Index of epithelization rate of thermal burns in laboratory animals when application of the “acerbin” preparation

Thermal burns in animals represent an urgent problem for veterinary medicine, since the anti-burn drugs available on the world pharmacological market are not always adapted for use on animals and are approved for use in veterinary medicine. In this regard, the aim of the work was to use the wound healing spray “Acerbin” for medical purposes in the treatment of thermal burns and to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy by the rate of epithelialization of burn defects in the skin in laboratory animals. The work was carried out at the Department of Surgery and Therapy of the Kursk State Agricultural Academy, on laboratory white mice in the amount of 60 individuals, in which thermal burns were simulated in the croup and treated with applications of the Acerbin spray. To assess the rate of growth of epithelialization, planimetric measurements of the area of burns were carried out before treatment on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th and 14th days of treatment, as well as the corresponding mathematical calculations of the rate of reduction of burn defects. According to the research results, it was found that when applying the Acerbin spray, the burn rate index on the 3rd day was 0.25 ± 0.06; on the 5th day 0.58 ± 0.03; on the 7th day 0.74 ± 0.01; on the 10th day 0.86 ± 0.02; on the 14th day 0.95 ± 0.01. Thus, at the end of the therapeutic period, the index of the epithelialization rate of thermal burns approached the most physiologically justified numerical expression equal to “1.0”, which allows it to be recommended for use in veterinary medicine as the preparation of choice for the treatment of thermal burns of the skin in animals.

Differentiating PSP from MSA using MR planimetric measurements: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Differential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes is considered one of the most challenging in neurology. Quantitative MR planimetric measurements were reported to discriminate between progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and non-PSP-parkinsonism. Several studies have used midbrain to pons ratio (M/P) and the Magnetic Resonance Parkinsonism Index (MRPI) in distinguishing PSP patients from those with Parkinson's disease. The current meta-analysis aimed to compare the performance of these measures in discriminating PSP from multiple system atrophy (MSA). A systematic MEDLINE review identified 59 out of 2984 studies allowing a calculation of sensitivity and specificity using the MRPI or M/P. Meta-analyses of results were carried out using random effects modelling. To assess study quality and risk of bias, the QUADAS-2 tool was used. Eight studies were suitable for analysis. The meta‐analysis showed a pooled sensitivity and specificity for the MRPI of PSP versus MSA of 79.2% (95% CI 72.7–84.4%) and 91.2% (95% CI 79.5–96.5%), and 84.1% (95% CI 77.2–89.2%) and 89.2% (95% CI 81.8–93.8%), respectively, for the M/P. The QUADAS-2 toolbox revealed a high risk of bias regarding the methodological quality of patient selection and index test, as all patients were seen in a specialized outpatient department without avoiding case control design and no predefined threshold was given regarding MRPI or M/P cut-offs. Planimetric brainstem measurements, in special the MRPI and M/P, yield high diagnostic accuracy for the discrimination of PSP from MSA. However, there is an urgent need for well-designed, prospective validation studies to ameliorate the concerns regarding the risk of bias.

Quantifying Mineral Liberation – A Conventional and New Automatic Sophisticated Techniques Approach

The characterization of textural properties of minerals is closely related to the process of their respective liberation. Measurements ofmineral liberation, related to grinded ore, can be performed using optical ore microscope, by conventional, classical methods – pointcounting, linear intercepts method or planimetric measurements method (2D). Modern automatic devices and sophisticated measurement techniques (QEMSCAN/MLA) imply recording free surfaces area of mineral grains on polished sections samples in orderto determine mineral degree of liberation. Value of mineral liberation obtained over free surfaces area can be of interest to flotationconcentration, although not for gravity separation or, for example, magnetic separation. The prediction accuracy for behavior of onefeed ore during the concentration process depends on the method of measuring/recording mineral liberation. Considering raw materials with complex textural characteristics it is crucial which method will be applied for determination of mineral liberation respectingwhether for concentration process is crucial physical or chemical method.

Quantification of Adipose Tissue and Muscle Mass Based on Computed Tomography Scans: Comparison of Eight Planimetric and Diametric Techniques Including a Step-By-Step Guide

Background: Recent scientific work proved that knowledge about body composition beyond the body mass index is essential. Both adipose tissue and muscular status are determining risk factors of morbidity and mortality. Analysis of single cross-sectional computed tomography (CT) images, acquired during routine care only to prevent additional radiation exposure, provide a detailed insight into the body composition of chronically and critically ill patients. Methods: This retrospective study included 490 trauma patients of whom a whole-body multiple detector CT scan was acquired at admission. From a single cross-sectional CT, we compared eight diametric and planimetric techniques for the assessment of core muscle mass as well as visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Furthermore, we derived formulas for converting the measurement results of various techniques into each other. Results: For intra- and interobserver reliability, we obtained intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) ranging from 0.947 to 0.997 (intraobserver reliability) and from 0.850 to 0.998 (interobserver reliability) for planimetric measurements. Diametric techniques conferred lower ICCs with 0.851–0.995 and 0.833–0.971, respectively. Overall, area-based measurements of abdominal adipose tissue yielded highly correlated results with diametric measures of obesity. For example, the Pearson correlation of visceral adipose tissue and sagittal abdominal diameter was 0.87 for male and 0.82 for female patients. Planimetric and diametric muscle measurements correlated best for lean psoas area and bilateral diametric measurement of the psoas with a Pearson correlation of 0.90 and 0.93 for male and female patients, respectively. Conclusion: Planimetric measurements should remain the gold standard to describe fat and muscle compartments. Diametric measurements could however serve as a surrogate if planimetric techniques are not readily available or feasible as for example in large registries.

Biometry of the branchial plume in the hydrothermal vent tubeworm Riftia pachyptila (Vestimentifera; Annelida)

The branchial plume of the hydrothermal vent tubeworm Riftia pachyptila is the main organ by which this mouth- and gut-less tubeworm directly exchanges metabolites with its environment. We estimated the total branchial surface area per unit wet mass, termed the specific branchial surface area (SBSA), from planimetric measurements. Changes in the SBSA during the growth of the worm were inferred from 16 individuals ranging from 1 to 112 g wet mass. Riftia pachyptila has a mean SBSA of 22 cm2·g–1, the second highest among all aquatic animals, representing 9 times the surface area of the rest of the body. Three significantly different classes of SBSA could be distinguished, corresponding to small, medium-sized, and large individuals. The SBSA values for small and medium-sized R. pachyptila are twice that for large individuals. Negative growth allometry between the length of the branchial plume and that of the trunk may be correlated with this variation in SBSA, the plume growing faster than the trunk in the small and medium-sized groups. In large individuals the trunk length exceeds the plume length, inducing an increase in body mass that lowers the SBSA. However, a lower SBSA does not imply reduced metabolite diffusion through the plume of large tubeworms, since their longer free filaments bear more developed pinnules, which are probably the preferred pathway of metabolite diffusion, owing to a minimal transepithelial distance of 2 µm.

Quantitative Radiographic Measurement of Dentinal Lesions

The purpose of this investigation was the comparison of the precision and accuracy of two reference ramp techniques for the quantification of radiographic density changes in teeth. Radiographs (65 kVp, 10 ma, 1 s, and intra-oral ultraspeed film) of transverse sections from extracted permanent human molars were made before and after dentinal lesions were created. Each radiograph contained the image of a tooth section and the aluminum reference ramp. Method A used the image of the ramp on both the before- and after-lesion radiographs, and method B used the image of the ramp only on the before-lesion radiograph. Three groups of lesions (0.525-mm diameter, n = 11; 0.675-mm diameter, n = 9; and the 0.525-mm holes enlarged to 0.675 mm) were measured radiographically by each technique and by direct planimetry of the lesions. Radiographic method B produced results in close agreement with the planimetric measurements. Method B differentiated (p<0.05) between groups that had a mean planimetric size difference of 0.10 mm (equivalent to a change in density difference of 0.6%). These density change measurements are in absolute units of mm of aluminum that can be compared between lesions and between samples. This technique may prove useful for the quantification of changes in mineral density of caries lesions detectable in longitudinal radiographic records.

Anthropological study of the mastoid air cell system in Pakistani races

This is an anthropological study of the development of the mastoid process in the four ethnic groups of Pakistani races: Turko-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Scytho-Dravidian, and Aryo-Dravidian.Cephalometric studies have established that the majority of Pakistanis are brachio to ultrabrachiocephalic (Cephalic Index 82–x). Radiological evaluation of normal mastoids and their planimetric measurements show that the mastoid process is smaller (Av: 10.24 sq.cm. ± 0.8) than the Caucasian Western races (Av: 12–15 sq.cm.).Neither combined approach tympanoplasty, nor mastoid obliteration technique may be required, nor technically possible in a small mastoid. Natural epithelization of a small ‘peanut size’ mastoidectomy cavity does not justify these procedures. A modified radical mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty reconstruction provides a satisfactory result in chronic discharging ears.

Midsagittal Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Autism

Since recent reports suggest structural brain abnormalities in autistic patients, we analysed magnetic resonance imaging (MAI) scans of autistic children. Planimetric measurements were done on midsagittal MRI scans, produced with a 0.5 T superconducting magnet. Scans of 13 ‘high-level’ austic subjects were compared with 35 control MRI scans, read as anatomically normal by a neuroradiologist. Corpus callosal, fourth ventricular, cerebellar, cerebral, and cranial areas were measured. The fourth ventricle was found to be significantly larger in the autistic group. No other areas in the midsagittal scans differed statistically between groups. Results suggest that structures defining the fourth ventricle are anatomically altered in autistic patients.