Diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in detecting depth of invasion of tongue cancers

The recent eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system has introduced depth of invasion (DOI) as one of its important components. DOI is also important for deciding neck management in superficial tongue cancers. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is mainly used to assess DOI, and in this study we have evaluated the efficacy of MRI to detect it. This is a retrospective study consisting of 60 treatment-naïve tongue cancer patients operated on between July 2017 and June 2019. Patients underwent MR imaging on an Optima MR450W 1.5T unit, and MRI was reported by two experienced ead and eck adiologistss. Postoperative histological DOI was considered the gold standard. The correlation coefficient was derived for postoperative DOI and MRI-detected DOI. A subgroup analysis of superficial tongue cancer was also done. The mean MRI DOI was 13.7 mm and the mean histological DOI 12.45 mm. The shrinkage factor was 0.6 mm. Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.80 (p=<0.001) for Radiologist 1 and 0.85 (p=<0.001) for Radiologist 2. The interobserver variation was low, with a correlation coefficient between the two radiologists of 0.965 (p=<0.001). For superficial tongue cancers there was moderate correlation for MRI and histologically-detected DOI with a kappa value of 0.681 (p=0.03). As per the ROC curve, the cut-off value for MRI DOI to predict nodal metastasis was 4.6 mm. MRI has high reliability to predict the DOI of tongue cancers. The interobserver variation was low. The diagnostic accuracy in cases of superficial tongue cancer was moderate.

Reasons and correlates of contraceptive discontinuation in Kuwait

OBJECTIVES

(1) To examine the probability of discontinuation of various methods within 1, 2, and three years of use and the reasons for discontinuation; 2) to analyse the socio-demographic correlates of discontinuation.

METHODS

Data from a survey of Kuwaiti women in reproductive ages conducted in 1999 were used. Information on duration of use of modern and traditional methods, and reasons for discontinuation during the 72 months before the survey were analysed. Probabilities of discontinuation were estimated through multiple decrement life table analysis.

RESULTS

After 1 year, 30% of modern and 40% of traditional method users had discontinued; after 3 years, discontinuation increased to 66 and 70%, respectively. After 36 months, only 40% of IUD users discontinued compared with 74% of oral contraceptive users. The desire to become pregnant was the leading reason for discontinuation of most modern methods, while method failure was an equally important reason for traditional methods. Discontinuation was significantly more frequent among higher parity, non-working and Bedouin women, and among those who said Islam disapproves of contraception.

DISCUSSION

Contraception is used largely for spacing. More than two-thirds of the women studied had discontinued most methods after three years, except the IUD, which was used only by about 10% of them. Traditional methods are often discontinued due to method failure and may result in an unintended pregnancy. Better counselling is warranted for traditional methods. Health care for managing side effects of modern methods also needs improvement.

Occurrence & detection of AmpC beta-lactamases at a referral hospital in Karnataka

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

AmpC beta-lactamases confer resistance to a wide variety of beta-lactam drugs except for cefepime, cefpirome and carbapenems. They are known to be responsible for nosocomial outbreaks, therapeutic failures and multidrug resistance. Although reported with increasing frequency the true rate of occurrence of these beta-lactamases in Enterobacteriaceae is not known. Hence the present study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of AmpC enzymes among clinical isolates.

METHODS

A total of 520 consecutive, non-repeat clinical isolates were included in the present study. Twenty eight strains resistant to cefoxitin were tested for AmpC beta-lactamases by the modified 3-dimensional extract method. Isolates harbouring AmpC beta-lactamases were tested for inducible beta-lactamases by disc diffusion.

RESULTS

Sixteen (3.3%) isolates were positive for AmpC beta-lactamases. Based on the species 9 (3.3%) Escherichia coli, 4 (2.2%) Klebsiella pneumoniae, 2 (5%) Citrobacter freundii and 1 (5.5%) isolate of Enterobacter aerogenes harboured AmpC enzymes. Nine (56.3%) of AmpC harbouring strains, were urinary isolates. All the isolates were sensitive to imipenem and variably sensitive to aminoglycosides and co-trimoxazole.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION

Our findings document the presence of AmpC enzymes in this region. Hence AmpC beta-lactamase detection should be undertaken in clinical isolates showing resistance to broad-spectrum cephalosporins.

A profile of contraceptive non-use in Kuwait: implications for health and health care

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the characteristics of women who have never used contraception, and do not intend to use it in the future; examine the factors affecting such behavior and intentions; and discuss their health implications.

METHODS

Survey data from a nationally representative random sample of Kuwaiti households, collected in a study conducted in 1999 and containing 1502 currently married women, were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Based on the present study, 19% of women had never used contraception and 50% were not using contraception when interviewed. Among current non-users, 42% did not intend to use contraception, and 31% were unsure about use during the following year. Negative attitudes of the respondents and their husbands were the critical factors in non-use and future intentions for non-use. Never-users were older (average age 37.8 years) and of higher parity (6.2) than other women.

CONCLUSION

Being older and of higher parity, never-users constitute a high-risk group that may be in need of counseling. Also, negative attitudes towards contraception need modification.

Violence against women migrant workers: issues, data and partial solutions

"Despite the creation of specific norms, procedures, and institutions to protect women migrant workers, serious gaps remain. Statistics for measuring violence are not compiled comprehensively or regularly. Two occupations that increase the risk of violence are domestic service and entertainment-related services. Migration through illegal channels and trafficking also increase the risk. This article suggests a list of indicators to measure violence of three major types: (1) economic, (2) social/psychological, and (3) physical/sexual. Evidence from several countries to document instances of violence is reviewed. Major policy issues for the sending and receiving countries are outlined, and some recommendations for addressing such violations are made."

Expression of rhodopsin and arrestin during the light-dark cycle in Drosophila

PURPOSE

To determine the protein and transcript levels for rhodopsin (Rh1), arrestin 1 (Arr1), and arrestin 2 (Arr2) over a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle in the retina of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. This information is important for understanding the process of photoreceptor membrane turnover.

METHODS

Drosophila were entrained for several generations to a daily 12 h light/12 h dark cycle. They were sacrificed at 4 h intervals, beginning at the time of onset of the light phase. Proteins were resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and subjected to immunoblot analysis using antibodies directed to rhodopsin, NinaA, Arr1, and Arr2. Northern blots were incubated with riboprobes corresponding to the rhodopsin gene (ninaE), arrestin1 (arr1), and arrestin2 (arr2).

RESULTS

In entrained Drosophila, protein and mRNA levels for rhodopsin, arrestin1, and arrestin2 were constant during a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that rhodopsin and arrestin protein synthesis in Drosophila photoreceptors do not fluctuate on a daily cycle. These findings are similar to those obtained in Xenopus laevis, but in contrast to a variety of other vertebrate and invertebrate species.

Role of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides in rhodopsin maturation and association with its molecular chaperone, NinaA

Many proteins require N-linked glycosylation for conformational maturation and interaction with their molecular chaperones. In Drosophila, rhodopsin (Rh1), the most abundant rhodopsin, is glycosylated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and requires its molecular chaperone, NinaA, for exit from the ER and transport through the secretory pathway. Studies of vertebrate rhodopsins have generated several conflicting proposals regarding the role of glycosylation in rhodopsin maturation. We investigated the role of Rh1 glycosylation and Rh1/NinaA interactions under in vivo conditions by analyzing transgenic flies expressing Rh1 with isoleucine substitutions at each of the two consensus sites for N-linked glycosylation (N20I and N196I). We show that Asn(20) is the sole site for glycosylation. The Rh1(N20I) protein is retained within the secretory pathway, causing an accumulation of ER cisternae and dilation of the Golgi complex. NinaA associates with nonglycosylated Rh1(N20I); therefore, retention of nonglycosylated rhodopsin within the ER is not due to the lack of Rh1(N20I)/NinaA interaction. We further show that Rh1(N20I) interferes with wild type Rh1 maturation and triggers a dominant form of retinal degeneration. We conclude that during maturation Rh1 is present in protein complexes containing NinaA and that Rh1 glycosylation is required for transport of the complexes through the secretory pathway. Failure of this transport process leads to retinal degeneration.

Chain migration through the social network: experience of labour migrants in Kuwait

Labour migration to the Gulf countries is predominantly contract based and a majority of workers fall below the salary ceiling necessary for sponsoring family members. Despite this, social networks have expanded in Kuwait, primarily in the form of sponsorship of additional labour migrants by those already in the country.

The objectives of the article are to describe how the process of arranging sponsorship works, to delineate the predictors of moving through a friend or relative, or arranging sponsorship for a subsequent labour migrant, and to assess the “multiplier” effect of the above process. The article is based on a survey among 800 South Asian skilled and unskilled male migrants, 200 each from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

About 34 per cent of all respondents moved through friends or relatives, 50 per cent through agents and 16 per cent through direct hiring or the government bureau. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the factors most likely to predict a move through the social network consisted of being a Pakistani or Indian, being a Muslim, and possessing some skills.

One‐quarter of all migrants had arranged the visa for another migrant since they came to Kuwait. Logistic regression analysis showed the respondent’s duration of stay in Kuwait to be an exceptionally important predictor for arranging sponsorship for an additional migrant.

Monthly income, being married and being a Muslim were also positively associated with arranging sponsorship. In terms of the multiplier effect, about 0.78 visas had been arranged per migrant. Pakistanis, who had the longest average duration of stay in Kuwait, arranged the maximum number (1.6) of visas on average.

Bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells cultured in vitro: growth characteristics, morphology, chromosomes, phagocytosis ability, tyrosinase activity and effect of freezing

We compared the bovine melanotic and amelanotic retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells cultivated in vitro using a number of parameters. Both cell types could be readily harvested from the eye by dissection or by enzyme treatment of the RPE. Both types of cells grew equally well in the primary culture, and in serial subcultures for over 600 days, and also after being stored frozen for over two months. The two types of cells were similar in their growth patterns, morphology, chromosome characteristics and phagocytic activity but they differed in their tyrosinase activity. Although in long-term cultures cells showed chromosome loss, a high proportion of the cells retained their normal diploid chromosome number (2n = 60) with apparently normal karyotype.