The Humoral Immune Response to Various Domains of Protective Antigen of Bacillus anthracis in Cutaneous Anthrax Cases in India

Anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis is known to occur globally since antiquity. Besides being an important biothreat agent, it is an important public health importance pathogen also in countries like India. B. anthracis secretes three distinct toxins, namely protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF). PA is the central moiety of the anthrax toxin complex and therefore has been a molecule of choice for vaccine development. PA has four different domains with different functions. In this study, the major domains of PA were cloned and expressed in bacterial system. The purified recombinant proteins were used to determine the humoral immune response by ELISA using 43 human cutaneous anthrax serum samples. The maximum immunoreactivity was observed with the whole PA protein followed by domain 2, 4 and 1. The study corroborated that in addition to full PA, individual domain 2 and 4 can also be good target for vaccine development as well as for serodiagnostic assays for cutaneous anthra

Morphometry of stylomastoid foramen and its clinical application in facial nerve block

Background: Stylomastoid foramen is an important site for Nadbath facial nerve block. Exact localization of foramen holds the key to success, thus decreasing the complications. Wide racial variation exists in position of stylomastoid foramen in different population groups. Aim: The aim was to study the morphometry of stylomastoid foramen and its location with respect to nearby anatomical landmarks. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 dry skulls (60 male and 40 female) were studied to locate the position of center of stylomastoid foramen (CSMF) with respect to tip and anterior border of the mastoid process and jugular foramen (JF). Along with this angle between antero-posterior line passing through the tip of the mastoid process and line joining the tip with stylomastoid foramen was also measured. Result: In 83.51% sides of skulls, the most common position of foramen was found to be anterior to the line passing through anterior border of the mastoid process. The mean distance of center of foramen from the tip of the mastoid process was 15.26 ± 1.4 mm on right and 14.32 ± 1.8 on the left side (P < 0.001) and from JF was 12.28 ± 1.9 mm and 12.96 ± 2.1 mm on the right and left sides, respectively (P < 0.01). The position of CSMF was found at an angle of 66.57° ± 2.6° and 65.96° ± 1.8° on the right and left sides, respectively from the tip of the mastoid process. Conclusion: This study makes possible the identification of the exact position of stylomastoid foramen and its application in facial nerve block

A cadaveric study comparing the three approaches for ulnar nerve block at wrist

Background: Ulnar nerve blockade as a component of wrist block is a promising technique for adequate anesthesia and analgesia for different surgeries of the hand. Due to anatomical variations in the location of ulnar nerve under the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) a technique with good results and minimal complications are required. Aim: The aim of the following study is to compare the three techniques (volar, transtendinous volar [TTV] and ulnar) for ulnar nerve block at the wrist in human cadaveric wrists. Materials and Methods: Our study was conducted using 40 cadaver wrists. After inserting standard hypodermic needles by three techniques for ulnar nerve blockade at the wrist, a detailed dissection of FCU was done. The mean distance from the tip of the needle to ulnar artery/nerve and number of instances in which the ulnar artery/nerve pierced were observed. Results: Inter-group statistical significance was observed in measurement of the mean distance (mm) from the tip of the needle to the ulnar artery (volar [0.92 ± 0.11], TTV [3.96 ± 0.14] and ulnar [7.14 ± 0.08] approaches) and ulnar nerve (volar/TTV/ulnar approaches were 0.71 ± 0.12/3.61 ± 0.10/6.31 ± 0.49, respectively) (P = 0.001). Inadvertent intra-arterial/intraneural injections was seen with volar approach in 14 (35%) and 16 (40%) of the cadaveric wrists respectively, statistically significant with transtendinous and ulnar techniques of ulnar nerve block. Conclusion: TTV approach could be a better technique of choice for ulnar nerve blockade at the wrist because of its ease to practice, safer profile and minimum chances of inadvertent intra-arterial/intraneural injection with adequate anesthesia/analgesia

Fast response Antiwindup PI speed controller of Brushless DC motor drive: Modeling, simulation and implementation on DSP

Most of the Brushless DC (BLDC) motors drive adopts proportional, integral and derivative (PID) controller and pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme for speed control. Hence, BLDC motor drive has strong saturation characteristics. The saturation results in a typical windup phenomenon. The paper presents an Antiwindup drive for BLDC motor. An Antiwindup controller (AWC) has been used in the paper. AWC has been modeled in MATLAB/Simulink and comparison has been done between conventional PI controller and AWC at different starting loads. Dynamic characteristics of the BLDC motor drive have been examined and results are presented and discussed in detail in this paper. Details of DSP based experimental validation of the simulated results are also presented here

Colloidal tungstic oxide films for electrochromic applications: Preliminary studies

262-265<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-IN">Amongst different precursor solutions that can be used to deposit WO3 electrochromic (EC) films, colloidal tungstic acid sol offers preparation of films at room temperature. The present paper reports preparation and characterization of colloidal tungstic acid obtained by ion-exchange method and spin coated films thereof, showing their suitability for EC applications. Some properties of the xerogel, dried sol under ambient conditions are also reported.</span

Structural basis for poor uracil excision from hairpin DNA

Two-dimensional NMR and molecular dynamics simulations have been used to determine the three-dimensional structures of two hairpin DNA structures: d-CTAGAG GATCCUTTTGGATCCT (abbreviated as U1-hairpin) and d-CTAGAGGATCCTTUTGGATCCT (abbreviated as U3-hairpin). The (1) H resonances of both of these hairpin structures have been assigned almost completely. NMR restrained molecular dynamics and energy minimization procedures have been used to describe the three-dimensional structures of these hairpins. This study and concurrent NMR structural studies on two other d-CTAGAGGA TCCTUTTGGATCCT (abbreviated as U2-hairpin) and d-CTAGAGGATCCTTTUGGATCCT (abbreviated as U4-hairpin) have shed light upon various interactions reported between Echerichia coli uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) and uracil-containing DNA. The backbone torsion angles, which partially influence the local conformation of U12 and U14 in U1 and U3-hairpins, respectively, are probably locked in the trans conformation as in the case of U-13 in the U2-hairpin. Such a stretched-out backbone conformation in the vicinity of U-12 and U-14 is thought to be the reason why the K-m value is poor for U1- and U3-hairpins as it is for the U2-hairpin. Furthermore, the bases U-12 and U-14 in both U1- and U3-hairpins adopt an anti conformation, in contrast with the base conformation of U-13 in the U2-hairpin, which adopts a syn conformation. The clear discrepancy observed in the U-base orientation with respect to the sugar moieties could explain why the V-max value is 10- to 20-fold higher for the U1- and U3-hairpins compared with the U2-hairpin. Taken together, these observations support our interpretation that the unfavourable backbone results in a poor K-m value, whereas the unfavourable nucleotide conformation results in a poor V-max value. These two parameters therefore make the U1- and U3-hairpins better substrates for UDG compared with the U2-hairpin, as reported earlier [Kumar, N. V. & Varshney, U. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25, 2336-2343.]

Physically Crosslinked “All Nucleic” Biomass DNA Hydrogel for Controlled Drug Delivery

Naturally occurring liquid-liquid phase separation resulting in biomolecular condensates has inspired the formation of biomolecule based smart materials with multi-dimensional applications. Herein, we report a unique, simple and one step method for the bio-condensation of biomass DNA via non-electrostatic interactions leading to an “all nucleic” hydrogel with excellent mechanical properties. The DNA strands crosslinked with guanosine monophosphate molecules through physical interactions to form helical G-quartet superstructures. The hydrogel shows an efficient encapsulation and sustained release for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs demonstrating the competency as a drug carrier. We believe that this energy efficient and low-cost method represents a new technique for the use of biomass DNA as building blocks for next generation of soft materials

Predicting difficult intubation in apparently normal subjects: An anthropometric study

One of the major problems faced by health care professionals is the prediction of airway difficulties in apparently healthy subjects. Failed endotracheal intubation is a well-known reason for increased morbidity of patients including brain damage or even death. This study is focused on parameters used for prior determination of airway for predicting difficult intubation in healthy Indian populations. This study was done on 500 healthy individuals. Neck parameters were measured including inter-incisal distance, neck circumference, thyro-mental distance and sterno-mental distance. Mallampati classification and mandibular protrusion test were also carried out. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software (V.25). MC class 3 and 4 percentages were higher in males in comparison to females. Mandibular protrusion test grade A and B percentage was higher in females while class C percentage was higher in males. The comparison of baseline values of the neck parameters (inter-incisal distance, neck circumference, thyro-mental distance and sterno-mental distance) was statistically significant (&lt;0.05) in both genders. The purpose of the study is to find out the baseline values of parameters involved in assessing methods for difficult intubation in healthy Indian population.&nbsp

A goat eye, wet lab model for training in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty

Here we describe a new, non-human, ex-vivo model (goat eye model) for training surgeons in DMEK surgeons. In a wet lab setting, goat eyes were used to obtain a pseudo-DMEK graft of 8 mm from the goat lens capsule that was injected into another goat eye with the same maneuvers described for human DMEK. The DMEK pseudo-graft can be easily prepared, stained, loaded, injected, and unfolded into the goat eye model reproducing the similar maneuvers used for DMEK in a human eye, except for the descemetorhexis, which cannot be performed. The pseudo-DMEK graft behaves similar to human DMEK graft and useful for surgeons to experience and understand steps of DMEK early in learning curve. The concept of a non-human ex-vivo eye model is simple and reproducible and obviates the need for human tissue and the issues of poor visibility in stored corneal tissue