Optimization of biliary drainage in inoperable distal malignant strictures

BACKGROUND Given most patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction present in the nonresectable stage,palliative endoscopic biliary drainage with fully covered metal stent(FCMS)or uncovered metal stent(UCMS)is the only available measure to improve patients’quality of life.Half covered metal stent(HCMS)has been recently introduced commercially.The adverse effects and stent function between FCMS and UCMS have been extensively discussed.AIM To study the duration of stent patency of HCMS and compare it with FCMS and UCMS to optimize biliary drainage in inoperable patients with distal malignant obstruction.Secondary aims in our study included evaluation of patients’survival and the rates of adverse events for each type of stent.METHODS We studied 210 patients and randomized them into three equal groups;HCMS,FCMS and UCMS were inserted endoscopically.RESULTS Stent occlusion occurred in(18.6%,17.1%and 15.7%in HCMS,FCMS and UCMS groups,respectively,P=0.9).Stent migration occurred only in patients with FCMS(8.6%of patients).Cholangitis and cholecystitis occurred in 11.4%and 5.7%of patients,respectively,in FCMS.Tumor growth occurred only in 10 cases among patients with UCMS after a median of 140 d,sludge occurred in nine,seven and one patients in HCMS,FCMS and UCMS,respectively(P=0.04).CONCLUSION Given the prolonged stent functioning time,the use of HCMS is preferred over the use of UCMS and FCMS for optimizing biliary drainage in patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction.

Beta-endorphin in serum and seminal plasma in infertile men

Aim： To access beta-endorphin levels in serum as well as seminal plasma in different infertile male groups. Methods： Beta-endorphin was estimated in the serum and seminal plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） method in 80 infertile men equally divided into four groups： non-obstructive azoospermia （NOA）, obstructive azoospermia （OA）, congenital bilateral absent vas deferens （CBVAD） and asthenozoospermia. The results were compared to those of 20 normozoospermic proven fertile men. Results： There was a decrease in the mean levels of betaendorphin in the seminal plasma of all successive infertile groups （mean ± SD： NOA 51.30 ± 27.37, OA 51.88 ± 9.47, CBAVD 20.36 ± 13.39, asthenozoospermia 49.26 ± 12.49 pg/mL, respectively） compared to the normozoospermic fertile control （87.23 ± 29.55 pg/mL）. This relation was not present in mean serum level of beta-endorphin between four infertile groups （51.09 ± 14.71, 49.76 ± 12.4, 33.96 ± 7.2, 69.1 ± 16.57 pg/mL, respectively） and the fertile control group （49.26 ± 31.32 pg/mL）. The CBVAD group showed the lowest seminal plasma mean level of beta-endorphin. Testicular contribution of seminal beta-endorphin was estimated to be approximately 40%. Seminal beta-endorphin showed significant correlation with the sperm concentration （r = 0.699, P = 0.0188） and nonsignificant correlation with its serum level （r = 0.375, P = 0.185） or with the sperm motility percentage （r = 0.470, P = 0.899）. Conclusion： The estimation of beta-endorphin alone is not conclusive to evaluate male reproduction as there are many other opiates acting at the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis.

Detecting Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) Infestation Using a Target Recognition Algorithm

The outbreaks of invasive plant species can cause great ecological and agronomic problems through aggressively competing for environmental resources that could be otherwise utilized by other desirable species. Thus, it is crucial for detecting small infestations before they reach a significant extent that can cause ecological and economic damages over a large geological area. Remote sensing is a proven method for mapping invasion extent and pattern based on geospatial imagery and indicated great repeatability, large coverage area, and lower cost compared with traditional ground-based methods before. We investigated the feasibility and performances of adopting multispectral satellite imagery analyses for mapping infestation of musk thistle (Carduus nutans) on native grassland, crop field, and residential areas in early June using spectral angle mapper classifier. Our results showed an overall classification accuracy of 94.5%, indicating great potential of using moderate resolution multispectral satellite-based remote sensing techniques for musk thistle detection over a large spatial scale.

Response of different corn populations to fertigated nitrogen and certain micronutrients in sandy soil

A field study was conducted during 2008 and 2009 at El-Khattara farm station, Zagazig Uni-versity, Sharkyia, Egypt (30°36' N, 32°15' E) to determine the effect of three N rates (214, 273, and 333 kg N ha-1), four micronutrients spray treatments (Check, Zn, Mn, and Zn + Mn), and three planting density levels ( 4.76, 5.71, and 6.66 plant m-2) on growth and grain yield of corn (Zea mays, L). The soil was sandy (Entisols) and groundwater was used for irrigation. Response to N was maximized to 214 kg ha-1 without a significant effect on most growth traits and grain yield. Agronomic efficiency of N use for grain yield was negatively related to N rate (r2 = 0.49). Application of micronutrients had no ef-fect on most growth and yield characters except a significant increase by 9.5, 8.7, and 9 % in plant weight (g plant-1), biomass yield (kg m-2), and N agronomic efficiency for biomass yield, respectively. Growth was decreased by in-creasing plant density without affecting harvest index, agronomic efficiency, biomass yield, and grain yield. The application of Zn to the highest maize plant density increased grain yield by 16 % as compared to the check. It is recommended, as predicated by the linear model, that N ferti-gation rate should be around 220 kg ha-1 with plant density of 6.66 plant m-2 accompanied by Zn application for maximum irrigated corn grain yield in sandy soil. Abbreviations: DAS, days after sowing;LA, leaf area;LAI, leaf area index;RPP, relative photosynthetic potential;HI, har-vest index;BW, plant weight g plant-1, GYP, grain yield g plant-1, BYM, biomass yield kg m-2, GYM, grain yield kg m-2, NAE, nitrogen agro-nomic efficiency.

Association of serum levels of transforming growth factor β1 with disease severity in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim: Transforming growth factor (TGF) is overexpressed by tumor cells like other proteins and growth factors. TGF-β1 is then activated in the extracellular compartment but is unable to control cell proliferation because of the absence or low level of TGF-β1 receptors on the plasma membrane of malignant hepatocytes. This potential mechanism might interrupt the autocrine regulation loop of TGF-β1 and its blocking effect on cell proliferation. TGF-β1 is a multifunctional cytokine involved in the regulation of growth and differentiation of both normal and transformed cells. This study aimed to evaluate the association of serum levels of TGF-β1 with disease severity. Methods: A total of 180 subjects were classified into 6 groups according to Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) classification, 30 patients each:early (BCLC 0 and A), intermediate (BCLC B), advanced stage (BCLC C), and terminal stage (BCLC D) of hepatocellular carcinoma as well as 1 group of patients with cirrhosis only and 1 control group. Serum levels of TGFβ1 were measured. Results: Serum levels of TGF-β1 were significantly higher in patients with HCC (1,687.47 ± 1,462.81 pg/mL) than cirrhotics (487.98 ± 344.23 pg/mL, P < 0.001) and controls (250.16 ± 284.61 pg/mL, P <0.001). Conclusion: TGF-β1 may have a role in tumor growth and progression.