Induction of Mincle by Helicobacter pylori and consequent anti-inflammatory signaling denote a bacterial survival strategy

Evasion of innate immune recognition is one of the key strategies for persistence of Helicobacter pylori, by virtue of its ability to modulate or escape the host innate immune receptors and signaling pathways. C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) predominantly expressed by macrophages are pivotal in tailoring immune response against pathogens. The recognition of glyco or carbohydrate moieties by Mincle (Macrophage inducible C-type lectin) is emerging as a crucial element in anti-fungal and anti-mycobacterial immunity. Herein, we demonstrate the role of Mincle in modulation of innate immune response against H. pylori infection. Our results revealed an upregulated expression of Mincle which was independent of direct host cell contact. Upon computational modelling, Mincle was observed to interact with the Lewis antigens of H. pylori LPS and possibly activating an anti-inflammatory cytokine production, thereby maintaining a balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production. Furthermore, siRNA mediated knockdown of Mincle in human macrophages resulted in up regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and consequent down regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, our study demonstrates a novel mechanism employed by H. pylori to escape clearance by exploiting functional plasticity of Mincle to strike a balance between pro-and anti-inflammatory responses ensuring its persistence in the host

Obstetric hysterectomy: a retrospective study

Background: Obstetric hysterectomy (OH) is last resort usually opted to save life of a mother in critical obstetric conditions compromising her reproductive potential. With increasing caesarean deliveries incidence of morbidly adhered placenta is increasing, thus increasing need of OH. We aimed to study socio-demographic factors, incidence, indications, complications and feto-maternal outcomes associated with obstetric hysterectomy. Also, we aimed to study factors which affect the maternal and fetal outcome in obstetric hysterectomy case so as to minimize maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analytical study of 2 years 6 months in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at a tertiary and teaching institute of western Maharashtra.Results: The incidence of obstetric hysterectomy was 0.4%. Majority of women were between 25-35 years age group and parity two or more. Most common indication was postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) (41.1%) followed by uterine rupture (29.4%) and adhered placenta (23.5%). Most common risk factor found was previous caesarean delivery. Most common complication was need of intensive care unit (ICU) and vasopressor support.Conclusions: Proper antenatal care, screening for high-risk obstetric cases and registration of those patients at a well-equipped hospital and early referral and delivery at tertiary hospital by expert surgeon with timely decision, timely and adequate transfusions can prevent maternal and fetal complications

Methods to Reduce Communication Workload for UAM Operations

Implementation of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations, or air passenger transportation systems within densely populated metropolitan areas, seeks to mitigate increasing traffic congestion. However, the development and integration of UAM operations into the national airspace system comes with its own unique challenges, such as vehicle requirements, flight planning and scheduling, and coordination between UAM flights and air traffic controllers. In particular, verbal coordination will play an integral part in the determined success of UAM operations and its ability to meet projected high consumer demands. In order to meet demands and higher traffic volumes on UAM routes, verbal communication between the UAM pilot and controller must be streamlined to reduce the controller's workload while helping to maintain safety within a given airspace. One method of reducing verbal workload are Letters Of Agreement (LOAs) that outline responsibilities and procedures for operations in an airspace. These LOAs will specify the operations, procedures, and routes for UAM flights. The proposed study will examine the usability of two route formatting styles for LOAs; (i) Verbal route descriptions and (ii) Tower En Route Control (TECs) routes. Verbal route descriptions will include the route name and associated visual cues on the route. The TEC route versions will include relevant waypoints and charts outlining the route with waypoints marked. The study will be part of a UAM X1 human in the loop (HITL) simulation. Controller participants will handle traditional air traffic including moderate levels of UAM traffic on current and modified helicopter routes within the Dallas Fort-Worth area. Scenarios will be counterbalanced and repeated to test both route formatting versions. After each trial, participants will rate the usability of the LOA used in the previous trial via a subjective questionnaire. We expect that controllers will prefer the LOA with TEC routes due to simplicity and visual elements available

Induction of Mincle by Helicobacter pylori and consequent anti-inflammatory signaling denote a bacterial survival strategy

Evasion of innate immune recognition is one of the key strategies for persistence of Helicobacter pylori, by virtue of its ability to modulate or escape the host innate immune receptors and signaling pathways. C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) predominantly expressed by macrophages are pivotal in tailoring immune response against pathogens. The recognition of glyco or carbohydrate moieties by Mincle (Macrophage inducible C-type lectin) is emerging as a crucial element in anti-fungal and anti-mycobacterial immunity. Herein, we demonstrate the role of Mincle in modulation of innate immune response against H. pylori infection. Our results revealed an upregulated expression of Mincle which was independent of direct host cell contact. Upon computational modelling, Mincle was observed to interact with the Lewis antigens of H. pylori LPS and possibly activating an anti-inflammatory cytokine production, thereby maintaining a balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production. Furthermore, siRNA mediated knockdown of Mincle in human macrophages resulted in up regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and consequent down regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, our study demonstrates a novel mechanism employed by H. pylori to escape clearance by exploiting functional plasticity of Mincle to strike a balance between pro-and anti-inflammatory responses ensuring its persistence in the host

Enhancing women's knowledge and awareness of preconception care: promoting optimal reproductive health outcomes

Background: Preconception care (PCC) is crucial to mother and child health. Many women don't realise how PCC might affect pregnancy and labour. Hence, we aimed to assess women's current knowledge and awareness levels regarding PCC, enhance knowledge, and empower women to prioritize proactive healthcare before conception. Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 200 reproductive-age women. Infertility therapy (n=50), poor obstetrics history (n=50), and term delivery (n=100) were the three groups. Family, gynaecological, and demographic data were obtained. Preconception care and medical issues that affect pregnancy outcomes were taught to all study participants to identify risk factors. Results: Most participants were aged between 18 and 25 (48%). Primary infertility was present in 52% of women. The main causes of infertility were pelvic inflammatory disease (40%) and genital tuberculosis (20%), treated with antibiotics and anti-tubercular medicines, respectively. Only 1 woman had both preconception and antenatal checkups, while 30 had neither. Maternal morbidity occurred in 52% of normal deliveries, with anaemia being the most prevalent. Caesarean sections were mostly due to prior 1 lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) (32%). Conception and healthy births were achieved in 10% and 6% of BOH patients and 18% and 10% of infertile patients, respectively. Conclusions: There is a need to provide women with accurate and detailed information on PCC and to establish functional clinics with evidence-based guidelines to enhance uptake and pregnancy outcomes

Liver cirrhosis, hydroureter and splenomegaly in a cadaver : a case study

Background: Liver cirrhosis is among the most common causes of death in the United States. Cirrhosis can result from alcoholic liver disease, hepatitis, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Advanced cases of liver cirrhosis may result in complications such as portal hypertension, hepatosplenomegaly, varices, and many others. Case Presentation: This report describes a case of extensive liver cirrhosis found during the cadaveric dissection of a 71-year-old male. Observation revealed a slightly enlarged, cirrhotic liver with recanalization of the umbilical vein (of the round ligament). The patient also had significant splenomegaly, indicative of portal hypertension, and dilation of the left ureter. In developing countries, the leading cause of liver cirrhosis is schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis has been shown to cause both liver cirrhosis and hydroureter (Genitourinary schistosomiasis, 2012). While this infection cannot be completely ruled out, the likelihood that this was the case in this cadaver is unlikely. Discussion: Non-invasive and cost-effective options such as serum and imaging tests can prove useful in detecting liver pathology. Detection of early liver disease and intervention can decrease the incidence of advanced complications and prolong life (Smith et al. 2019). In the case of hydroureter, a parasitic infection can be ruled out by laboratory analysis of stool or urine samples by detecting the presence of parasitic eggs. Histological specimens of the liver, ureter, and urinary bladder can be taken to determine if parasitic eggs were present in either of these areas. Conclusion: This cadaver reveals a classic presentation of portal hypertension that can lead to various secondary pathologies. This case study can be used as additional supporting evidence linking portal hypertension to splenomegaly, hydroureter, and liver cirrhosis

In search of gravity mode signatures in main sequence solar-type stars observed by Kepler

Gravity modes (g modes), mixed gravito-acoustic modes (mixed modes), and gravito-inertial modes (gi modes) possess unmatched properties as probes for stars with radiative interiors. The structural and dynamical constraints that they are able to provide cannot be accessed by other means. While they provide precious insights into the internal dynamics of evolved stars as well as massive and intermediate-mass stars, their non-detection in main sequence (MS) solar-type stars make them a crucial missing piece in our understanding of angular momentum transport in radiative zones and stellar rotational evolution. In this work, we aim to apply certain analysis tools originally developed for helioseismology in order to look for g-mode signatures in MS solar-type stars. We select a sample of the 34 most promising MS solar-type stars with Kepler four-year long photometric time series. All these stars are well-characterised late F-type stars with thin convective envelopes, fast convective flows, and stochastically excited acoustic modes (p modes). For each star, we compute the background noise level of the Fourier power spectrum to identify significant peaks at low frequency. After successfully detecting individual peaks in 12 targets, we further analyse four of them and observe distinct patterns of surrounding peaks with a low probability of being noise artifacts. Comparisons with the predictions from reference models suggest that these patterns are compatible with the presence of non-asymptotic low-order pure g modes, pure p modes, and mixed modes. Given their sensitivity to both the convective core interface stratification and the coupling between p- and g-mode resonant cavities, such modes are able to provide strong constraints on the structure and evolutionary states of the related targets. [abridged]Comment: 19 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in A&

In vitro induction of tuber formation for the synthesis of secondary metabolites in Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. et Fernand

Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. et Fernand an endangered herb is valued for several medicinal properties in its tuberous roots. An efficient and reproducible method for inducing in vitro tubers from stem disc explant has been developed. Stem disc possessing shoot buds were induced to develop multiple shoots in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with vitamins, 3% sucrose, 0.8% agar and 5 mg/L benzylaminopurine (BAP). Healthy regenerated shoots were rooted in MS basal medium containing 3% sucrose (w/v), 0.8% agar supplemented with indole-3-acetic acid (2 mg/L). On further sub culturing, the maximum percentage of tuber formation was obtained in growth hormone free half (½) MS liquid media supplemented with vitamins and 1.5% sucrose after 8 to 9 weeks. The saponin contents of the in vitro and in vivo raised tubers were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). There was a significant similarity in the saponins in both tubers. The in vitro raised tubers showed similar high metabolite content than in vivo grown tubers which is required for medicinal applications. The rooted plantlets were transferred to peat and sand (2:1) with more than 80% success. This is the 1st report of in vitro tuber formation and secondary metabolites screening of C. borivilianum. This work will give a strong impetus to the pharmaceutical and neutraceutical sectors.Keywords: Chlorophytum borivilianum, tuber formation, saponin, liquid medium, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(20), pp. 2900-2907

TESS asteroseismology of the known red-giant host stars HD 212771 and HD 203949

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