebral fMRI data in the elderly is rarely discussed. In this study, we included 66 SCD patients and 63 normal controls (NC) to investigate the neural processes amid the psychological aspects of those with subclinical depression and SCD using dynamic network connectivity and to provide theoretical support for neuroimaging for improved Alzheimer's disease prevention and therapy. We calculated temporal flexibility and spatiotemporal diversity via fMRI data using Shen’s 268 brain template and No. 74 brain region was selected by t-test and correlation analysis. In the NC group, no significant correlation was observed in temporal flexibility value of No. 74–SCD and Hamilton depression scale HAMD–SCD, whereas No. 74–HAMD showed a significant correlation. In the SCD group, all of the three parameters exhibited significant correlation. Mediation analysis obtained the mediation model of No. 74 brain region, subclinical depression, and subjective cognitive decline (No. 74→HAMD→SCD). The results show that visual system plays an important role in subclinical depression, and subclinical depression increases the risk of SCD.

Authors: Muritala Abiola Asafa , Rahaman Ayodele Bolarinwa , Samson Adeoye Oyewade , Oluwadare Ogunlade

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This study assessed the effect of Haemoglobin SS (Hb SS) on cormic index and some other body anthropometric indices among students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. A total of 100 young adults (18 – 40 years) participated in the study. They were classified into two groups; 50 cases (participants with Hb SS) and 50 control (participants with Hb AA) which were purposively selected after haemglobin typing using electrophoresis method. The cases and controls were age-and sex-matched. The weight, sitting and standing height were measured by using Seca stadiometer-model 216 following standard protocol. Cormic index (CI%) was calculated using sitting height x 100/ standing height while the body mass index (BMI) and body surface area were calculated using Keys and Monsteller formulae respectively. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and alpha value was set at p < 0.05. The mean values of weight in kg [54.39 ± 5.54 vs 60.48 ± 8.65 (t= -4.195, p < 0.001], body mass index in kg/m2 [19.58 ± 2.08 vs 21.48 ± 2.91 (t = 6.068; p < 0.001)], cormic index in % [44.71 ± 6.05 vs 50.03 ± 1.33 (t = -3.760; p < 0.001)], subischial leg length in cm [92.22 ± 10.76 vs 83.84 ± 4.41 (p < 0.001; t = 5.092)] and body surface area in m2 [1.59 ± 0.09 vs 1.68 ± 0.14 (p < 0.001, t = -3.798)] of cases were significantly different from those of controls respectively. In conclusion, this study showed that Hb SS is associated with lower weight, sitting height, body mass index, body surface area and cormic index but higher subischial leg length when compared with Hb AA.

Authors: Finangnon Armand Wanvoegbe , Ayaba Agossa , Kouessi Anthelme Agbodande , Adebayo Alassani , Edgard Tohounkpo , Yasmine Agonma , Alkinel Sokenou , Espoir Gandonou , Albert Dovonou , Angèle Azon Kouanou , Zavier Zomalheto

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Introduction: Arthritis is common in rheumatology and has a large number of causes. Our goal in this study was to find out the etiological profile of arthritis in the rheumatology unit of the Teaching and Departmental Hospital Oueme-Plateau. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study, with retrospective collection, on the files of patients who consulted the rheumatology unit of the Teaching and Departmental Hospital Oueme-Plateau of Porto-Novo, from May 2015 to September 2021. All patients with arthritis were included. The data collected were recorded and analyzed using EPI INFO software version 7.2. Results: Out of 2416 records, 68 patients presented with arthritis, i.e., a hospital frequency of 2.8%. The mean age was 49.3 (± 16.9) years with extremes of 5 and 80 years. The majority were women (60.3%) with a sex ratio of 0.7. These patients were hypertensive in 42.6% of cases and diabetic in 10.3% of cases. The non-specific biological inflammatory syndrome was present in 75.5% of the 53 patients who underwent these explorations. Polyarthritis was present in most cases (52.9%), followed by monoarthritis (26.5%). The most recurrent etiological groups were autoimmune causes (38.8%), microcrystalline (35.8%), and infectious (14.9%). Rheumatoid arthritis was the most frequent cause (36.8%), followed by gout (25.0%), chondrocalcinosis (10.3%), tuberculosis (7.3%), septic arthritis (4.4%), and mixed spondyloarthritis (4.4%). Autoimmune causes were the first etiological group in women (52.5%) and microcrystalline causes were the first etiological group in men (59.3%), with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.010). Conclusion: The causes of arthritis in the Teaching and Departmental Hospital Oueme-Plateau are multiple, but are dominated by autoimmune, microcrystalline, and infectious causes.

Authors: Austin Kluis , David Rawitscher , Aasim M. Afzal , J. Michael DiMaio , Timothy J. George

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Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the setting of combined cardiopulmonary failure provides full support of both cardiac and respiratory systems. However, it is difficult to isolate and evaluate pulmonary recovery independent of cardiac function on venoarterial ECMO. In this case report, we demonstrate the advantage of supporting a patient in cardiopulmonary failure with venovenous ECMO and the Impella 5.5 as a method to isolate organ dysfunction, wean off ECMO as respiratory function improves, and bridge to a left ventricular assist device with Impella 5.5 monotherapy.

Authors: Christina M. Kelliher , Elizabeth-Lauren Stevenson , Jennifer J. Loros , Jay C. Dunlap

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Compensation is a defining principle of a true circadian clock, where its approximately 24-hour period length is relatively unchanged across environmental conditions. Known compensation effectors directly regulate core clock factors to buffer the oscillator’s period length from variables in the environment. Temperature Compensation mechanisms have been experimentally addressed across circadian model systems, but much less is known about the related process of Nutritional Compensation, where circadian period length is maintained across physiologically relevant nutrient levels. Using the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, we performed a genetic screen under glucose and amino acid starvation conditions to identify new regulators of Nutritional Compensation. Our screen uncovered 16 novel mutants, and together with 4 mutants characterized in prior work, a model emerges where Nutritional Compensation of the fungal clock is achieved at the levels of transcription, chromatin regulation, and mRNA stability. However, eukaryotic circadian Nutritional Compensation is completely unstudied outside of Neurospora. To test for conservation in cultured human cells, we selected top hits from our fungal genetic screen, performed siRNA knockdown experiments of the mammalian orthologs, and characterized the cell lines with respect to compensation. We find that the wild-type mammalian clock is also compensated across a large range of external glucose concentrations, as observed in Neurospora, and that knocking down the mammalian orthologs of the Neurospora compensation-associated genes CPSF6 or SETD2 in human cells also results in nutrient-dependent period length changes. We conclude that, like Temperature Compensation, Nutritional Compensation is a conserved circadian process in fungal and mammalian clocks and that it may share common molecular determinants.