Postgastric Bypass Hypoglycaemia In A Patient With End-Stage Renal Disease: A Diagnostic And Management Pitfall

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is currently one of the most popular procedures to aid weight loss. Hypoglycaemia associated with gastric bypass surgery is an underdiagnosed but life-threatening potential consequence of the surgical procedure. We present a case of a 44-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease presenting with refractory hypoglycaemia after 10 years of RYGB. Extensive history and work-up excluded medications, renal disease, insulinoma and dumping syndrome as the cause of hypoglycaemia. Dietary modifications or pharmacological trial of drugs did not ameliorate her symptoms with progressive worsening of hypoglycaemia leading to continuous dextrose infusion. Distal pancreatectomy was performed with subsequent resolution of hypoglycaemia. Surgical pathology results showed diffuse hyperplastic islet cells, confirming the diagnosis of postgastric bypass hypoglycaemia

Biopolimer chitozan poprawia jakość owoców liczi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

Chitosan (CHT) is a natural compound that has been used to control postharvest pathogenic diseases due to its capability of eliciting natural defense responses in plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foliar CHT application on yield and quality of the litchi fruit. Chitosan was applied by spraying on to fruit and foliage just after fruit set four times at 7-day intervals with four varying doses viz. 100, 250, 500, and 1,000 µg L−1 and a control (0 µg L−1). Although the application of CHT had no significant effect on the size of the fruits (length and width), the total contents of phenolics, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid and the antioxidant activity of litchi fruit arils were significantly increased in CHT-treated fruit compared with the untreated control. The highest phenolic, flavonoid, and ascorbic acid contents were 334 µg gallic acid g−1, 881 μg quercetin g−1, and 178 µg g−1, respectively, in fruits treated with 500 µg L−1 CHT. However, the highest antioxidant activity (622 μg butylated hydroxytoluene g−1) was recorded in 250 µg L−1 CHT-treated fruits. Our findings revealed that the application of low doses of CHT in a litchi orchard might improve fruit quality by increasing the content of antioxidants and antioxidant activities.Chitozan (CHT) jest naturalnym związkiem wykorzystywanym do zwalczania chorób roślin, ponieważ wykazuje potencjał do wywoływania naturalnej odpowiedzi obronnej w roślinach. Celem niniejszych badań było określenie wpływu dolistnego aplikowania CHT na plonowanie i jakość owoców liczi. Chitozan w stężeniu: 0 (kontrola), 100, 250, 500 lub 1000 μg L−1 rozpylano na owoce i liście bezpośrednio po pojawieniu się owoców czterokrotnie w odstępach 7-dnio-wych. Mimo, że aplikacja CHT nie miała istotnego wpływu na wielkość owoców (długość i szerokość), całkowita zawartość związków fenolowych, flawonoidów i kwasu askorbiowego, jak również aktywność antyoksydacyjna owoców liczi wyraźnie wzrosła po zastosowaniu CHT w porównaniu do owoców nie poddanych działaniu tego związku. Najwyższe stężenia związków fenolowych, flawonoidów i kwasu askorbinowego, wynoszące odpowiednio: ekwiwalent 334 μg kwasu galusowego g−1 , ekwiwalent 881 μg kwercytyny g−1 i 178 μg g−1, stwierdzono w owocach traktowanych 500 μg L−1 CHT. Jednak najwyższą aktywność antyrodnikową (622 μg butylohy-droksytoluenu g−1) stwierdzono w owocach traktowanych 250 μg L−1 CHT. Uzyskane wyniki wskazują, że zastosowanie niskich stężeń CHT w sadach liczi może poprawić jakość owoców poprzez zwiększenie w nich zawartości antyoksydantów oraz aktywności antyrodnikowej

Gold catalysed growth of silicon nanowires and core-shell heterostructures via solid-liquid-solid process and galvanic displacement

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were first synthesised using Au coated p type Si (100) substrate via the solid-liquid-solid (SLS) process. The growth parameters were selectively varied to achieve various stages of growth for studying their effects on the morphology and microstructures of the nanowires (NWs). The SLS growth of SiNWs is discussed in the context of the experimental conditions used. Straight NWs of large aspect ratios, good crystallinity and morphology were generally obtained at a growth temperature of 1000 degrees C along with some worm-like amorphous structures. Te-Si NW core-shell structures were subsequently obtained via post-growth galvanic displacement of the SiNWs in an acidic HF electrolyte containing HTeO(2)(+) ions. The core-shell structures obtained were decorated with Te nanoparticles. This increases the NW surface areas and should have great potential in non-reflecting, photovoltaic and thermoelectric applications. Growth study on the SiNWs and Te-Si core-shell structures is presented using various microscopy, diffraction and probe based techniques for structural, morphological and chemical characterisations