Role of cytokines in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion

Mediators of myocardial inflammation, predominantly cytokines, have for many years been implicated in the healing processes after infarction. In recent years, however, more attention has been paid to the possibility that the inflammation may result in deleterious complications for myocardial infarction. The proinflammatory cytokines may mediate myocardial dysfunction associated with myocardial infarction, severe congestive heart failure, and sepsis. A growing body of literature suggests that inflammatory mediators could play a crucial role in ischemia–reperfusion injury. Furthermore, ischemia–reperfusion not only results in the local transcriptional and translational upregulation of cytokines but also leads to tissue infiltration by inflammatory cells. These inflammatory cells are a ready source of a variety of cytokines which could be lethal for the cardiomyocytes. At the cellular level it has been shown that hypoxia causes a series of well documented changes in cardiomyocytes that includes loss of contractility, changes in lipid metabolism and subsequent irreversible cell membrane damage leading to cell death. For instance, hypoxic cardiomyocytes produce interleukin-6 (IL-6) which could contribute to the myocardial dysfunction observed in ischemia reperfusion injury. Ischemia followed by reperfusion induces a number of other multi-potent cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) as well as an angiogenic cytokine/ growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in the heart. Intrestingly, these multipotent cytokines (e.g. TNF-α) may induce an adaptive cytoprotective response in the reperfused myocardium. In this review, we have included a number of cytokines that may contribute to ventricular dysfunction and/or to the cytoprotective and adaptive changes in the reperfused heart

Beneficiation of High Ash Non-Coking Coal from Vasundhra Mines, Odisha

Coal is the vital energy fuel world-over, statistically contributing to 55% of installed energy generation capacity during the calendar year 2011 and it plays a pivotal role in the macro- economic development of the country. India has definitive coal reserves estimated by the Ministry of Coal at 93 billion tonnes, which is estimated to suffice and cater to energy generation requirement of the country, spanning over 30 to 60 years with proper scientific exploitation. However, Indian coal has been observed to be of low quality on account of its high ash content attribute and the high ash non-coking category coal constitutes sizeable quantity of near-gravity materials (NGM), which entails beneficiation to suit end-user or application specific qualitative level. The present manuscript demonstrates the beneficiation of high ash non-coking coal from Vasundhara mines, with 57% ash content intended for scaling down the ash content to 25% in obtaining clean coal at a reasonable yield, deploying physical beneficiation techniques. The coal was characterised thoroughly in terms of petrographic characteristics, size analysis, washability and chemical composition and the gross calorific value of the coal was observed to be 3221 Kcal/kg. The processing was initiated at a top size of 6.3 mm after initial deshaling of the ROM coal on account of its high ash content. Tactical combination of gravity separation and flotation techniques yielded clean coal with 25% ash at 40% yield and an intermediate clean product with 49% ash at 12% yield. The low ash content in the final clean coal is possibly achievable from the combined clean coal with 25% ash content adopting chemical beneficiation route

Deep Neck Space Infections-A Study in Diabetic Population in a Tertiary Care Centre

© 2017, Association of Otolaryngologists of India. This study is intended to analyze the clinical profile and outcomes of deep neck space infection in diabetic patients in our tertiary care centre. A prospective study of 1 year duration from 30th September 2015 to 30th September 2016 at department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati. A total of 45 diabetic patients who presented with DNSI are included in this study. Their demographic profile, etiology, bacteriology, treatment, duration of hospital stay, complications and outcomes have been analyzed. 45 patients were recorded; 32 (71.11%) were men, and 13 (45%) were women, with a mean age of 63.27 ± 7.55 years. There were 30 patients (66.67%) who had associated systemic diseases apart from diabetes mellitus. The parapharyngeal space in 13 patients (28.89%) was the most commonly involved space. Odontogenic infections in 18 patients (40%) and upper airway infections 9 patients (20%) were the two most common causes. Klebsiella pneumonia in 29 patients (64.44%), was the commonest organism isolated through pus cultures. All the patients except one (97.78%) came with abscess and underwent surgical drainage. One patient (2.22%) with carbuncle underwent regular dressing. Six patients (13.33%) had major complications. Those patients with other underlying systemic diseases or complications tended to have a longer hospital stay and were older. No cases of death has been reported. (mortality rate, 0%). DNSI patients with diabetes have a more severe clinical course. They are likely to have complications more frequently and a longer duration of hospital stay. In clinical practices while dealing with these patients more vigilance is required. On admission empirical antibiotics should cover K. pneumonia. Early surgical drainage remains the main method of treatment. Primary prevention can be achieved by orodental hygiene, regular dental check ups and in this part of the country by avoidance of substance abuse like tobacco chewing

Long-term impacts of integrated nutrient management with equivalent nutrient doses to mineral fertilization on soil organic carbon sequestration in a sub-tropical Alfisol of India

Limited evidence is available on carbon sequestration potential of long-term integrated nutrient management (INM) versus mineral fertilization, when equivalent amounts of nutrients were added. Hence, this study was carried out to understand the impact of 60 years of INM with adjusted nutrient doses and mineral fertilization in an Alfisol in a maize (Zea maysL.)-wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) system on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in surface (0-30 cm) and deep (30-60 cm) soil layers. Conventional tillage was done twice before sowing of both maize and wheat using a spade. In farmyard manure (FYM) and lime treated plots (FYMP'K'L: plots with nitrogen (N) applied in terms of FYM; additional dose of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) and lime) total SOC concentration was nearly 83% higher than unfertilized control plots. The FYMP'K'L plots had similar to 11% more total SOC concentration than plots treated with mineral fertilizer and lime (NPKL: recommended dose of N, P, K and lime) in the 0-30 cm soil layer. Labile C, including KMnO4-C, was more in plots with FYM than NPKL plots, whereas the recalcitrant C stock was more in NPKL than FYM treated plots. In the 0-60 cm soil layer, the labile C stock was highest in FYMP'K'L plots, but the recalcitrant C stock was highest in NPKL. Total SOC accumulation rate (over unfertilized control plots) was highest for FYMP'K'L plots (0.38 Mg ha(-1 )year(-1)) in the surface soil layer, whereas SOC sequestration rate was highest in NPKL plots (0.18 Mg ha(-1 )year(-1)) in the deep layer and in the 0-60 cm layer. Overall, although NPKL management practice had the highest C sequestration in the 0-60 cm layer, FYMP'K'L had the best CMI and labile C pools. Thus, resource poor farmers need not to use full doses of NPK and FYM for soil C management in the region

Human papillomavirus DNA sequences in adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix in Indian women

Background: Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered to be the principal causal agent in the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Although adenocarcinoma of the cervix originates adjacent to the squamous epithelial neoplastic lesions, the etiopathogenesis of adenocarcinoma is not yet clearly understood. Recent studies have raised more controversy, rather than answering the question of whether specific HPV infection also plays a role in the development of adenocarcinoma of the cervix. Molecular DNA hybridization techniques were used to detect HPV types prevalent in both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, which is the most common cancer in Indian women. Methods: Histologically confirmed, formaldehydefixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 12 cases of adenocarcinoma and 30 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were analyzed retrospectively or the presence of HPV DNA types 6b, 11, 16, and 18 by Southern blot hybridization and in situ hybridization. Results: Of 12 adenocarcinomas, 5 (41.67%) tumors were positive for HPV DNA. All five cases were positive for HPV 16, and two (16.6%) of these were hybridized again to the HPV 18-specific DNA probe. All tumors were negative for HPV 6b and 11. In addition, no biopsy specialnens were positive after hybridization with a mixed probe of HPV 31, 33, 35, 39, and 45. These results were compared to those obtained for 30 squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix. Although 20 (66%) were exclusively positive for HPV 16 and 6 (20%), more tumors were of HPV 16 related types as detected under nonstringent conditions of hybridization, only one (3%) was positive for HPV 18. The results of in situ hybridization were found to be in good agreement with those of Southern blotting. Conclusions: HPV 16 is the type present almost exclusively in squamous cell carcinoma of Indian women. A higher frequency of HPV 16 in adenocarcinoma of Indian women, in contrast to HPV 18, as reported from other regions, may be attributed to geographic variation rather than to histologic differences only, and both HPV 16 and 18 may be present in adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix

Some noteworthy and new records of Liverworts from Barail Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, India

Barail Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) is situated in Southern Assam, India between the coordinates 24°58? – 25°5?N and 92°46? – 92°52?E covering an area of about 326.24 sq. km. During subsequent explorations in the present study on the liverworts of Barail Wildlife Sanctuary, a total of 14 species have been recorded as new for the state of Assam; 12 species have been found rare within the study area; four species have been recorded as threatened due to various natural and anthropogenic factors and eight species have been found which are endemic to India.

Practical, Ecofriendly, and Chemoselective Method for the Synthesis of 2-Aryl-1-arylmethyl- 1H-benzimidazoles Using Amberlite IR-120 as a Reusable Heterogeneous Catalyst in Aqueous Media

A simple, efficient, and environmentally benign method has been developed for the exclusive formation of biologically significant 2-aryl-1- arylmethyl-1H-benzimidazoles under the heterogeneous catalysis of Amberlite IR-120 in aqueous media in excellent yields. The catalyst is recyclable without loss of activity

Pattern of regional metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer: our experience of 86 cases

Background: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) have a high propensity for regional metastasis which ranges from 30- 80%. The objective of the study is to assess the pattern of lymph node metastasis and to plan the extent of neck dissection accordingly. Though central neck dissection (CND) is routinely done in PTC but the indication of extent of  neck dissection is still controversial.Methods: The medical records of   86 patients with PTC  who underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) and neck dissection at Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute(BBCI) from January 2010 to  December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.Results: Out of 86 patients 22 were males and 64 were females. The median age of presentation was 40.0 years. 43 out of 86 patients (50%) had cervical lymph node metastasis. Ipsilateral nodal metastasis was found in 37 patients (43.0%) and contralateral metastasis was found in only 6 patients (7.0%).Tumors with size more than 3cm had ipsilateral nodal metastasis in 21(56.7%) patients which is statistically significant (p 0.03).A strong association was found between level VI and the ipsilateral group of lymph nodes involving level II,III,IV and V.Conclusions: Majority of patients present with multiple level nodal metastasis, with the central compartment commonly involved. In view of the high incidence of metastatic lymph nodes in levels II, III, IV and level VI ,our study  supports the recommendation  for posterolateral  and anterior  neck dissection in patients with clinically positive neck  nodes and tumor with aggressive criteria

MR texture analysis in differentiating renal cell carcinoma from Lipid-poor angiomyolipoma and oncocytoma

OBJECTIVES: To assess the utility of Magnetic resonance texture analysis (MRTA) in differentiating renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from lipid-poor angiomyolipoma (lpAML) and oncocytoma. METHODS: After ethical approval, 42 patients with 54 masses (34 RCC, 14 lpAML and six oncocytomas) who underwent MRI on a 1.5 T scanner (Avanto, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) between January 2011 and December 2012 were retrospectively included in the study. MRTA was performed on the TexRAD research software (Feedback Plc., Cambridge, UK) using free-hand polygonal region of interest (ROI) drawn on the maximum cross-sectional area of the tumor to generate six first-order statistical parameters. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to look for any statically significant difference. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was done to select the parameter with the highest class separation capacity [area under the curve (AUC)] for each MRI sequence. RESULTS: Several texture parameters on MRI showed high class separation capacity (AUC > 0.8) in differentiating RCC from lpAML and oncocytoma. The best performing parameter in differentiating RCC from lpAML was mean of positive pixels (MPP) at SSF 2 (AUC: 0.891) on DWI b500. In differentiating RCC from oncocytoma, the best parameter was mean at SSF 0 (AUC: 0.935) on DWI b1000. CONCLUSIONS: MRTA could potentially serve as a useful non-invasive tool for differentiating RCC from lpAML and oncocytoma. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: There is limited literature addressing the role of MRTA in differentiating RCC from lpAML and oncocytoma. Our study demonstrated several texture parameters which were useful in this regard