Anomalous branching pattern of common hepatic artery: a case report

A number of hepatic artery variations exists which is continuously proving a hindrance for the surgeons and radiologists. During routine dissection in the subhepatic region in 50 year old male cadaver for undergraduate teaching, a variation in the branching pattern of common hepatic artery was noticed. We observed an unusual branching of the common hepatic artery into seven terminal branches, of which two were left hepatic arteries, two were right gastric arteries and the remaining three were right hepatic artery, cystic artery and gastroduodenal artery. Hepatic artery proper was absent. Embryological basis of these variations were discussed. The present case is a rarity and will further throw light on the knowledge of the hepatic artery variations, thus assisting surgeons and radiologists in various surgical and diagnostic procedures

Management of a massive thoracoabdominal impalement: a case report

A 26 year old male was impaled through his chest and upper abdomen with an iron angle, one and half meter long and five centimeters thick. The iron angle entered the chest, through the epigastrium and exited posteriorly just inferior to the angle of left scapula. The patient was transported to hospital with the iron angle in situ. Positioning the patient for intubation proved a major challenge. An unconventional position for intubation allowed a successful airway management. Paucity of time prevented us from gauging the nature and extent of injury. The challenges posed by massive impalement could be successfully managed due to rapid pre-hospital transfer and co-ordinated team effort

Evaluation of susceptibility testing methods for polymyxin

SummaryBackgroundThe widespread resistance in Gram-negative bacteria has necessitated evaluation of the use of older antimicrobials such as polymyxins. In the present study we evaluated the different susceptibility testing methods for polymyxins B and E against Gram-negative bacteria using the new Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines.MethodsThe susceptibility of 281 multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) to polymyxin B was evaluated, comparing broth microdilution (BMD; reference method), agar dilution, E-test, and disk diffusion. Disk diffusion testing of polymyxin B was also performed against 723 MDR GNB.ResultsTwenty-four of 281 (8.5%) isolates were found to be resistant to polymyxin B by the reference BMD method. The rates of very major errors for agar dilution and E-test (for polymyxin B) were 0.7% and 1%, respectively, and those for disk diffusion (for polymyxin B and polymyxin E) were 1% and 0.7%, respectively. For the 257 isolates found sensitive by reference BMD, the rates of major errors by agar dilution and E-test (for polymyxin B) were 2.4% and 0%, respectively, and those for disk diffusion (polymyxin B and polymyxin E) were 0% and 0.7%, respectively. Twenty-six (3.6%) of the 723 Gram-negative isolates were resistant to polymyxin B by disk diffusion.ConclusionThe E-test and agar dilution methods showed good concordance with BMD. The disk diffusion method can be useful for initial screening in diagnostic laboratories

PRMT Blockade Induces Defective DNA Replication Stress Response and Synergizes with PARP Inhibition

Multiple cancers exhibit aberrant protein arginine methylation by both type I arginine methyltransferases, predominately protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) and to a lesser extent PRMT4, and by type II PRMTs, predominately PRMT5. Here, we perform targeted proteomics following inhibition of PRMT1, PRMT4, and PRMT5 across 12 cancer cell lines. We find that inhibition of type I and II PRMTs suppresses phosphorylated and total ATR in cancer cells. Loss of ATR from PRMT inhibition results in defective DNA replication stress response activation, including from PARP inhibitors. Inhibition of type I and II PRMTs is synergistic with PARP inhibition regardless of homologous recombination function, but type I PRMT inhibition is more toxic to non-malignant cells. Finally, we demonstrate that the combination of PARP and PRMT5 inhibition improves survival in both BRCA-mutant and wild-type patient-derived xenografts without toxicity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PRMT5 inhibition may be a well-tolerated approach to sensitize tumors to PARP inhibition

Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Thermal Analysis, Electrochemistry and Superoxide Scavenging Activity of a New Bimetallic Copper(II) Complex

A new bimetallic copper(II) complex has been synthesized with ligand obtained by the condensation of salicylaldehyde and the amine derived from reduction of nitration product of benzil. The ligand was characterized by 1H NMR and mass spectra, and the binuclear Copper(II) complex was characterized by vibrational and electronic spectra, EPR spectra, and magnetic moment measurement. Thermogravimetric analysis study and electrochemical study of the complex were also done. The complex was found to show superoxide dismutase activity

Electrochemistry and Superoxide Scavenging Activity of a New Bimetallic Copper(II) Complex

A new bimetallic copper(II) complex has been synthesized with ligand obtained by the condensation of salicylaldehyde and the amine derived from reduction of nitration product of benzil. e ligand was characterized by 1 H NMR and mass spectra, and the binuclear Copper(II) complex was characterized by vibrational and electronic spectra, EPR spectra, and magnetic moment measurement. ermogravimetric analysis study and electrochemical study of the complex were also done. e complex was found to show superoxide dismutase activity

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Mineral and Labile Organic Nitrogen Fractions in Soil Profile and Their Response to FYM and Inorganic Fertilization in Different Growth Stages of Rice Crop

Nitrogen is the key element among the major nutrients in crop production. The mineralizable soil organic nitrogen is the main contributors of soil N supply. A better understanding of soil organic nitrogen dynamics in agro-ecosystems is needed to improve N management. The present investigation was conducted in Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Assam Agricultural University, Titabar, Jorhat during 2017-18. In this study, the impact of Farmyard Manure (FYM) and inorganic fertilization on soil mineral nitrogen (NO3−-N and NH4+-N) dynamics and labile organic nitrogen fractions viz. microbial biomass N (MBN), particulate organic N (PON) and water-extractable organic N (WEON) at three growth stages of rice viz. active tillering, flowering and physiological maturity stages and nitrogen stock were assessed. Six treatments viz. control (no fertilization), 100% NPK, 100% NPK + FYM 5 t ha-1, 50% NPK, 50% NPK + 50% N through FYM and FYM 10 t ha-1 were tested in randomized block design with four replications. The results showed that NO3−-N and NH4+-N were found to be significantly higher in 100% NPK+FYM 5 t ha-1 at the three growth stages of rice. The labile organic nitrogen fractions were significantly higher in FYM 10 t ha-1. All these variables were decreased with increase in crop growth stages. Integrated use of inorganic fertilizer and FYM recorded the highest nitrogen stock. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that NH4+-N was the main contributor to nitrogen stocks at the three growth stages of rice of the studied soils

Scientifically approved super-foods for boosted immunity and healthy living: A review

Super-foods are traditionally known to prevent the onset of various diseases by delivering bioactive ingredients which have specific biological activity in the human body. Super-foods are similar to processed functional foods like fortified and enriched milk, omega-3-fatty acid enriched fruit juices and probiotic yoghurts. However, super-foods are natural alternatives and have been consumed by mankind since time immemorial. New scientific findings have suggested that these super-foods do have various health benefits due to the presence of multiple beneficial phytoconstituents which aid in the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases by reinforcing the immune system. When included as a part of a balanced diet, these super-foods can help to prevent diseases by improving the immune system thereby avoiding the requirement of complex and invasive treatment therapies. Traditionally consumed in various parts of the world, these pocket powerhouses of nutrition have become a raging trend in developed countries like United States and Europe due to the increased accessibility to the information of the beneficial properties of super-foods. This brief review provides a concise and crisp database of the beneficial properties of six such super-foods which are backed by concrete scientific evidence and research performed over the last two decades

Comparison of cellular and humoral responses to recombinant protein and synthetic peptides of exon2 region of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein1 (PfEMP1) among malaria patients from an endemic region

Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) expressed on the surface of parasitized red blood cells (PRBCs) mediate adhesion of PRBCs to host vascular endothelial receptors and is considered responsible for pathogenesis of severe P. falciparum malaria. The present study was undertaken to measure cellular immune responses and serum antibody responses against recombinant exon2 protein, the most conserved region of PfEMP1, and its synthetic peptides. T cell recognizing this domain could provide universal help to B cells in recognizing variant epitopes located in the extracellular region of PfEMP1. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from malaria-exposed immune adults (IA), malaria patients with varying severity, and malaria unexposed healthy donors were stimulated with recombinant exon2 protein and six synthetic peptides from its sequence to estimate the proliferative, IFN-γ, and IL-4 responses. Antibody responses against these synthetic peptides and exon2 protein were also studied. Positive proliferative, IFN-γ, and IL-4 responses in IA group each were 60% with recombinant exon2 protein and 27-47% with different synthetic peptides. Antibody recognition was observed in 67% with exon2 and between 40 and 53% with different peptides. In malaria patients, frequency and magnitude of proliferative response, IL-4 concentration, and antibody recognition were far less than immune adults but IFN-γ response was almost similar. Proportion of positive responders and the magnitude of response to synthetic peptides were low. Also, there was no consistency in response of different peptides towards proliferative, cytokine, and antibody responses in IA and malaria patient groups except for peptide 1. We presume peptide 1 is a potential vaccine candidate and different cocktails containing peptide 1 are being evaluated for their T cell immunogenicity