Biodiesel from Thevetia peruviana seed oil with dimethyl carbonate using as an active catalyst potassium-methoxide

The transesterification of Thevetia peruviana seed oil with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) for preparing biodiesel has been studied using as an active catalyst potassium-methoxide (KOCH3). The effects of reaction conditions: Molar ratio of dimethyl carbonate to Thevetia peruviana seed oil, catalyst concentration, reaction time and agitation speed on dimethyl esters (DMC-Tp-BioDs) yield were investigated. The highest DMC-Tp-BioDs yield could reach 97.1% at refluxing temperature for 90 min with molar ratio of DMC-to-oil 5:1 and 2.0% w/w KOCH3 (based on oil weight). The fuel properties of the produced DMC-Tp-BioDs were compared with the ASTM D6751-02 biodiesel standard

An unusual presentation of nabothian cyst: a case report

Nabothian cysts are common gynecologic findings and rarely of clinical significance. They are not problematic unless they are sizeable and present secondary symptoms like in this case. Nabothian cysts are usually associated with chronic cervicitis, an inflammatory condition of cervix, and are harmless and usually disappear on their own. Here we report an interesting case of multiple large nabothian cysts presented with continuous, thin & copious watery discharge, a distressing symptom, mimicking genitourinary fistula. This case is reported for the rarity of symptoms of continuous copious thin watery discharge per vaginum. Very rarely nabothian cyst needs hysterectomy as in our case

Bilateral synchronous spermatocytic seminoma: a rare case report from rural India and literature review

Spermatocytic Seminoma is an unusual germ cell tumour known to arise from testis only. It is associated with good prognosis. Testicular tumours as such are uncommon in Asia as compared to western countries. In the literature only five cases of bilateral synchronous Spermatocytic Seminoma have been reported. Fifty years male patient presented to us with bilateral scrotal swelling and evaluation revealed neoplastic aetiology of bilateral testicular enlargement. Left side radical orchidectomy was performed initially which histopathologically revealed spermatocytic seminoma. Subsequently right side radical orchidectomy was performed after intra-op frozen section confirmation of neoplastic nature. Histopathology revealed same pathology as on left side. Immunohistochemistry of specimen from both testes was again conclusive of spermatocytic seminoma. We hereby report this rare case of Bilateral Synchronous Spermatocytic Seminoma. This is the first case report from entire Asian continent except for Japan.Pan African Medical Journal 2012; 13:3

Helminth infections among long-term residents and settled immigrants in Qatar in the decade from 2005 to 2014: temporal trends and varying prevalence among subjects from different regional origins

Background: Travel and migration from developing regions, where tropical diseases are common, to more developed industrialised nations can contribute to the introduction and subsequent spread of infections. With its rapidly expanding economy, Qatar has attracted vast numbers of immigrant workers in the last two decades, often from countries with poor socio-economic levels. Many used to arrive with patent intestinal parasitic infections. Methods: We analysed the prevalence of helminth infections in a dataset of 29,286 records of subjects referred for stool examination at the Hamad Medical Corporation over the course of a decade (2005 to 2014, inclusive). Results: Overall prevalence of combined helminth infections was low (1.86 %) but there were significant temporal trends, age and sex effects and those arising from the region of origin of the subjects. The most common helminths were hookworms (overall prevalence 1.22 %), which accounted for 70.1 % of cases, and therefore patterns for combined helminth infections were largely driven by hookworms. In both cases, and also in Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides, prevalence peaked in 2008, since when prevalence has been steadily falling. Helminth infections were largely concentrated among subjects from five Asian countries (Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan), and there was a highly biased prevalence in favour of male subjects in all cases. Prevalence of all three nematodes peaked in age class 7 (mean age 25.5 years, range = 20–29) and there were significant interactions between region of origin, sex of subjects and prevalence of hookworms. Conclusion: These results offer optimism that prevalence will continue to decline in the years ahead, especially if control is targeted at those most at risk of carrying infections.Qatar National Research Fund (QRNF) at Qatar Foundation for supporting this study through the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) (Project No. NPRP 4-1283-3-327)

In vitro effect of seed bio-priming techniques on seed germination and seedling vigour of few vegetable crops

Bio-priming can also be viewed as a new technique of seed treatment using biological agents to stimulate germination of seed and growth of the plant and further protecting the seed from soil-and seed-borne pathogens. The present investigation was carried out in vitro conditions on seed germination and seedling vigour of few vegetable crops viz.  tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), onion (Allium cepa L.) and chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), during 2015 and 2016. The treatments comprised viz. T1: Non primed seeds (Control), T2: Seed treatment with Carbendazim 2.5g/kg seed, T3: Hydro-priming for 6 hrs, T4: Hydro-priming for 12 hrs, T5: Hydro-priming for 18 hrs, T6: Biopriming with Trichoderma  viride for 6 hrs, T7: Biopriming with T.viride for 12 hrs, T8: Biopriming with T.viride for 18 hrs, T9: Biopriming with Trichoderma harzianum for 6 hrs, T10: Biopriming with T. harzianum for  12 hrs, T11: Biopriming with T. harzianum for 18 hrs, T12: Biopriming with Pseudomonas fluorescens for 6 hrs, T13: Biopriming with P. fluorescens for 12 hrs and T14: Biopriming with P. fluorescens for 18 hrs.  The results revealed that maxiumum germination percentage (92.92, 90.77,83.00 and 86.33), seedling length (32.38 cm, 29.35 cm, 31.75 and 31.60 cm), seedling fresh weight (2.07 g, 4.01 g, 3.05 g and 2.04 g),  seedling dry weight (0.42 g, 0.86 g, 0.62 g and 0.42 g) and seedling vigour index (3008.11, 2664.00, 2635.00 and 2728.00) were recorded in T10 (bio priming with T. harzianum for 12 hrs) in tomato (S. lycopersicum L.), brinjal (S. melongena L.), onion (A. cepa L.) and chilli (C. annuum L.), respectively. Thus, it indicated that priming of seeds of these crops with T. harzianum/P. fluorescens/ T. viride  for 12 hrs was very effective with respect to their vegetative growth along with the quality yield

Primary extra-cranial meningioma in the right submandibular region of an 18-year-old woman: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Extra-cranial meningioma or ectopic meningioma is a rare tumor. This tumor has been reported in various anatomic sites in the head and neck, mediastinum, skin and soft tissues. We report a rare case of ectopic meningioma in the submandibular region detected by using fine-needle aspiration cytology, histopathology and immunohistochemistry. This case represents another unusual site for extra-cranial meningioma, which prompted us to report it.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>An 18-year-old Dravidian woman presented with swelling in the right submandibular region. The computed tomographic scan findings were suggestive of a neoplastic mass lesion in the right submandibular region. Fine-needle aspiration cytology led to the differential diagnosis of a monomorphic adenoma of a salivary gland or an ectopic meningioma. The patient underwent excision of the submandibular gland and tumor. The histological examination and immunohistochemistry studies confirmed that the lesion was an extra-cranial meningioma. At her two-year follow-up examination, there was no recurrence of the tumor.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our experience with this case indicates that, although rare, meningioma should be entertained in the differential diagnosis of a mass lesion in the head and neck region.</p

3 years of liraglutide versus placebo for type 2 diabetes risk reduction and weight management in individuals with prediabetes: a randomised, double-blind trial

Background: Liraglutide 3·0 mg was shown to reduce bodyweight and improve glucose metabolism after the 56-week period of this trial, one of four trials in the SCALE programme. In the 3-year assessment of the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial we aimed to evaluate the proportion of individuals with prediabetes who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Methods: In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, adults with prediabetes and a body-mass index of at least 30 kg/m2, or at least 27 kg/m2 with comorbidities, were randomised 2:1, using a telephone or web-based system, to once-daily subcutaneous liraglutide 3·0 mg or matched placebo, as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Time to diabetes onset by 160 weeks was the primary outcome, evaluated in all randomised treated individuals with at least one post-baseline assessment. The trial was conducted at 191 clinical research sites in 27 countries and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01272219. Findings: The study ran between June 1, 2011, and March 2, 2015. We randomly assigned 2254 patients to receive liraglutide (n=1505) or placebo (n=749). 1128 (50%) participants completed the study up to week 160, after withdrawal of 714 (47%) participants in the liraglutide group and 412 (55%) participants in the placebo group. By week 160, 26 (2%) of 1472 individuals in the liraglutide group versus 46 (6%) of 738 in the placebo group were diagnosed with diabetes while on treatment. The mean time from randomisation to diagnosis was 99 (SD 47) weeks for the 26 individuals in the liraglutide group versus 87 (47) weeks for the 46 individuals in the placebo group. Taking the different diagnosis frequencies between the treatment groups into account, the time to onset of diabetes over 160 weeks among all randomised individuals was 2·7 times longer with liraglutide than with placebo (95% CI 1·9 to 3·9, p&lt;0·0001), corresponding with a hazard ratio of 0·21 (95% CI 0·13–0·34). Liraglutide induced greater weight loss than placebo at week 160 (–6·1 [SD 7·3] vs −1·9% [6·3]; estimated treatment difference −4·3%, 95% CI −4·9 to −3·7, p&lt;0·0001). Serious adverse events were reported by 227 (15%) of 1501 randomised treated individuals in the liraglutide group versus 96 (13%) of 747 individuals in the placebo group. Interpretation: In this trial, we provide results for 3 years of treatment, with the limitation that withdrawn individuals were not followed up after discontinuation. Liraglutide 3·0 mg might provide health benefits in terms of reduced risk of diabetes in individuals with obesity and prediabetes. Funding: Novo Nordisk, Denmark