EVALUATION OF HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF Avicennia alba (BLUME) ON PARACETAMOL INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS

Objective: To study the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extracts of Avicennia alba leaves against paracetamol induced liver damage in rats. Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced by paracetamol and the biochemical parameters such as serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (SB) and the antioxidant such as Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Glutathione (GSH), Vitamin-C & E and Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were recorded and histopathological changes in liver were studied along with silymarin as standard hepatoprotective agents. Results: The phytochemical investigation of the extracts showed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, proteins and steroids. Treatment with herbal extract to paracetamol administered rats caused a significant reduction in the values of AST, ALP, ALT and total bilirubin (P < 0.05) almost comparable to silymarin. The hepatoprotective was confirmed by histopathological examination of the liver tissue of control and treated animals. Conclusion: From the results it can be concluded that A.alba leaves possesses hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol-induced liver damage in rats

Characterization Studies on Graphene-Aluminium Nano Composites for Aerospace Launch Vehicle External Fuel Tank Structural Application

From the aspect of exploring the alternative lightweight composite material for the aerospace launch vehicle external fuel tank structural components, the current research work studies three different grades of Aluminium alloy reinforced with varying graphene weight percentages that are processed through powder metallurgy (P/M) route. The prepared green compacts composite ingots are subjected to microwave processing (Sintering), hot extruded, and solution treated (T6). The developed Nano-graphene reinforced composite is studied further for the strength–microstructural integrity. The nature of the graphene reinforcement and its chemical existence within the composite is further studied, and it is found that hot extruded solution treated (HEST) composite exhibited low levels of carbide (Al4C3) formations, as composites processed by microwaves. Further, the samples of different grades reinforced with varying graphene percentages are subjected to mechanical characterisation tests such as the tensile test and hardness. It is found that 2 wt% graphene reinforced composites exhibited enhanced yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. Microstructural studies and fracture morphology are studied, and it is proven that composite processed via the microwave method has exhibited good ductile behaviour and promising failure mechanisms at higher load levels

Muscle MRI in periodic paralysis shows myopathy is common and correlates with intramuscular fat accumulation.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: The periodic paralyses are muscle channelopathies: hypokalemic periodic paralysis (CACNA1S and SCN4A variants), hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (SCN4A variants), and Andersen-Tawil syndrome (KCNJ2). Both episodic weakness and disabling fixed weakness can occur. Little literature exists on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in muscle channelopathies. We undertake muscle MRI across all subsets of periodic paralysis and correlate with clinical features. METHODS: A total of 45 participants and eight healthy controls were enrolled and underwent T1-weighted and short-tau-inversion-recovery (STIR) MRI imaging of leg muscles. Muscles were scored using the modified Mercuri Scale. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients had CACNA1S variants, 16 SCN4A, and 12 KCNJ2. Thirty-one (69%) had weakness, and 9 (20%) required a gait-aid/wheelchair. A total of 78% of patients had intramuscular fat accumulation on MRI. Patients with SCN4A variants were most severely affected. In SCN4A, the anterior thigh and posterior calf were more affected, in contrast to the posterior thigh and posterior calf in KCNJ2. We identified a pattern of peri-tendinous STIR hyperintensity in nine patients. There were moderate correlations between Mercuri, STIR scores, and age. Intramuscular fat accumulation was seen in seven patients with no fixed weakness. DISCUSSION: We demonstrate a significant burden of disease in patients with periodic paralyses. MRI intramuscular fat accumulation may be helpful in detecting early muscle involvement, particularly in those without fixed weakness. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess the role of muscle MRI in quantifying disease progression over time and as a potential biomarker in clinical trials

Synthesis and characterisation of graphene-reinforced AA 2014 MMC using squeeze casting method for lightweight aerospace structural applications

The need for lightweight materials towards aerospace has increased prominently. This paper focuses on introducing a novel reinforcement mixture of graphene with Al 2014 powder synthesised through ball milling technique. The synthesized powder was utilized as a reinforcement to fabricate Al 2014 based MMCs through squeeze casting technique. The results exhibited that Al 2014 mixture with embedded and interlocked 2D-Grnp (2.517 g/cm3) matched the density of the matrix metal (2.771 g/cm3) that facilitated homogeneous dispersion of 2D-Grnp and solved the dispersion problems during stir casting. As a result, AA 2014 embedded with 2D-Grnp acted as a carrier to homogeneously disperse combined with the squeeze casting process leading to the production of homogeneously reinforced MMC. This can be considered as a potential fabrication route for the launch vehicle super lightweight fuel tank (SLWT) structural application. The final casted plate after T6 heat treatment with 0.5 wt% 2D-Grnp exhibited an improved tensile strength of 361 MPa (52% higher than the monolithic 2014 aluminium alloy) with total elongation of 21% and improved hardness of 119 HRB (45.5 % increase). Furthermore, SEM and TEM results exhibited that squeeze casting led to enhanced interfacial bonding between the 2D-Grnp and Al 2014

Genomic Profiling of Childhood Tumor Patient-Derived Xenograft Models to Enable Rational Clinical Trial Design.

Accelerating cures for children with cancer remains an immediate challenge as a result of extensive oncogenic heterogeneity between and within histologies, distinct molecular mechanisms evolving between diagnosis and relapsed disease, and limited therapeutic options. To systematically prioritize and rationally test novel agents in preclinical murine models, researchers within the Pediatric Preclinical Testing Consortium are continuously developing patient-derived xenografts (PDXs)-many of which are refractory to current standard-of-care treatments-from high-risk childhood cancers. Here, we genomically characterize 261 PDX models from 37 unique pediatric cancers; demonstrate faithful recapitulation of histologies and subtypes; and refine our understanding of relapsed disease. In addition, we use expression signatures to classify tumors for TP53 and NF1 pathway inactivation. We anticipate that these data will serve as a resource for pediatric oncology drug development and will guide rational clinical trial design for children with cancer

Gene content evolution in the arthropods

Arthropods comprise the largest and most diverse phylum on Earth and play vital roles in nearly every ecosystem. Their diversity stems in part from variations on a conserved body plan, resulting from and recorded in adaptive changes in the genome. Dissection of the genomic record of sequence change enables broad questions regarding genome evolution to be addressed, even across hyper-diverse taxa within arthropods. Using 76 whole genome sequences representing 21 orders spanning more than 500 million years of arthropod evolution, we document changes in gene and protein domain content and provide temporal and phylogenetic context for interpreting these innovations. We identify many novel gene families that arose early in the evolution of arthropods and during the diversification of insects into modern orders. We reveal unexpected variation in patterns of DNA methylation across arthropods and examples of gene family and protein domain evolution coincident with the appearance of notable phenotypic and physiological adaptations such as flight, metamorphosis, sociality, and chemoperception. These analyses demonstrate how large-scale comparative genomics can provide broad new insights into the genotype to phenotype map and generate testable hypotheses about the evolution of animal diversity

Epidemiological and cohort study finds no association between COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome

Reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) have emerged during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This epidemiological and cohort study sought to investigate any causative association between COVID-19 infection and GBS. The epidemiology of GBS cases reported to the UK National Immunoglobulin Database was studied from 2016 to 2019 and compared to cases reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were stratified by hospital trust and region, with numbers of reported cases per month. UK population data for COVID-19 infection were collated from UK public health bodies. In parallel, but separately, members of the British Peripheral Nerve Society prospectively reported incident cases of GBS during the pandemic at their hospitals to a central register. The clinical features, investigation findings and outcomes of COVID-19 (definite or probable) and non-COVID-19 associated GBS cases in this cohort were compared. The incidence of GBS treated in UK hospitals from 2016 to 2019 was 1.65–1.88 per 100 000 individuals per year. GBS incidence fell between March and May 2020 compared to the same months of 2016–19. GBS and COVID-19 incidences during the pandemic also varied between regions and did not correlate with one another (r = 0.06, 95% confidence interval: −0.56 to 0.63, P = 0.86). In the independent cohort study, 47 GBS cases were reported (COVID-19 status: 13 definite, 12 probable, 22 non-COVID-19). There were no significant differences in the pattern of weakness, time to nadir, neurophysiology, CSF findings or outcome between these groups. Intubation was more frequent in the COVID-19 affected cohort (7/13, 54% versus 5/22, 23% in COVID-19-negative) attributed to COVID-19 pulmonary involvement. Although it is not possible to entirely rule out the possibility of a link, this study finds no epidemiological or phenotypic clues of SARS-CoV-2 being causative of GBS. GBS incidence has fallen during the pandemic, which may be the influence of lockdown measures reducing transmission of GBS inducing pathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni and respiratory viruses

The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global antimicrobial and biocide resistance:An AMR Insights global perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a serious public health challenge in all countries. However, repercussions of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections on future global health are still being investigated, including the pandemic's potential effect on the emergence and spread of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Critically ill COVID-19 patients may develop severe complications, which may predispose patients to infection with nosocomial bacterial and/or fungal pathogens, requiring the extensive use of antibiotics. However, antibiotics may also be inappropriately used in milder cases of COVID-19 infection. Further, concerns such as increased biocide use, antimicrobial stewardship/infection control, AMR awareness, the need for diagnostics (including rapid and point-of-care diagnostics) and the usefulness of vaccination could all be components shaping the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this publication, the authors present a brief overview of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated issues that could influence the pandemic's effect on global AMR.</p