Accidental High Voltage Electrocution: a Case Report

Background: Without electricity, mankind wouldn’t have progressed to the heights we are at now. As much as electricity is helpful, being careless with it can be fatal. The passage of electric current through the body produces wide range of effects, varying from insignificant localised spasm, little or no contact burns, fatality with little or no burns or extreme severe burning.Case Report: This case report discusses the injuries sustained by a young adult, due to accidental contact with high tension wire.Conclusion: This paper also highlights safety rules pertaining to high voltage cables

Hydrosomes: femtoliter containers for fluorescence spectroscopy studies

We report on improvements and innovations in the use of hydrosomes to encapsulate and study single molecules. Hydrosomes are optically-trappable aqueous nanodroplets. The droplets are suspended in a fluorocarbon medium that is immiscible with water and has an index of refraction lower than water, so hydrosomes are stable and optically trapped by a focused laser beam (optical tweezers). Using optical tweezers, we hold the hydrosomes within a confocal observation volume and interrogate the encapsulated molecule by fluorescence excitation. This method allows for long observation times of a molecule without the need for surface immobilization or liposome encapsulation. We have developed a new way for creating hydrosomes on demand by inertially launching them into the fluorocarbon matrix using a piezo-activated micropipette. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy studies are carried out to characterize the effects of the hydrosome interface boundary on biological molecules and to determine whether molecules encapsulated within hydrosomes diffuse freely throughout the available volume. We measured the fluorescence anisotropy decay of 20mer DNA duplexes, and enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP). We conclude that the molecules rotate freely inside the nanodroplets and do not stick or aggregate at the boundary

Hydrosomes: femtoliter containers for fluorescence spectroscopy studies

We report on improvements and innovations in the use of hydrosomes to encapsulate and study single molecules. Hydrosomes are optically-trappable aqueous nanodroplets. The droplets are suspended in a fluorocarbon medium that is immiscible with water and has an index of refraction lower than water, so hydrosomes are stable and optically trapped by a focused laser beam (optical tweezers). Using optical tweezers, we hold the hydrosomes within a confocal observation volume and interrogate the encapsulated molecule by fluorescence excitation. This method allows for long observation times of a molecule without the need for surface immobilization or liposome encapsulation. We have developed a new way for creating hydrosomes on demand by inertially launching them into the fluorocarbon matrix using a piezo-activated micropipette. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy studies are carried out to characterize the effects of the hydrosome interface boundary on biological molecules and to determine whether molecules encapsulated within hydrosomes diffuse freely throughout the available volume. We measured the fluorescence anisotropy decay of 20mer DNA duplexes, and enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP). We conclude that the molecules rotate freely inside the nanodroplets and do not stick or aggregate at the boundary

Potential removal of phenol using modified laterite adsorbent

Phenol is a notorious persistent bioaccumulative toxic substance. Being a primary pollutant, phenol has to be removed completely due to its toxicity even at low concentrations. Now-a-days the use of low cost adsorbents for the effective removal of contaminants from waste water poses a big challenge to the researchers. Modified laterite, a cheap and effective adsorbent was chosen as the adsorbent in the present study. The experiments were carried out to identify optimum values of different parameters that influence the process such as contact time, pH, initial concentration and adsorbent dosage etc. The kinetics of the adsorption process were also studied and found that pseudo second order model was the good fit. Three different isotherm models, viz., Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin were applied and observed that Freundlich model was obeyed with good agreement. The investigation shows that modified laterite as a low cost adsorbent, can efficiently remove phenol from waste water

Potential removal of phenol using modified laterite adsorbent

613-619Phenol is a notorious persistent bioaccumulative toxic substance. Being a primary pollutant, phenol has to be removed completely due to its toxicity even at low concentrations. Now-a-days the use of low cost adsorbents for the effective removal of contaminants from waste water poses a big challenge to the researchers. Modified laterite, a cheap and effective adsorbent was chosen as the adsorbent in the present study. The experiments were carried out to identify optimum values of different parameters that influence the process such as contact time, pH, initial concentration and adsorbent dosage etc. The kinetics of the adsorption process were also studied and found that pseudo second order model was the good fit. Three different isotherm models, viz., Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin were applied and observed that Freundlich model was obeyed with good agreement. The investigation shows that modified laterite as a low cost adsorbent, can efficiently remove phenol from waste water

A comparative study of efficacy of ropivacaine (0.75%) with adjuvants – dexmedetomidine and fentanyl in supraclavicular brachial plexus block

Background: Brachial plexus block is preferred to general anesthesia (GA) as it reduces many complications of GA, provides good intra and postoperative analgesia, adequate muscle relaxation. Addition of adjuvants along with LA is used to prolong block with improved quality of anesthesia and decrease dose of LA. This study was done to see the efficacy of Ropivacaine with dexmedetomidine and fentanyl in terms of duration of action and pain relief. Aims and Objectives: Dexmedetomidine and Fentanyl along with Ropivacaine in patients undergoing upper limb surgeries, the onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade as well as post op analgesia is compared. Materials and Methods: Prospective Randomized Comparative study with three groups randomly divided received total volume of 30 mL of drug in peripheral nerve stimulator guided supraclavicular blocks in patients undergoing upper limb surgeries. Group Dexmedetomidine received 28 cc of 0.75% Ropivacaine and Dexmedetomidine (1 mcg/kg), Group Fentanyl patients received 28 cc of 0.75% Ropivacaine and fentanyl (1 mcg/kg), whereas, group plain Ropivacaine patients received 28 cc of 0.75% Ropivacaine and 2 mL of normal saline. Haemodynamics, sensory and motor block (MB) were evaluated by VAS and modified Bromage scale. Results: The onset of sensory block and MB in the dexmedetomidine group, fentanyl group, and ropivacaine groups was 3.57±0.50 min and 4.47±0.51 min, 5.50±0.51 min and 7.53±0.51 min, and 8.07±0.79 min and 10.07±0.79 min respectively which were statistically significant. The duration of MB in the dexmedetomidine group, fentanyl group, and ropivacaine group were 6.57±0.50 h, 4.47±0.51 h, and 2.50±0.51 h respectively which was statistically significant (P=0.0000). The duration at which first postoperative analgesia was required in the dexmedetomidine group, fentanyl group, and ropivacaine group were 8.57±0.50 h, 6.57±0.50 h, and 5.30±0.47 h respectively. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine is better as an adjuvant to Ropivacaine for brachial plexus block in terms of onset and duration

Fungal melanin stimulates surfactant protein D-mediated opsonization of and host immune response to Aspergillus fumigatus spores

© 2018 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc. Surfactant protein D (SP-D), a C-type lectin and pattern-recognition soluble factor, plays an important role in immune surveillance to detect and eliminate human pulmonary pathogens. SP-D has been shown to protect against infections with the most ubiquitous airborne fungal pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus, but the fungal surface component(s) interacting with SP-D is unknown. Here, we show that SP-D binds to melanin pigment on the surface of A. fumigatus dormant spores (conidia). SP-D also exhibited an affinity to two cell-wall polysaccharides of A. fumigatus, galactomannan (GM) and galactosaminogalactan (GAG). The immunolabeling pattern of SP-D was punctate on the conidial surface and was uniform on germinating conidia, in accordance with the localization of melanin, GM, and GAG. We also found that the collagen-like domain of SP-D is involved in its interaction with melanin, whereas its carbohydrate-recognition domain recognized GM and GAG. Unlike un-opsonized conidia, SP-D- opsonized conidia were phagocytosed more efficiently and stimulated the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by human monocyte-derived macrophages. Furthermore, SP-D/ mice challenged intranasally with wildtype conidia or melanin ghosts (i.e. hollow melanin spheres) displayed significantly reduced proinflammatory cytokines in the lung compared with wildtype mice. In summary, SP-D binds to melanin present on the dormant A. fumigatus conidial surface, facilitates conidial phagocytosis, and stimulates the host immune response

Surfactant protein D induces immune quiescence and apoptosis of mitogen-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Surfactant Protein D (SP-D) is an integral molecule of the innate immunity secreted by the epithelial cells lining the mucosal surfaces. Its C-type lectin domain offers pattern recognition functions while it binds to putative receptors on immune cells to modify cellular functions. Activated PBMCs and increased serum levels of SP-D are observed under a range of pathophysiological conditions including infections. Thus, we speculated if SP-D can modulate systemic immune response via direct interaction with activated PBMCs. Here, we have examined interaction of a recombinant fragment of human SP-D (rhSP-D) on PHA-activated PBMCs. We observed a significant downregulation of TLR2, TLR4, CD11c and CD69 upon rhSP-D treatment. rhSP-D inhibited production of Th1 (TNF-α and IFN-γ) and Th17 (IL-17) cytokines along with IL-6. Interestingly, levels of IL-2, Th2 (IL-4) and regulatory (IL-10 and TGF-β) cytokines were unaltered. Differential expression of co-stimulatory CD28 and co-inhibitory CTLA4 expression along with their ligands CD80 and CD86 revealed selective up-regulation of CTLA4 at both mRNA and protein level. In addition, rhSP-D induced apoptosis only in the activated but not in non-activated PBMCs. Blockade of CTLA4 inhibited rhSP-D mediated apoptosis, confirming an involvement of CTLA4 in induction of apoptosis. We conclude that SP-D restores immune homeostasis: it regulates expression of immunomodulatory receptors and cytokines, which is followed by apoptosis induction of immune-activated cells. These findings appear to suggest a general role for SPD in immune surveillance against activated immune cells

Human Protein Reference Database—2009 update

Human Protein Reference Database (HPRD—http://www.hprd.org/), initially described in 2003, is a database of curated proteomic information pertaining to human proteins. We have recently added a number of new features in HPRD. These include PhosphoMotif Finder, which allows users to find the presence of over 320 experimentally verified phosphorylation motifs in proteins of interest. Another new feature is a protein distributed annotation system—Human Proteinpedia (http://www.humanproteinpedia.org/)—through which laboratories can submit their data, which is mapped onto protein entries in HPRD. Over 75 laboratories involved in proteomics research have already participated in this effort by submitting data for over 15 000 human proteins. The submitted data includes mass spectrometry and protein microarray-derived data, among other data types. Finally, HPRD is also linked to a compendium of human signaling pathways developed by our group, NetPath (http://www.netpath.org/), which currently contains annotations for several cancer and immune signaling pathways. Since the last update, more than 5500 new protein sequences have been added, making HPRD a comprehensive resource for studying the human proteome

Detection of Heteroplasmic Mitochondrial DNA in Single Mitochondria

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome mutations can lead to energy and respiratory-related disorders like myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fiber disease (MERRF), mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke (MELAS) syndrome, and Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). It is not well understood what effect the distribution of mutated mtDNA throughout the mitochondrial matrix has on the development of mitochondrial-based disorders. Insight into this complex sub-cellular heterogeneity may further our understanding of the development of mitochondria-related diseases. METHODOLOGY: This work describes a method for isolating individual mitochondria from single cells and performing molecular analysis on that single mitochondrion's DNA. An optical tweezer extracts a single mitochondrion from a lysed human HL-60 cell. Then a micron-sized femtopipette tip captures the mitochondrion for subsequent analysis. Multiple rounds of conventional DNA amplification and standard sequencing methods enable the detection of a heteroplasmic mixture in the mtDNA from a single mitochondrion. SIGNIFICANCE: Molecular analysis of mtDNA from the individually extracted mitochondrion demonstrates that a heteroplasmy is present in single mitochondria at various ratios consistent with the 50/50 heteroplasmy ratio found in single cells that contain multiple mitochondria