49 research outputs found
Electrochemical approach of Kalmegh leaf extract on the corrosion behavior of aluminium alloy in alkaline solution
The evolutionary and functional diversity of classical and lesser-known cytoplasmic and organellar translational GTPases across the tree of life
Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic
Introduction Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality. Methods Prospective cohort study in 109 institutions in 41 countries. Inclusion criteria: children <18 years who were newly diagnosed with or undergoing active treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, Wilms tumour, glioma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma. Of 2327 cases, 2118 patients were included in the study. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 30 days, 90 days and 12 months. Results All-cause mortality was 3.4% (n=71/2084) at 30-day follow-up, 5.7% (n=113/1969) at 90-day follow-up and 13.0% (n=206/1581) at 12-month follow-up. The median time from diagnosis to multidisciplinary team (MDT) plan was longest in low-income countries (7 days, IQR 3-11). Multivariable analysis revealed several factors associated with 12-month mortality, including low-income (OR 6.99 (95% CI 2.49 to 19.68); p<0.001), lower middle income (OR 3.32 (95% CI 1.96 to 5.61); p<0.001) and upper middle income (OR 3.49 (95% CI 2.02 to 6.03); p<0.001) country status and chemotherapy (OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.86); p=0.008) and immunotherapy (OR 0.27 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.91); p=0.035) within 30 days from MDT plan. Multivariable analysis revealed laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 5.33 (95% CI 1.19 to 23.84); p=0.029) was associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusions Children with cancer are more likely to die within 30 days if infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, timely treatment reduced odds of death. This report provides crucial information to balance the benefits of providing anticancer therapy against the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer
Consequences of Mesobuthus tamulus gangeticus (Pocock, 1900) envenomation in albino mice
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Mesobuthus tamulus gangeticus Pocock (Buthidae) venom on albino mice (NIH strain). Whole venom was obtained by electrical stimulation and its toxicity was determined in albino mice by subcutaneous envenomation. The venom LD50 was 2.5 mg kg-1 of mouse body weight. Toxic effects on different biochemical and enzymatic parameters in blood serum and other tissues of albino mice were determined after experimental envenomation with sublethal doses of M. tamulus gangeticus venom. Increased levels of glucose, uric acid and cholesterol, as well as decreased serum total proteins, were observed at 2 and 4 hours after the envenomation. In the liver and muscles, glycogen content dropped after venom injection. Moreover, M. tamulus gangeticus venom elevated the enzymatic activity of acid phosphatase (ACP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the serum of albino mice. In conclusion, M. tamulus gangeticus can be considered a lethal scorpion species
Antivenom reversal of biochemical alterations induced by black scorpion Heterometrus fastigiousus Couzijn venom in mice
In the present study, Heterometrus fastigiousus venom (HFV) was employed as antigen to produce species-specific scorpion antivenom (SAV) in albino mice (NIH) strain. To determine SAV efficacy, it was pre-incubated with 10 LD50 of HFV and then injected subcutaneously into mice. Subsequently, mortality was observed after 24 hours. Minimum effective dose (MED) was 12.5 LD50 of HFV/mL of SAV. SAV effectiveness to reverse HFV-induced biochemical alterations in mice was analyzed by challenge method. Simultaneously, mice received subcutaneously 40% of 24-hour-LD50 of HFV and intravenously SAV. After four hours, changes in serum glucose, free amino acids, uric acids, pyruvic acid, cholesterol, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, lactic dehydrogenase and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase enzyme level were determined. Treatment with species-specific SAV resulted in the reversal of HFV-induced biochemical alterations
Repellent, contact and fumigant activities of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L.âHĂ©r) essential oils against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Rhyzopertha dominica (F.)
Not Available
Not AvailableSuccessful purification of multiple viruses from mixed infections remains a
challenge. In this study, we investigated peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV)
and foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) mixed infection in goats. Rather than in
a single cell type, cytopathic effect (CPE) of the virus was observed in
cocultured Vero/BHK-21 cells at 6th blind passage (BP). PPRV, but not FMDV could
be purified from the virus mixture by plaque assay. Viral RNA (mixture)
transfection in BHK-21 cells produced FMDV but not PPRV virions, a strategy which
we have successfully employed for the first time to eliminate the
negative-stranded RNA virus from the virus mixture. FMDV phenotypes, such as
replication competent but noncytolytic, cytolytic but defective in plaque
formation and, cytolytic but defective in both plaque formation and standard FMDV
genome were observed respectively, at passage level BP8, BP15 and BP19 and hence
complicated virus isolation in the cell culture system. Mixed infection was not
found to induce any significant antigenic and genetic diversity in both PPRV and
FMDV. Further, we for the first time demonstrated the viral interference between
PPRV and FMDV. Prior transfection of PPRV RNA, but not Newcastle disease virus
(NDV) and rotavirus RNA resulted in reduced FMDV replication in BHK-21 cells
suggesting that the PPRV RNA-induced interference was specifically directed
against FMDV. On long-term coinfection of some acute pathogenic viruses (all
possible combinations of PPRV, FMDV, NDV and buffalopox virus) in Vero cells, in
most cases, one of the coinfecting viruses was excluded at passage level 5
suggesting that the long-term coinfection may modify viral persistence. To the
best of our knowledge, this is the first documented evidence describing a natural
mixed infection of FMDV and PPRV. The study not only provides simple and reliable
methodologies for isolation and purification of two epidemiologically and
economically important groups of viruses, but could also help in establishing
better guidelines for trading animals that could transmit further infections and
epidemics in disease free nations.Not Availabl