Ureteral obstruction by an aberrant renal artery: A case report

The ureter is a muscular tubular structure that carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder. It is usually about 20–25 cmin length and 3–5 mm diameter. The upper half lies in the belly and the lower half in the pelvic area. A ureteral obstruction is ablockage of either unilateral or bilateral ureters that carry urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. Ureteral obstruction canbe curable. However, if it is not treated, symptoms can quickly move from mild pain, fever, and infection to severe including lossof kidney function, sepsis, and death. Here, we report the case of an upper ureteral obstruction by an aberrant artery. The arterywas originating from the right renal artery, supplying the right psoas muscle, and causing gross proximal hydroureteronephrosisin a 24-year-old male patient. The patient was diagnosed using contrast-enhanced computed tomography through the abdomenexamination

OBSTRUCTED PAN CAKE KIDNEY IN A CHILD MANAGED BY IMAGE GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROSTOMY

Pancake kidney, also called pelvic fused kidney, lump or cake kidney, is a rare type of congenital renal fusion anomaly. It is characterized by the presence of a lobulated pelvic renal mass which has a dual parenchymatous system without an intervening septum.  Pancake kidney is prone to obstruction due to abnormal rotation of collecting system and calculus. When a patient presents with a nonfunctioning and obstructed kidney, a temporary nephrostomy preserves any recoverable renal tissue. Many a times a seemingly alarming radiological appearance where little functional recovery is expected, dramatic improvement in renal function has been noticed. We report a case of pancake kidney with right PUJ and left ureteric calculus causing hydronephrosis in a 9-years-old male child, evaluated by ultrasonography and MDCT, underwent image guided (sonography and fluoroscopy) percutaneous nephrostomy for relieving the ureteric obstruction. Keywords: Renal fusion, pancake kidney, percutaneous nephrostomy, nephrostogram

Innovative investigation of zinc oxide nanoparticles used in dentistry

Dental caries is a major lifestyle concern as dental components affect the face of an individual. The issue of tooth decay occurs in every age group throughout the globe. Researchers are probing incipient implements and techniques to develop filling agents for decayed teeth. Zinc oxide (ZnO) powder is utilized mostly as a filling agent. Nanotechnology enhanced the efficiency of compounds of metal oxides utilized for dental caries. The present study aims to investigate the properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized chemically (using ZnCl2 and NaOH) as well as biologically (using aqueous leaf extract of Murraya paniculata). The XRD patterns confirm that ZnO NPs have a hexagonal crystalline structure with particle sizes of 47 nm and 55 nm for chemically and biologically synthesized NPs, respectively. The FE-SEM data confirm the nanorod and spherical/cubical shape morphologies for the chemically and biologically synthesized ZnO NPs, respectively. FTIR data show the peaks between 4000 and 450 cm(-1) of the functional groups of -OH, C-O, -C-H-, and Zn-O bonds. The UV-Vis absorption study indicates a peak around 370 nm and a hump around 360 nm corresponding to the chemically and biologically synthesized ZnO NPs, respectively. An antibacterial bioassay was performed and compared with commercially available ZnO bulk powder against tooth decaying pathogens, viz., Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Lactobacillus fermentum, and found that both ZnO NPs had results closer to those of the standard drug (rifampicin). Thus, the synthesized ZnO NPs may be utilized as nano-drugs for the application of tooth decaying filling agents. Even biologically synthesized ZnO NPs may be considered more environmentally friendly and less toxic to human health concerns.UGC, New DelhiUniversity Grants Commission, UGC; University of Lucknow, L

Fabrication of α‑Fe2O3 Nanostructures: synthesis, characterization, and their promising application in the treatment of Carcinoma A549 Lung Cancer Cells

In the present work, iron nanoparticles were synthesized in the α-Fe2O3 phase with the reduction of potassium hexachloroferrate(III) by using l-ascorbic acid as a reducing agent in the presence of an amphiphilic non-ionic polyethylene glycol surfactant in an aqueous solution. The synthesized α-Fe2O3 NPs were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry. The powder X-ray diffraction analysis result confirmed the formation of α-Fe2O3 NPs, and the average crystallite size was found to be 45 nm. The other morphological studies suggested that α-Fe2O3 NPs were predominantly spherical in shape with a diameter ranges from 40 to 60 nm. The dynamic light scattering analysis revealed the zeta potential of α-Fe2O3 NPs as −28 ± 18 mV at maximum stability. The ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry analysis shows an absorption peak at 394 nm, which is attributed to their surface plasmon vibration. The cytotoxicity test of synthesized α-Fe2O3 NPs was investigated against human carcinoma A549 lung cancer cells, and the biological adaptability exhibited by α-Fe2O3 NPs has opened a pathway to biomedical applications in the drug delivery system. Our investigation confirmed that l-ascorbic acid-coated α-Fe2O3 NPs with calculated IC50 ≤ 30 μg/mL are the best suited as an anticancer agent, showing the promising application in the treatment of carcinoma A549 lung cancer cells

Study of structural transformation in TiO2 nanoparticles and its optical properties

Pure and mixed phase TiO2 have been prepared by sol-gel method; calcinated at four different temperatures. The influence of calcination temperature on crystallite size, morphology, band gap and luminescence properties of resultant material have been investigated. Different trends were observed in the phase transformation, particle growth, shift in energy band gap and in luminescence with the change in tensile strain to compressive strain of the prepared TiO2 nanomaterial. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that prepared nanocrystals have pure anatase and anatase-rutile mixed structures. The prepared samples having crystallite size between 19 nm to 68 nm were observed at different calcination temperatures. Williamson-Hall plot results indicate the presence of tensile strain at 400, 500 and 600 degrees C while compressive strain at 700 degrees C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that the particles are non-uniform. Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) is used to calculate the energy band gap of materials and it has been observed that the band gap decreases with increase in temperature. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) describes local environment around TiO2 nanoparticles. Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) exhibits the change in PL intensity with phase change and different trends have been observed in emission edges

Reactive oxygen species signaling and stomatal movement: Current updates and future perspectives

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), a by-product of aerobic metabolism were initially studied in context to their damaging effect but recent decades witnessed significant advancements in understanding the role of ROS as signaling molecules. Contrary to earlier views, it is becoming evident that ROS production is not necessarily a symptom of cellular dysfunction but it might represent a necessary signal in adjusting the cellular machinery according to the altered conditions. Stomatal movement is controlled by multifaceted signaling network in response to endogenous and environmental signals. Furthermore, the stomatal aperture is regulated by a coordinated action of signaling proteins, ROS-generating enzymes, and downstream executors like transporters, ion pumps, plasma membrane channels, which control the turgor pressure of the guard cell. The earliest hallmarks of stomatal closure are ROS accumulation in the apoplast and chloroplasts and thereafter, there is a successive increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ level which rules the multiple kinases activity that in turn regulates the activity of ROS-generating enzymes and various ion channels. In addition, ROS also regulate the action of multiple proteins directly by oxidative post translational modifications to adjust guard cell signaling. Notwithstanding, an active progress has been made with ROS signaling mechanism but the regulatory action for ROS signaling processes in stomatal movement is still fragmentary. Therefore, keeping in view the above facts, in this mini review the basic concepts and role of ROS signaling in the stomatal movement have been presented comprehensively along with recent highlights. Keywords: Calcium, Guard Cell, Reactive oxygen species, Stomatal movement, Transcription factor

Synthesis based structural and optical behavior of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles

The effect of synthesis method on optical and photoconducting properties of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles has been investigated. Sol-gel and co-precipitation methods have been employed to prepare pure anatase phased TiO2 nanoparticles calcinated at different temperatures below 500 degrees C. The optimized value of average crystallite size is within the range of 19-21 nm for a common calcination temperature of 400 degrees C for both the methods. The redshift in optical band gap of 0.9 eV has been observed for the sample synthesized by co-precipitation method with respect to the sol-gel method. The photoluminescence spectrum exhibits broad visible emission in both routes of synthesis while photoconductivity shows fast growth and decay of photocurrent in TiO2 prepared by co-precipitation method as compared to TiO2 prepared by the sol-gel method under visible illumination. Crystal structure based Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data, scanning electron microscopy as well as photoluminescence and photoconductivity measurements were performed to characterize nanocrystalline anatase TiO2

Identification of novel single nucleotide polymorphisms in the DGAT1 gene of buffaloes by PCR-SSCP

Diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) is a microsomal enzyme that catalyzes the final step of triglyceride synthesis. The DGAT1 gene is a strong functional candidate for determining milk fat content in cattle. In this work, we used PCR-SSCP (polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism) and DNA sequencing to examine polymorphism in the region spanning exon 7 to exon 9 of the DGAT1 gene in Murrah and Pandharpuri buffaloes. Three alleles (A, B and C) and four novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in the buffalo DGAT1 gene. The frequencies of the alleles differed between the two buffalo breeds, with allele C being present in Murrah but not in Pandharpuri buffalo. The allele variation detected in this work may influence DGAT1 expression and function. The results described here could be useful in examining the association between the DGAT1 gene and milk traits in buffalo

Regulation of ascorbate-glutathione cycle by exogenous nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide in soybean roots under arsenate stress

The role of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is well known for regulating plant abiotic stress responses. However, underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Therefore, the present study investigated the involvement of NO and H2O2 signalling in the regulation of arsenate toxicity (AsV) in soybean roots employing a pharmacological approach. Results show that AsV toxicity declined root length and biomass due to greater As accumulation in the cell wall and cellular organelles. Arsenate induced cell death due to enhanced levels of reactive oxygen species, lipid and protein oxidation and down-regulation in ascorbate-glutathione cycle and redox states of ascorbate and glutathione. These results correlate with lower endogenous level of NO. Interestingly, addition of L-NAME increased AsV toxicity. However, addition of SNP reverses effect of L-NAME, suggesting that endogenous NO has a role in mitigating AsV toxicity. Exogenous H2O2 also demonstrated capability of alleviating AsV stress, while NAC reversed the protective effect of H2O2. Furthermore, DPI application further increased AsV toxicity, suggesting that endogenous H2O2 is also implicated in mitigating AsV stress. SNP was not able to mitigate AsV toxicity in the presence of DPI, suggesting that H2O2 might have acted downstream of NO in accomplishing amelioration of AsV toxicity