Epistaxis: the cause found beyond the nose

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a malignant disease that is often diagnosed at a metastatic stage. The head and neck represent up to 3% of the metastatic RCC, and the paranasal sinus area is one of the least involved sites. Here, we introduce the case of a 74-year-old female patient who presented with a history of traumatic nasal bleed. A cranial computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging showed a fronto-ethmoidal mass with pachymeningeal involvement. A nasal biopsy from the paranasal sinuses was taken. On histopathological examination, metastatic clear cell carcinoma was the main hypothesis, which later was confirmed to be RCC on immunohistochemistry. On further radiological examination, an exophytic mass was depicted in the kidney’s upper and middle pole. The patient had no renal complaints and was asymptomatic. Fronto-ethmoidal sinus is a rare site for metastatic RCC, especially in cases where the patient is asymptomatic. Early detection by keeping RCC metastasis as the differential diagnosis in such cases can lead to early treatment and improve the overall survival of the patient

Human T cells express CD25 and Foxp3 upon activation and exhibit effector/memory phenotypes without any regulatory/suppressor function

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Foxp3 has been suggested to be a standard marker for murine Tregs whereas its role as marker for human Tregs is controversial. While some reports have shown that human Foxp3+ T cells had no regulatory function others have shown their role in the inhibition of T cell proliferation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>T cell activation was performed by means of brayostatin-1/ionomycin (B/I), mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), and CD3/CD28 activation. T cell proliferation was performed using BrdU and CFSE staining. Flow cytometry was performed to determine Foxp3 expression, cell proliferation, viabilities and phenotype analyses of T cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressed Foxp3 upon activation <it>in vitro</it>. Expression of Foxp3 remained more stable in CD4+CD25+ T cells compared to that in CD8+CD25+ T cells. The CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells expressed CD44 and CD62L, showing their effector and memory phenotypes. Both FoxP3- responder T cells and CD4+FoxP3+ T cells underwent proliferation upon CD3/CD28 activation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Expression of Foxp3 does not necessarily convey regulatory function in human CD4+CD25+ T cells. Increased FoxP3 on CD44+ effector and CD44+CD62L+ memory T cells upon stimulation suggest the activation-induced regulation of FoxP3 expression.</p

Distinct signatures of the immune responses in low risk versus high risk neuroblastoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Over 90% of low risk (LR) neuroblastoma patients survive whereas less than 30% of high risk (HR) patients are long term survivors. Age (children younger than 18 months old) is associated with LR disease. Considering that adaptive immune system is well developed in older children, and that T cells were shown to be involved in tumor escape and progression of cancers, we sought to determine whether HR patients may tend to show a signature of adaptive immune responses compared to LR patients who tend to have diminished T-cell responses but an intact innate immune response.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed microarray analysis of RNA extracted from the tumor specimens of HR and LR patients. Flow cytometry was performed to determine the cellular constituents in the blood while multiplex cytokine array was used to detect the cytokine profile in patients' sera. A HR tumor cell line, SK-N-SH, was also used for detecting the response to IL-1β, a cytokines which is involved in the innate immune responses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Distinct patterns of gene expression were detected in HR and LR patients indicating an active T-cell response and a diminished adaptive immune response, respectively. A diminished adaptive immune response in LR patients was evident by higher levels of IL-10 in the sera. In addition, HR patients had lower levels of circulating myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) compared with a control LR patient. LR patients showed slightly higher levels of cytokines of the innate immune responses. Treatment of the HR tumor line with IL-1β induced expression of cytokines of the innate immune responses.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This data suggests that adaptive immune responses may play an important role in the progression of HR disease whereas innate immune responses may be active in LR patients.</p

A comprehensive review of techniques for natural fibers as reinforcement in composites::preparation, processing and characterization

Designing environmentally friendly materials from natural resources represents a great challenge in the last decade. However, the lack of fundamental knowledge in the processing of the raw materials to fabricate the composites structure is still a major challenge for potential applications.Natural fibers extracted from plants are receiving more attention from researchers, scientists and academics due to their use in polymer composites and also their environmentally friendly nature and sustainability. The natural fiber features depend on the preparation and processing of the fibers. Natural plant fibers are extracted either by mechanical retting, dew retting and/or water retting processes. The natural fibers characteristics could be improved by suitable chemicals and surface treatments. This survey proposes a detailed review of the different types of retting processes, chemical and surface treatments and characterization techniques for natural fibers. We summarize major findings from the literature and the treatment effects on the properties of the natural fibers are being highlighted

Novel non-enzymatic toxic peptide of Daboia russelii (Eastern region) venom renders commercial polyvalent antivenom ineffective

The snake venoms are typically complex mixtures of enzymes and non-enzymatic peptides. Regional variation in the non-enzymatic fraction of Russell's viper venom from three regions of India studied. The eastern, western and southern regional venom upon gel permeation chromatography on sephadex-G-75 column resolved into three peaks. All the three overlapping peaks differ in their lethality and enzymatic potency. Peak III of all the regional venom found to be non-enzymatic, Western and southern regional venom has trypsin inhibitory activity with varying potencies. Interestingly, the peak III of eastern region is devoid of trypsin inhibitory activity. But it is highly lethal with a LD50 0.7mg/kg body weight and also it exhibited post-synaptic neurotoxicity. On the other hand southern and western regional venom's non-enzymatic peak is non-lethal and did not induce neurotoxic symptoms in experimental model. The antibodies developed against the eastern regional venom cross-reacted with the peaks I and II of other regional venom, but failed to cross-react with the peak III of western and southern regional Russell's viper venom. Commercial anti-venom prepared to neutralize the toxic effects of common poisonous snakes of India, showed positive cross-reaction against peaks I, II and III of all three regional venom tested, except peak III of eastern regional venom. Commercial anti-venom neutralized the lethal toxicity of both western and southern regional Russell's viper venom, and failed to neutralize the lethal effects of eastern regional Russell's viper venom

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Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted at Research farm of CSWCRTI, Research centre, Sunabeda in District Koraput of Odisha during 2007 - 2010 in Kharif season on silty loam red lateritic soil with an objective to access the effect of different Multitier cropping systems on runoff, soil-nutrient loss and economics. The experiment had ten treatments consisting of the combinations of fruit tree papaya (Carica papaya) with boundary plantation of forest shrub i.e. Gliricidia sepium and annual crops ginger (Zingiber offcinale), farmers’ practice of broadcasting, line sowing of ragi (Elusine coracana) and their intercropping ratios. The treatments were set in a randomized complete block design replicated thrice. In comparison to farmers’ practice of broadcasting; line sowing of ragi decreased runoff and erosion by 23 and 15 %, respectively. Among different treatments multitier cropping of ginger: pigeonpea yielded minimum runoff of 45.2 mm. Square plantation of papaya in sole ragi and intercropped ragi: pigeonpea (6:2) plots with boundary plantation of Gliricidia on bunds reduced net soil loss by 36 and 45 %. Cultivated fallow reported maximum nutrient loss to the tune of 109.9, 0.31 and 10.70 kg ha-1 for Organic carbon (OC), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium, respectively. Sole ginger and ginger intercropped with pigeonpea in papaya + Gliricidia system recorded 58 and 41 % lower OC loss than the farmers’ practice of ragi broadcasting. Multitier cropping of papaya + Gliricidia with ginger: pigeonpea intercropping recorded highest values enrichment ratio for OC and P to the tune of 2.25 and 4.56, respectively. Ginger, pigeonpea and ragi recorded an increase of 23, 14.4 and 25.8 % in Cation Exchange Capacity, when raised under multitier cropping system. In comparison to ragi sole cultivation, its intercropping with pigeonpea under multitier system showed an increase of 14.7 and 34.9 % for infiltration and porosity, respectively. In comparison to sole cultivation under papaya intercropping ginger yield improved by 15q and in ginger + pigeonpea intercropping system by 21 qha-1, respectively. Among all treatments, papaya+ gliricidia based multitier cropping system of ginger intercropped with pigeonpea (8:2) gave maximum net returns of Rs.2.47 lakhs with B: C ratio of 2.55 followed by sole ginger.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted at Research farm of CSWCRTI, Research centre, Sunabeda in District Koraput of Orissa during 2007 - 2010 in Kharif season on silty loam red lateritic soil with an objective to access the effect of different Multitier cropping systems on runoff, soil-nutrient loss and economics. The experiment had ten treatments consisting of the combinations of fruit tree papaya (Carica papaya) with boundary plantation of forest shrub i.e. Gliricidia sepium and annual crops ginger (Zingiber offcinale), farmers’ practice of broadcasting, line sowing of ragi (Elusine coracana) and their intercropping ratios. The treatments were set in a randomized complete block design replicated thrice. In comparison to farmers’ practice of broadcasting; line sowing of ragi decreased runoff and erosion by 23 and 15 %, respectively. Among different treatments multitier cropping of ginger: pigeonpea yielded minimum runoff of 45.2 mm. Square plantation of papaya in sole ragi and intercropped ragi: pigeonpea (6:2) plots with boundary plantation of Gliricidia on bunds reduced net soil loss by 36 and 45 %. Cultivated fallow reported maximum nutrient loss to the tune of 109.9, 0.31 and 10.70 kg ha-1 for Organic carbon (OC), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium, respectively. Sole ginger and ginger intercropped with pigeonpea in papaya + Gliricidia system recorded 58 and 41 % lower OC loss than the farmers’ practice of ragi broadcasting. Multitier cropping of papaya + Gliricidia with ginger: pigeonpea intercropping recorded highest values ER for OC and P to the tune of 2.25 and 4.56, respectively. Ginger, pigeonpea and ragi recorded an increase of 23, 14.4 and 25.8 % in Cation Exchange Capacity, when raised under multitier cropping system. In comparison to ragi sole cultivation, its intercropping with pigeonpea under multitier system showed an increase of 14.7 and 34.9 % for infiltration and porosity, respectively. In comparison to sole cultivation under papaya intercropping ginger yield improved by 15q and in ginger + pigeonpea intercropping system by 21 qha-1, respectively. Among all treatments, papaya+ gliricidia based multitier cropping system of ginger intercropped with pigeonpea (8:2) gave maximum net returns of ‘2.47 lakhs with B: C ratio of 2.55 followed by sole ginger.Not Availabl

Influence of Water Absorption on Mechanical and Morphological Behaviour of Roystonea-Regia/Banana Hybrid Polyester Composites

This study investigated the properties of hybrid composites made from Roystonea-Regia and banana fibers for potential applications in industries requiring lightweight, environmentally favorable, and mechanically strong materials. The analysis of density and void fraction revealed that the addition of banana fibers increased the composite's density, despite the fact that the actual density was slightly lower than the theoretical density due to confined gases during fabrication. The results of tensile tests revealed that water absorption negatively affected tensile strength, whereas alkali treatment and hybridization enhanced performance. The composition of 10 wt % Roystonea-Regia and 5 wt % banana had the highest tensile strength of 64.76MPa, which was attributable to the hydrophilicity and hydration content of the banana fiber. Further flexural and impact experiments confirmed that the influence of water absorption of composites showed a decrement in mechanical properties. The highest impact strength of 45.28 J/m and flexural strength of 75.6MPa were noted for 10 wt % Roystonea-Regia and 5 wt % banana. In addition, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that alkali treatment improved fiber-matrix interface bonding and roughened fiber surfaces, thereby enhancing the composites' overall performance. The study provides precious insights into the potential of Roystonea-Regia and banana hybrid composites for industrial applications as lightweight, environmentally friendly, and mechanically robust materials

Advancing the Performance of Ceramic - Reinforced Aluminum Hybrid Composites: A Comprehensive Review and Future Perspectives

Hybrid composites comprising aluminum reinforced with ceramics have surfaced as a potential class of materials that exhibit improved mechanical and thermal characteristics. These composites have a diverse range of applications across multiple industries. The present study offers a thorough examination of recent scholarly investigations pertaining to such composites, with particular emphasis on their mechanical performance, thermal attributes, and interfacial characteristics. This paper offers an extensive evaluation of ceramic-reinforced aluminum composites, along with a discussion of potential solutions and prospects for addressing the existing limitations and challenges. This review explores emerging areas of research, encompassing interface engineering methodologies, sophisticated processing techniques, and the incorporation of innovative reinforcement substances. The present recommendations are geared towards augmenting the efficacy, dependability, and durability of hybrid composites comprising ceramic and aluminum reinforcements