Hysteroscopy: an effective tool in post-menopausal bleeding

Background: Postmenopausal bleeding is a condition where endometrial carcinoma is to be ruled out. Traditionally, D and C is the preferred method for diagnosis in such condition. Other diagnostic modalities like trans vaginal ultrasonography (TVS) and hysteroscopy are being used for diagnosis in the cases of PMB. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and accuracy of TVS and hysteroscopy in women with postmenopausal bleeding (PMB).Methods: One hundred postmenopausal women with vaginal bleeding underwent TVS and hysteroscopy. Endometrial tissue was obtained by curettage and sent for histopathology examination. The results of TVS and Hysteroscopy were compared against HP report.Results: Hysteroscopy was successful in 98 patients. Endometrial histopathology revealed proliferative, secretory and atrophic endometrium in 26, 7 and 23 patients respectively. Polyp was diagnosed in 13 patients. Endometrial hyperplasia was detected in 11 patients and endometrial malignancy in 14 patients. All patients with endometrial hyperplasia and malignancy had ET (endometrial thickness) more than 4 mm, except one patient with endometrial malignancy who had 4 mm ET. The sensitivity and specificity of TVS for suspecting endometrial pathology at ET 4mm were 93% and 69.6%, respectively. Hysteroscopy had sensitivity of 95.2%, specificity of 92.8%, with diagnostic accuracy of 93.8%.Conclusions: Hysteroscopy was found to be the more sensitive and specific than Transvaginal sonography for diagnosing endometrial pathologies. Hysteroscopy is safe and effective for detecting endometrial pathologies in patients with PMB

Stings of the missing string: missing Copper T thread

Background: Missing CuT thread is a worrisome complaint for a woman. The string may be curled in or the Cu T might have expelled or migrated.Methods: It was a retrospective study. Authors collected the data between January 2017 to December 2017. Data was collected from OPD, OT register and Indoor patient record file. The objective was to ascertain the symptomatology, type of insertion, investigations and mode of retrieval of CuT.Results: There were 63 cases of missing CuT thread, out of which, 42 were postpartum. 33 patients were asymptomatic. Irregular vaginal bleeding (19 patients) was commonest complaint, followed by abdominal pain (10 patients). Pregnancy was detected in one patient. Transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) detected intrauterine location of CuT in 60 cases. X-ray abdomen erect was needed in 3 cases, which detected intra-abdominal migration of CuT in two cases. CuT was expelled in third case. In 31 patients, CuT was removed by artery forceps in OPD. In 17 cases, hysteroscopic Copper T removal was needed. Two cases with migrated CuT underwent laparoscopy for retrieval of CuT. One patient had to be converted to laparotomy to rule out bowel injury.Conclusions: Missing CuT thread is commonest with postpartum IUCD. TVS should be first investigation in missing CuT thread. X-ray abdomen is needed only if CuT is not visualized on TVS. Hysteroscopy can be used in patients where CuT retrieval with artery forceps fails. Laparoscopy and laparotomy may be required in migrated CuT cases

A novel bacterial isolate Stenotrophomonas maltophilia as living factory for synthesis of gold nanoparticles

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) has received considerable attention with their potential applications in various life sciences related applications. Recently, there has been tremendous excitement in the study of nanoparticles synthesis by using some natural biological system, which has led to the development of various biomimetic approaches for the growth of advanced nanomaterials. In the present study, we have demonstrated the synthesis of gold nanoparticles by a novel bacterial strain isolated from a site near the famous gold mines in India. A promising mechanism for the biosynthesis of GNPs by this strain and their stabilization via charge capping was investigated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A bacterial isolate capable of gold nanoparticle synthesis was isolated and identified as a novel strain of <it>Stenotrophomonas malophilia </it>(AuRed02) based on its morphology and an analysis of its 16S rDNA gene sequence. After 8 hrs of incubation, monodisperse preparation of gold nanoparticles was obtained. Gold nanoparticles were characterized and found to be of ~40 nm size. Electrophoresis, Zeta potential and FTIR measurements confirmed that the particles are capped with negatively charged phosphate groups from NADP rendering them stable in aqueous medium.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The process of synthesis of well-dispersed nanoparticles using a novel microorganism isolated from the gold enriched soil sample has been reported in this study, leading to the development of an easy bioprocess for synthesis of GNPs. This is the first study in which an extensive characterization of the indigenous bacterium isolated from the actual gold enriched soil was conducted. Promising mechanism for the biosynthesis of GNPs by the strain and their stabilization via charge capping is suggested, which involves an NADPH-dependent reductase enzyme that reduces Au³⁺to Au⁰through electron shuttle enzymatic metal reduction process.</p

Study of metabolic changes-glycoprotein and phospholipids levels in patients of malaria

Background: In erythrocytic stage, malarial parasites meet their high glucose requirement only by modulating the host cell membrane by increasing transport of sugar across the host cell membrane. This leads to a transmembrane gradient of the substrate and finally leading to alterations of metabolic changes and permeability of RBC membrane. Therefore, the aim of present study was to determine the parameters which reflect the status of RBC membrane and their association with the severity of malaria in a large cohort of known patients of malaria, which was caused by the Plasmodium Species.Methods: Blood sample were collected in EDTA bulb at the time of admission (day-1) and on third day (day-3). The samples were analyzed within 24 hours of collection. Erythrocytic total phospholipid is measured by modified connerty method, Total sialic acid (TSA) is measured by TBA/dimethyl sulphoxide method.Results: The mean levels of erythrocytic phospholipid, plasma TSA and PBSA in the cases of malaria were significantly increase (P<0.001) as compared to those in the control group. In the follow up study the same parameters were studied in patients post anti-malarial treatment day-3. The level of erythrocyte phospholipid, plasma TSA and PBSA were reversed.Conclusions: On the basis of the present study it is suggested that the anti-malarial drug regimen must be supported by antioxidants and trace elements supplementation to improve the status of deviated biochemical parameters towards normalcy

Study of antioxidant status in malaria patients

Background: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of metabolic changes in malaria patients. During infection RBCs are exposed to continual oxidative stress. The univalent reduction of oxygen results in a series of cytotoxic oxygen species such as O2-, H2O2, OH•. Objective was to determine the level of oxidative stress in patients suffering from malaria.Methods: The present study was conducted on 551 malaria patients and 211 age-sex matched controls, in department of Biochemistry, C U Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat from April 2012 to May 2013.  In stage-I, day-1 malaria patient’s v/s control group, In stage-II, day-3 v/s day-1 after anti-malarial treatment and in Stage-III day-3 v/s day-1 after anti-malarial + antioxidant treatment.Results: The mean erythrocytic activity of SOD, CAT, GST were decreased (0.71±0.25EU, 9.9±2.4μmol/sec, and 11.7±3.9 U/gmHb% respectively), mean level of GSH and MDA were increased (42.1±6.06gm/Hb%, 10.9±2.83 respectively) significantly (P<0.001) as compared to control group. In the follow up study with anti-malarial treatment the mean levels of erythrocytic GSH and MDA (28.7±7.54gm/Hb% and 8.08±1.95nM/L) decreased significantly (P<0.001 and P<0.01 respectively), whereas mean activity of erythrocytic enzymes like SOD, CAT and GST (0.99±0.15 EU, 15.8±2.68μmol/sec and 22.5±5U/gmHb%) were increased significantly (P<0.001) as compared to day-1.Conclusions: Erythrocytic antioxidant enzymes, GSH and MDA may be considered to be reliable biochemical markers for diagnostic and therapeutic potential in malaria

Mapping an atlas of tissue-specific drosophila melanogaster metabolomes by high resolution mass spectrometry

Metabolomics can provide exciting insights into organismal function, but most work on simple models has focussed on the whole organism metabolome, so missing the contributions of individual tissues. Comprehensive metabolite profiles for ten tissues from adult Drosophila melanogaster were obtained here by two chromatographic methods, a hydrophilic interaction (HILIC) method for polar metabolites and a lipid profiling method also based on HILIC, in combination with an Orbitrap Exactive instrument. Two hundred and forty two polar metabolites were putatively identified in the various tissues, and 251 lipids were observed in positive ion mode and 61 in negative ion mode. Although many metabolites were detected in all tissues, every tissue showed characteristically abundant metabolites which could be rationalised against specific tissue functions. For example, the cuticle contained high levels of glutathione, reflecting a role in oxidative defence; the alimentary canal (like vertebrate gut) had high levels of acylcarnitines for fatty acid metabolism, and the head contained high levels of ether lipids. The male accessory gland uniquely contained decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine. These data thus both provide valuable insights into tissue function, and a reference baseline, compatible with the FlyAtlas.org transcriptomic resource, for further metabolomic analysis of this important model organism, for example in the modelling of human inborn errors of metabolism, aging or metabolic imbalances such as diabetes

Modified cantilever arrays improve sensitivity and reproducibility of nanomechanical sensing in living cells

Mechanical signaling involved in molecular interactions lies at the heart of materials science and biological systems, but the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Here we use nanomechanical sensors and intact human cells to provide unique insights into the signaling pathways of connectivity networks, which deliver the ability to probe cells to produce biologically relevant, quantifiable and reproducible signals. We quantify the mechanical signals from malignant cancer cells, with 10 cells per ml in 1000-fold excess of non-neoplastic human epithelial cells. Moreover, we demonstrate that a direct link between cells and molecules creates a continuous connectivity which acts like a percolating network to propagate mechanical forces over both short and long length-scales. The findings provide mechanistic insights into how cancer cells interact with one another and with their microenvironments, enabling them to invade the surrounding tissues. Further, with this system it is possible to understand how cancer clusters are able to co-ordinate their migration through narrow blood capillaries