Magnetic Studies on Spinel Ferrite Nanoparticles and Bulk Samples Synthesized by Citrate Combustion Route

We report structural, microstructural and magnetic studies of ZnFe2O4, MnFe2O4 and mixed Mn-Ni-Zn ferrites in nanoparticles and bulk forms. Polycrystalline samples were prepared by citrate combustion synthesis, which resulted in homogeneous and nanograin powders. Particle sizes estimated from the XRD and SEM were found to be below 100 nm for the calcined powders (600 degrees C) and above 300 nm range for the sintered (1200 degrees C) samples. Substitution of Ni and Zn for Mn enhanced the saturation magnetization and coercivity, because of the redistribution between octahedral and tetrahedral iron sites. Curie temperature were found to be higher for the calcined powders as compared to corresponding sintered samples due to particle size effects

Microwave spin resonance investigation on the effect of the post-processing annealing of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles

A novel investigation on the finite-size effects on the spin resonance properties of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles has been performed using a room temperature ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) technique. A single broad spectrum was obtained for the CoFe2O4 nanoparticle samples, which indicated that all the samples were showing ferromagnetic characteristics. An asymmetric FMR line shape with a hefty trailing section was obtained due to the high magneto-crystalline anisotropy in CoFe2O4 nanoparticles, which changed with the size distribution. The resonance field for the samples shifted to a higher value due to the increase in the magneto-crystalline anisotropy in the CoFe2O4 nanoparticles with an increase in size. A systematic change in the resonance field and line width was observed with the change in the size distribution of the particles. Initially, it decreased with an increase in the size of the particles and increased after the critical size range. The critical size range is the imprint of the shift of the magnetic domain from a single domain to multi domain. The line width increased at higher annealing temperatures due to the enhancement in the dipole-dipole interaction, which led to a higher spin concentration as well as magneto-crystalline anisotropy. Furthermore, the saturation magnetization (M-s) as well as 'M-r/M-s' increased from 37.7 to 71.4 emu g(-1) and 0.06 to 0.31, respectively. The highest coercivity (750.9 Oe) and anisotropy constant (4.62 x 10(4) erg cm(-3)) were found for the sample annealed at 700 degrees C, which can be corroborated by the literature as the critical annealing temperature at which CoFe2O4 nanoparticles shift from single domain nanoparticles to multi-domain nanoparticles. Post-processing annealing is critical in advanced processing techniques and spin dynamics plays a vital role in various interdisciplinary areas of applications

Bleeding disorders in the tribe: result of consanguineous in breeding

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To determine the frequency and clinical features of bleeding disorders in the tribe as a result of consanguineous marriages.</p> <p>Design</p> <p>Cross Sectional Study</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Countries in which consanguinity is a normal practice, these rare autosomal recessive disorders run in close families and tribes. Here we describe a family, living in village Ali Murad Chandio, District Badin, labeled as haemophilia.</p> <p>Patients & Methods</p> <p>Our team visited the village & developed the pedigree of the whole extended family, up to seven generations. Performa was filled by incorporating patients, family history of bleeding, signs & symptoms, and bleeding from any site. From them 144 individuals were screened with CBC, bleeding time, platelet aggregation studies & RiCoF. While for PT, APTT, VWF assay and Factor VIII assay, samples were kept frozen at -70 degrees C until tested.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The family tree of the seven generations comprises of 533 individuals, 63 subjects died over a period of 20 years and 470 were alive. Out of all those 144 subjects were selected on the basis of the bleeding history. Among them 98(68.1%) were diagnosed to have a bleeding disorder; 44.9% patients were male and 55.1% patients were female. Median age of all the patients was 20.81, range (4 months- 80 yrs). The results of bleeding have shown that majority had gum bleeding, epistaxis and menorrhagia. Most common bleeding disorder was Von Willebrand disease and Platelet functional disorders.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Consanguineous marriages keep all the beneficial and adversely affecting recessive genes within the family; in homozygous states. These genes express themselves and result in life threatening diseases. Awareness, education & genetic counseling will be needed to prevent the spread of such common occurrence of these bleeding disorders in the community.</p

Histone Demethylase kdm5d Upregulation Drives Sex Differences in Colon Cancer

Sex exerts a profound impact on cancer incidence, spectrum and outcomes, yet the molecular and genetic bases of such sex differences are ill-defined and presumptively ascribed to X-chromosome genes and sex hormones1. Such sex differences are particularly prominent in colorectal cancer (CRC) in which men experience higher metastases and mortality. A murine CRC model, engineered with an inducible transgene encoding oncogenic mutant KRASG12D and conditional null alleles of Apc and Trp53 tumour suppressors (designated iKAP)2, revealed higher metastases and worse outcomes specifically in males with oncogenic mutant KRAS (KRAS*) CRC. Integrated cross-species molecular and transcriptomic analyses identified Y-chromosome gene histone demethylase KDM5D as a transcriptionally upregulated gene driven by KRAS*-mediated activation of the STAT4 transcription factor. KDM5D-dependent chromatin mark and transcriptome changes showed repression of regulators of the epithelial cell tight junction and major histocompatibility complex class I complex components. Deletion of Kdm5d in iKAP cancer cells increased tight junction integrity, decreased cell invasiveness and enhanced cancer cell killing by CD8+ T cells. Conversely, iAP mice engineered with a Kdm5d transgene to provide constitutive Kdm5d expression specifically in iAP cancer cells showed an increased propensity for more invasive tumours in vivo. Thus, KRAS*-STAT4-mediated upregulation of Y chromosome KDM5D contributes substantially to the sex differences in KRAS* CRC by means of its disruption of cancer cell adhesion properties and tumour immunity, providing an actionable therapeutic strategy for metastasis risk reduction for men afflicted with KRAS* CRC

Histone demethylase KDM5D drives sex-specific differences in colorectal cancer

View full abstracthttps://openworks.mdanderson.org/leading-edge/1011/thumbnail.jp

Modulation of Host miRNAs Transcriptome in Lung and Spleen of Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus Infected Sheep and Goats

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is one of the highly contagious viral disease, characterized by fever, sore mouth, conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis, and pneumonia, primarily affecting sheep and goats. Reports suggested variable host response in goats and sheep and this host response vis-a-vis the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has not been investigated. Here, miRNAs were sequenced and proteomics data were generated to identify the role of differentially expressed miRNA (DEmiRNA) in PPR virus (PPRV) infected lung and spleen tissues of sheep and goats. In lungs, 67 and 37 DEmiRNAs have been identified in goats and sheep, respectively. Similarly, in spleen, 50 and 56 DEmiRNAs were identified in goats and sheep, respectively. A total of 20 and 11 miRNAs were found to be common differentially expressed in both the species in PPRV infected spleen and lung, respectively. Six DEmiRNAs—miR-21-3p, miR-1246, miR-27a-5p, miR-760-3p, miR-320a, and miR-363 were selected based on their role in viral infections, apoptosis, and fold change. The target prediction analysis of these six selected DEmiRNAs from the proteome data generated, revealed involvement of more number of genes in lung and spleen of goats than in sheep. On gene ontology analysis of host target genes these DEmiRNAs were found to regulate several immune response signaling pathways. It was observed that the pathways viz. T cell receptor signaling, Rap1 signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling, and B cell receptor signaling governed by DEmiRNAs were more perturbed in goats than in sheep. The data suggests that PPRV-induced miR-21-3p, miR-320a, and miR-363 might act cooperatively to enhance viral pathogenesis in the lung and spleen of sheep by downregulating several immune response genes. The study gives an important insight into the molecular pathogenesis of PPR by identifying that the PPRV—Izatnagar/94 isolate elicits a strong host response in goats than in sheep

Tspan8 is expressed in breast cancer and regulates E-cadherin/catenin signalling and metastasis accompanied by increased circulating extracellular vesicles

Tspan8 exhibits a functional role in many cancer types including pancreatic, colorectal, oesophagus carcinoma, and melanoma. We present a first study on the expression and function of Tspan8 in breast cancer. Tspan8 protein was present in the majority of human primary breast cancer lesions and metastases in the brain, bone, lung, and liver. In a syngeneic rat breast cancer model, Tspan8$^{+}$ tumours formed multiple liver and spleen metastases, while Tspan8$^{-}$ tumours exhibited a significantly diminished ability to metastasise, indicating a role of Tspan8 in metastases. Addressing the underlying molecular mechanisms, we discovered that Tspan8 can mediate up‐regulation of E‐cadherin and down‐regulation of Twist, p120‐catenin, and β‐catenin target genes accompanied by the change of cell phenotype, resembling the mesenchymal–epithelial transition. Furthermore, Tspan8$^{+}$ cells exhibited enhanced cell–cell adhesion, diminished motility, and decreased sensitivity to irradiation. As a regulator of the content and function of extracellular vesicles (EVs), Tspan8 mediated a several‐fold increase in EV number in cell culture and the circulation of tumour‐bearing animals. We observed increased protein levels of E‐cadherin and p120‐catenin in these EVs; furthermore, Tspan8 and p120‐catenin were co‐immunoprecipitated, indicating that they may interact with each other. Altogether, our findings show the presence of Tspan8 in breast cancer primary lesion and metastases and indicate its role as a regulator of cell behaviour and EV release in breast cancer

Goodbye Hartmann trial: a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study on the current use of a surgical procedure developed a century ago

Background: Literature suggests colonic resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) instead of Hartmann's procedure (HP) for the treatment of left-sided colonic emergencies. We aim to evaluate the surgical options globally used to treat patients with acute left-sided colonic emergencies and the factors that leading to the choice of treatment, comparing HP and RPA. Methods: This is a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. A total 1215 patients with left-sided colonic emergencies who required surgery were included from 204 centers during the period of March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020. with a 1-year follow-up. Results: 564 patients (43.1%) were females. The mean age was 65.9 ± 15.6&nbsp;years. HP was performed in 697 (57.3%) patients and RPA in 384 (31.6%) cases. Complicated acute diverticulitis was the most common cause of left-sided colonic emergencies (40.2%), followed by colorectal malignancy (36.6%). Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b) were higher in the HP group (P &lt; 0.001). 30-day mortality was higher in HP patients (13.7%), especially in case of bowel perforation and diffused peritonitis. 1-year follow-up showed no differences on ostomy reversal rate between HP and RPA. (P = 0.127). A backward likelihood logistic regression model showed that RPA was preferred in younger patients, having low ASA score (≤ 3), in case of large bowel obstruction, absence of colonic ischemia, longer time from admission to surgery, operating early at the day working hours, by a surgeon who performed more than 50 colorectal resections. Conclusions: After 100&nbsp;years since the first Hartmann's procedure, HP remains the most common treatment for left-sided colorectal emergencies. Treatment's choice depends on patient characteristics, the time of surgery and the experience of the surgeon. RPA should be considered as the gold standard for surgery, with HP being an exception