The incidence and risk factors for development of lower limb lymphedema after treatment for gynaecological cancers

Background: The development of postoperative lower limb lymphedema (LLL) is a disabling, yet usually overlooked sequele of most gynecological cancer treatment. It can lead to significant functional problems that negatively affect gynecological cancer survivors’ daily living, work, emotional state, and overall quality of life. The objective of this study is to calculate the incidence of lower limb lymphedema in patients undergoing surgery for gynecological cancer and to evaluate the risk factors for its development.Methods: Women with newly diagnosed carcinoma ovary, carcinoma endometrium and carcinoma cervix, who underwent surgery at a tertiary cancer centre from September 2016 were included in the study. The circumference of both lower limbs was measured at prefixed sites. The limb volume was calculated using the formula C2/pi. A baseline value was taken prior to surgery. The patients were followed up every 3 months and the limb volume were calculated at each visit. An increase in limb volume by >10% was defined as lymphedema.Results: The incidence of lymphedema after 1 year follow up was 43.5%. There was no significant association between known risk factors such as extent of lymphadenectomy (p value 0.633) number of pelvic or para aortic lymph nodes removed (p value 0.69 and 0.44 respectively) and type of adjuvant therapy (p value 0.455).Conclusions: The incidence of LLL according to the present study was 43.5%. There was no statistically significant association between development of LLL and risk factors like site and number of lymph nodes removed and type of adjuvant therapy

Narrow Barred Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) Confirmed with Leucism from East Coast of India

A single abnormally pigmented leucistic fish was collected from commercial fish catch from off Bay of Bengal, east coast of India. Using morphometric and DNA barcoding analysis, the fish species was identified as narrow barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson). The standard length of the fish was 130 cm and weight was 1600 g. Mitochondrial COI gene sequence search of the leucistic fish specimen showed more similarity towards the species Scomberomorus commerson in the scombroid fish group. This is the first report confirm the species narrow barred Spanish mackerel with leucism from the region and is probably caused by random genetic alterations

Startegi Peningkatan Prestasi Belajar Siswa SD X di Salatiga Ditinjau dari Motivasi Belajar dan Kedisiplinan

Pendidikan formal dimulai dari tahap sekolah dasar dimana seorang anak mendapatkan semua informasi yang dialami dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Luas wilayah Indonesia yang sangat luas menjadi salah satu faktor kurangnya kemerataan kualitas, mutu dan sumberdaya yang ada. Kualitas pendiidkan dapat dilihat dari hasil belajar siswa. Salah satu faktor yang mempengaruhi hasil belajar adalah motivasi belajar dan kedisiplinan. Kedua hal tersebut memiliki keterkaitan satu sama lain terhasap hasil belajar. Oleh karena itu, dilakukan sebuah penelitian tentang apa strategi yang dilakukan untuk meningkatkan prestasi belajar siswa SD X di Salatiga ditinjau dari motivasi belajar dan kedisiplinan. Untuk mendapatkan jawaban dari pertanyaan di atas maka dilakukan sebuah penelitian dengan teknik pengumpulan data berupa wawancara dan pengambilan nilai sebagai hasil belajar siswa. Setelah data dianalisis dapat diketahui bahwa data tersebut normal sehingga dilakukan tindak lanjut dengan medan ggunakan uji normalitas data menggunakan metode stepwise. Uji tersebut menghasilkan faktor yang paling mempengaruhi hasil belajar siswa adalah disiplin. Berdasarkan hasil analisis yang dilakukan, maka perlu dilakukan treatment khusus pada disiplin siswa sehingga dapat berpengaruh juga pada hasil belajar

Efficiency of centrifugation on harvesting of the microalgae Nannochloropsis

The production of small sized fish larvae like grouper requires cultivation of appropriate live organisms and is based on the establishment of an artificial food chain. This includes production of primary producers like microalgae as well as small zooplankton like rotifers to feed the fish larvae. Among the microalgae used to feed rotifers, the eustigmatophyte Nannochloropsis is identified as suitable and is required in large quantity to support high rates of rotifer production required in finfish hatcheries

Plasmon-mediated, highly enhanced photocatalytic degradation of industrial textile dyes using hybrid ZnO@Ag core–shell nanorods

Hybrid ZnO@Ag core–shell heterojunction nanorods were synthesized using a novel, facile two-step process based on hydrothermal and seed mediated growth techniques. The material was characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), room temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy (RTPL), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The hybrid ZnO@Ag core–shell nanorods were comprised of one-dimensional (1D) ZnO nanorods serving as a core material, over which surface-doped Ag nanoclusters (2.5 nm) were anchored as a heterogeneous shell. The presence of oxygen vacancies and Zn interstitials were confirmed by RTPL and Raman spectroscopic analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the hybrid ZnO@Ag core–shell nanorods was studied in comparison to bare ZnO nanorods using standard R6G dye and industrial textile dyes such as Congo red and Amido black 10B under UV and visible light (solar) irradiations. Moreover, the material was tested for real time industrial textile effluents under ambient conditions and was found to be highly efficient. The enhanced photocatalytic property observed for ZnO@Ag hybrid core–shell nanorods is attributed to a phenomenal increase in oxygen related defects in the core that generate photo-induced charge carriers and the presence of plasmonic Ag nanoclusters in the shell, which act as a sink for the photo-induced charge carriers

Microbial Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery by the Aid of Inhabitant Spore-Forming Bacteria: An Insight Review

Crude oil is the major source of energy worldwide being exploited as a source of economy, including Oman. As the price of crude oil increases and crude oil reserves collapse, exploitation of oil resources in mature reservoirs is essential for meeting future energy demands. As conventional recovery methods currently used have become less efficient for the needs, there is a continuous demand of developing a new technology which helps in the upgradation of heavy crude oil. Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is an important tertiary oil recovery method which is cost-effective and eco-friendly technology to drive the residual oil trapped in the reservoirs. The potential of microorganisms to degrade heavy crude oil to reduce viscosity is considered to be very effective in MEOR. Earlier studies of MEOR (1950s) were based on three broad areas: injection, dispersion, and propagation of microorganisms in petroleum reservoirs; selective degradation of oil components to improve flow characteristics; and production of metabolites by microorganisms and their effects. Since thermophilic spore-forming bacteria can thrive in very extreme conditions in oil reservoirs, they are the most suitable organisms for the purpose. This paper contains the review of work done with thermophilic spore-forming bacteria by different researchers

Visakhapatnam Regional Centre: A Profile

The Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR - CMFRI had its beginning in 1947 as a Survey Unit, which was housed in the premises of the Department of Fisheries, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The main function of the Survey Unit was to collect the fish landing data. The Survey Unit was upgraded as a Research Unit and research activities were initiated in the year 1955 in the premises of Department of Zoology, Andhra University. Later, the Calcutta Research Unit of CMFRI was merged with the Visakhapatnam Research Unit of CMFRI in 1962. During 1970, the Research Unit housed within the premises of Department of Zoology, Andhra University was elevated to a Sub-station and subsequently as a Research Centre in 1976. The Research Centre moved into its own building in 1995, and was further upgraded as the Regional Centre on 17th October, 2001. The Kakinada Research Centre of CMFRI was merged with the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of CMFRI on 15th February, 200

Location of Immunization and Interferon-γ Are Central to Induction of Salivary Gland Dysfunction in Ro60 Peptide Immunized Model of Sjögren's Syndrome

INTRODUCTION: Anti-Ro antibodies can be found in the serum of the majority of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Immunization with a 60-kDa Ro peptide has been shown to induce SS-like symptoms in mice. The aim of this study was to investigate factors involved in salivary gland (SG) dysfunction after immunization and to test whether the induction of SS could be improved. METHODS: Ro60 peptide immunization was tested in Balb/c mice, multiple antigenic peptide (MAP)-Ro60 and Pertussis toxin (PTX) were tested in SJL/J mice. In addition, two injection sites were compared in these two strains: the abdominal area and the tailbase. Each group of mice was tested for a loss of SG function, SG lymphocytic infiltration, anti-Ro and anti-La antibody formation, and cytokine production in cultured cells or homogenized SG extracts. RESULTS: Ro60 peptide immunization in the abdominal area of female Balb/c mice led to impaired SG function, which corresponded with increased Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-12) systemically and locally in the SG. Moreover, changing the immunization conditions to MAP-Ro60 in the abdominal area, and to lesser extend in the tailbase, also led to impaired SG function in SJL/J mice. As was seen in the Balb/c mice, increased IFN-γ in the SG draining lymph nodes accompanied the SG dysfunction. However, no correlation was observed with anti-MAP-Ro60 antibody titers, and there was no additional effect on disease onset or severity. CONCLUSIONS: Effective induction of salivary gland dysfunction after Ro60 peptide immunization depended on the site of injection. Disease induction was not affected by changing the immunization conditions. However, of interest is that the mechanism of action of Ro60 peptide immunization appears to involve an increase in Th1 cytokines, resulting in the induction of SG dysfunction

A Novel Modular Antigen Delivery System for Immuno Targeting of Human 6-sulfo LacNAc-Positive Blood Dendritic Cells (SlanDCs)

Previously, we identified a major myeloid-derived proinflammatory subpopulation of human blood dendritic cells which we termed slanDCs (e.g. Schäkel et al. (2006) Immunity 24, 767-777). The slan epitope is an O-linked sugar modification (6-sulfo LacNAc, slan) of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1). As slanDCs can induce neoantigen-specific CD4+ T cells and tumor-reactive CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, they appear as promising targets for an in vivo delivery of antigens for vaccination. However, tools for delivery of antigens to slanDCs were not available until now. Moreover, it is unknown whether or not antigens delivered via the slan epitope can be taken up, properly processed and presented by slanDCs to T cells.Single chain fragment variables were prepared from presently available decavalent monoclonal anti-slan IgM antibodies but failed to bind to slanDCs. Therefore, a novel multivalent anti-slanDC scaffold was developed which consists of two components: (i) a single chain bispecific recombinant diabody (scBsDb) that is directed on the one hand to the slan epitope and on the other hand to a novel peptide epitope tag, and (ii) modular (antigen-containing) linker peptides that are flanked at both their termini with at least one peptide epitope tag. Delivery of a Tetanus Toxin-derived antigen to slanDCs via such a scBsDb/antigen scaffold allowed us to recall autologous Tetanus-specific memory T cells.In summary our data show that (i) the slan epitope can be used for delivery of antigens to this class of human-specific DCs, and (ii) antigens bound to the slan epitope can be taken up by slanDCs, processed and presented to T cells. Consequently, our novel modular scaffold system may be useful for the development of human vaccines