Objectives: This cadaveric study was conducted to evaluate the morphometric and histological aspects of atheromatous plaque formation in abdominal aortas and their branches and their associated morphological variations, if present, characterized by loops, kinking, or tortuosity.
Methods: The study was performed using 30 human cadavers (approx. 65-75 years). Frequency of occurrence of calcified plaques in the abdominal aorta and its branches and their morphometric measurements were noted and histological features were observed with the aid of Hematoxylin & Eosin staining.
Results: Variations in the abdominal aorta and the common iliac artery were observed in 16.6% of specimens. Atheromatous plaque formation was seen in 2 specimens (1 specimen was associated with kinking) while in 3 other specimens only variation in normal structure (kinking/ tortuous artery) was observed. Histological analysis showed foamy macrophages and dense calcification, giving an atheromatous appearance.
Conclusions: Cadaveric reports of the location, nature, and degree of plaque formation in the abdominal aorta and its branches are extremely important in clinical settings and for choosing treatment options.
METHODS: The present study consisted of 50 lower limbs from formalin-fixed male adult cadavers aged about 70 years (45-85) belonging to the South Indian population. Total length of the quadriceps tendon, patellar height, patellar ligament height, proximal width, distal width and thickness of the patellar ligament were measured meticulously. Mean, standard deviation, median scores of each parameter were computed for groups using SPSS 16.0. Level of significance was considered as p
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive search of the Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted using a specific query string to identify studies examining the impact of VR on ART outcomes, including fertilization rate, clinical pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and live-birth rate, until October 2023. Outcomes were analyzed based on the type of ART. Studies on VR in infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia and those who underwent ART only due to female factor infertility were excluded from the study.
RESULTS: Out of 1,554 articles reviewed, only 9 met the inclusion criteria for the study. All the included articles were observational studies. The variability in study quality in the included literature resulted in a moderate overall risk of bias. Data analysis showed that for intrauterine insemination, there was no difference in the clinical pregnancy rate (odds ratio [OR] 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42, 2.45; p=0.97). However, for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), men with VR showed a significant improvement in fertilization rate (mean difference 10.9, 95% CI: 5.94, 15.89; p<0.01), clinical pregnancy rate (OR 1.38, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.78; p=0.01) and live-birth rate (OR 2.07, 95% CI: 1.45, 2.97; p<0.01), compared to men who did not undergo VR.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that VR has a positive impact on pregnancy and live birth rates after ICSI. However, biases like small sample sizes and heterogeneous populations highlight the need for larger, well-designed prospective studies to validate these findings.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was performed using the Scopus and PubMed databases on studies that investigated testicular OS markers and sperm parameters in animals with varicocele. The primary outcomes included malondialdehyde (MDA) (nmol/mg) levels whereas the secondary outcomes included total sperm count (×106), sperm vitality (%), total sperm motility (%), and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) (%). Standardized mean difference (SMD) (95% confidence interval [CI]) was chosen to express the effect size. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cambridge Quality Checklist.
RESULTS: Out of 76 identified articles, 6 studies on rats were included in the meta-analysis. The analysis showed a significant increase of MDA (SMD: 15.61 [1.93, 29.29]; p=0.03) in rats with varicocele vs. controls. We also observed a significant decrease in total sperm count (SMD: -17.45 [-28.97, -5.93]; p<0.01), sperm vitality (SMD: -16.41 [-26.30, -6.52]; p<0.01), total sperm motility (SMD: -17.67 [-24.90, -10.44]; p<0.01), and a significant increase of SDF (SMD: 7.41 [1.23, 13.59]; p=0.02), in rats with varicocele vs. controls. The quality of the included studies was ranked as high.
CONCLUSIONS: This SRMA indicates a significant increase in levels of testicular MDA and SDF and a reduction of sperm quality in experimental animals with varicocele. These findings support the potential role of testicular OS in the development of varicocele-induced testicular damage.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the extent and nature of television food and nonalcoholic beverage marketing in 9 Asian countries (Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam) with capacity building support from the International Network for Food and Obesity/Non-Communicable Disease Research, Monitoring and Action Support, who enabled harmonization of data collection method and content analyses.
METHODS: Advertised foods were categorized as permitted or not permitted based on the nutrient profile models established by the World Health Organization regional offices for South-East Asia (SEARO) and the World Health Organization regional offices for Western Pacific (WPRO). Overall rates of food advertisements (advertisements per hour per channel) and persuasive strategy use were analyzed along with comparisons between children's peak viewing time (PVT) and non-PVT.
RESULTS: Cross-country comparisons, irrespective of country income level, indicated that not permitted food advertising dominated children's popular television channels, especially during PVT with rates as per WPRO or SEARO criteria ranging from 2.40/2.29 (Malaysia) to 9.70/9.41 advertisements per hour per channel (the Philippines). Persuasive strategy rates were also comparatively higher during PVT. Sugar-sweetened beverages, sugar-containing solid foods, and high salt- and fat-containing snacks and fast foods were frequently advertised. Evaluation of the application of WPRO and SEARO nutrient profile models identified inconsistencies due to regional taste and cuisine variations across Asia.
CONCLUSIONS: This study clearly showed that unhealthy food marketing through popular children's television channels is widely occurring in Asia and is a clear breach of child rights. Evidence outcomes will benefit advocacy toward stronger policy regulations to control unhealthy food marketing and strengthen strategies to promote a healthier food environment for Asia's children.