SUMMARY: To our best knowledge, most of the craniometric studies on the normal craniocervical junction (CCJ), are still poorly studied and based on measurements taken from plain radiographs. In this study, the authors conducted a craniometric evaluation of the CCJ in a population without known CCJ abnormalities. The purpose of the study was to assess the normal CCJ craniometry based on measures obtained from CT scans. The authors examined 137 consecutive CCJ CT scans obtained in patients evaluated at their hospital for treatment of non-CCJ conditions between 2018 and 2019. Twelve craniometrical dimensions were conducted, including the relation of the odontoid with the cranial base, the atlantodental interval (ADI), the clivus length, and the clivus-canal angle (CCA).

RESUMEN: Hasta donde sabemos, aun son escasos y pocos los estudios craneométricos respecto a la unión craneocervical normal (UCCN) y estos se basan en mediciones tomadas de radiografías simples. En este estudio, realizamos una evaluación craneométrica de la UCCN en una población sin anomalías conocidas. El propósito del estudio fue evaluar la craneometría UCCN normal en función de las medidas obtenidas de las tomografías computarizadas. Los autores examinaron 137 tomografías computarizadas UCCN consecutivas obtenidas en pacientes evaluados en su hospital para el tratamiento de condiciones no UCCN entre los años 2018 y 2019. Se realizaron doce dimensiones craneométricas, incluida la relación del proceso odontoides con la base del cráneo, el intervalo atlantodental (ADI), la longitud del clivus y el ángulo clivus-canal (CCA).

ABSTRACT Objective: Developing anti-cancer drugs from natural products is receiving increasing interest worldwide due to limitations and side effects of anti-cancer drugs. The purpose of this study was to explore the anti-proliferative or cytopathic potential of natural compounds derived from plant sources as alternatives of synthetic compounds on human embryonic kidney carcinoma (HEK) cell line. Methods: In this study, aqueous and methanolic extracts were obtained from various plants, viz, Thapsia garganica, Citrus sinesis, Citrus limon and Vinca rosea. Extracts were serially diluted into 96-well microtitre plates and were screened for anti-proliferative potential against the HEK cell line via the neutral red dye uptake assay. Results: The findings revealed that methanolic extracts of T. garganica leaf and V. rosea leaf were the most effective as anti-proliferative or cytotoxic against the HEK cell line, with IC50 at 32-fold dilution of the extract. Conclusion: The extracts of T. garganic and V, rosea have been used as anti-proliferative drugs but after trial in experimental animals for being not toxic.

Uma solução analítica das três equações de difusão advecção-dimensional foi formulada para simular a dispersão de poluentes na camada limite planetária. A solução baseia-se no pressuposto de que a distribuição da concentração de poluentes na direção do vento lateral tem uma forma Gaussiana e com velocidade do vento constante. A solução analítica foi obtida para dois casos, onde a difusividade turbulenta vertical é levada para ser dependente: (a) somente da distância a favor do vento x e (b) apenas da altura vertical z. A deposição seca de partículas de difusão no solo é levada em conta em todas as condições de contorno. As fórmulas analíticas resultantes foram utilizadas para calcular a concentração de I-131, usando os dados coletados a partir dos experimentos realizados para coletar amostras de ar em torno do reactor de investigação. Medidas estatísticas são utilizadas na comparação entre as concentrações previstas e as observadas. Os resultados são discutidos e apresentados em tabelas e figuras ilustrativas.

An analytical solution of the three dimensional advection-diffusion equations has been formulated to simulate the dispersion of pollutants in the planetary boundary layer. The solution is based on the assumption that the concentration distribution of pollutants in the crosswind direction has a Gaussian shape and the wind speed is constant. The analytical solution has been obtained in two cases where, the vertical eddy diffusivity is taken to be dependent on: (a) the downwind distance x only and (b) the vertical height z only. The dry deposition of the diffusing particles on the ground is taken into account throughout the boundary conditions. The resulting analytical formulae have been applied to calculate the concentration of I-131 using data collected from the experiments conducted to collect air samples around the Research Reactor. Statistical measures are utilized in the comparison between the predicted and observed concentrations. The results are discussed and presented in tables and illustrative figures.

Although it is a frequent accident in a few countries, scorpion envenomation during pregnancy remains scarcely studied. In the present study, the effects of repetitive maternal exposure to Buthus occitanus tunetanus venom are investigated and its possible embryotoxic consequences on rats. Primigravid rats received a daily intraperitoneal dose of 1 mL/kg of saline solution or 300 µg/kg of crude scorpion venom, from the 7th to the 13th day of gestation. On the 21st day, the animals were deeply anesthetized using diethyl-ether. Then, blood was collected for chemical parameter analysis. Following euthanasia, morphometric measurements were carried out. The results showed a significant increase in maternal heart and lung absolute weights following venom treatment. However, the mean placental weight per rat was significantly diminished. Furthermore, blood urea concentration was higher in exposed rats (6.97 ± 0.62 mmol/L) than in those receiving saline solution (4.94 ± 0.90 mmol/L). Many organs of venom-treated rat fetuses (brain, liver, kidney and spleen) were smaller than those of controls. On the contrary, fetal lungs were significantly heavier in fetuses exposed to venom (3.2 ± 0.4 g) than in the others (3.0 ± 0.2 g). Subcutaneous blood clots, microphthalmia and total body and tail shortening were also observed in venom-treated fetuses. It is concluded that scorpion envenomation during pregnancy potentially causes intrauterine fetal alterations and growth impairment.