Pregnancy in unicornuate uterus without rudimentary horn: a case report

A unicornuate uterus is associated with numerous obstetric and gynaecological complications such as infertility, endometriosis, miscarriage, malpresentations, and intrauterine growth restriction. Around 2.3-13% of Mullerian duct anomalies present as unicornuate uterus. Management of unicornuate uterus is still uncertain and it leads to poorer pregnancy outcome. We present here a case of 26-year-old primigravida who presented to us with 40-weeks pregnancy associated with breech presentation. She was taken for elective caesarean section and intra-operatively she was found to have unicornuate uterus without rudimentary horn. Unicornuate uterus is associated with poor pregnancy outcome but a successful pregnancy is possible. Usual presentation of patients with unicornuate uterus is near their menarche and they have higher than usual gynaecological complications. Pregnancies in unicornuate uterus are prone to intra uterine growth restriction hence serial ultrasound should be done for regular fetal growth monitoring

Proximity-induced superconductivity in nanowires: Mini-gap state and differential magnetoresistance oscillations

We study proximity-induced superconductivity in gold nanowires as a function of the length of the nanowire, magnetic field, and excitation current. Short nanowires exhibit a sharp superconducting transition, whereas long nanowires show nonzero resistance. At intermediate lengths, however, we observe two sharp transitions; the normal and superconducting regions are separated by what we call the mini-gap phase. Additionally, we detect periodic oscillations in the differential magnetoresistance. We provide a theoretical model for the mini-gap phase as well as the periodic oscillations in terms of the coexistence of proximity-induced superconductivity with a normal region near the center of the wire, created either by temperature or application of a magnetic field.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Novel 2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells through p53 mediated intrinsic pathway

AbstractA series of novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives (OSD, OCOD, ONOD, OPD, COD, PMOD, and PCOD) were synthesized and characterized. Their structures were confirmed on the basis of IR, NMR and mass spectroscopy and molecular weights were found in the range 300–325g/mol. Cancerous cell lines (MCF-7, HepG2) and non-cancerous cell lines (Chang liver cells) were treated with these compounds for 48h, which caused dose dependent decrease in the cell viability. From the seven derivatives, OSD was found to be most potent with IC50 value close to 50μM on all tested cell lines. Hence, this compound was selected for mechanistic study on HepG2 cell lines. Fluorescent cell staining and DNA fragmentation study of 50μM OSD on HepG2 cells, showed events marked by apoptosis such as nuclear fragmentation, cytoplasm shrinkage and DNA damage. Further, the cells with same treatment were quantified for apoptosis using annexin V-PI flow cytometric technique. The percentage of apoptotic cells was significantly higher (p<0.05) after OSD treatment compared to control cells. OSD induced a significant increase (p<0.05) in the expression of the tumor suppressor p53 in HepG2 cells. The constitutive expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 significantly decreased (p<0.05) after treatment, while the expression of proapoptotic protein Bax significantly increased (p<0.05). The change in Bax to Bcl-2 ratio suggested involvement of Bcl-2 family in induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, the levels of caspase-9 and caspase-3 were significantly (p<0.05) up regulated in HepG2 cells after OSD treatment. The data suggest that 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives induce apoptosis mediated by intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. The findings strengthen the potential of the 1,3,4-oxadiazole scaffold OSD, as an agent with chemotherapeutic and cytostatic activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro

Emerging and re-emerging viral infections in India

The number of outbreaks have &nbsp;progressively increased since many years in India. In this era of globalization and rapid international travel, any infectious disease in one country can become a potential threat to the entire globe. Outbreaks of Nipah, Zika, Crimean- Congo Haemorrhagic Fever and Kyasanur Forest Disease and have been reported since a decade and now we are facing COVID 19 pandemic. One of the challenges in the prevention of these outbreaks is that as the cases decrease, the felt need declines, the public demand decreases and the mitigation responses get overshadowed by the need of emergency responses elsewhere. The One Health approach is a movement to promote alliance between medicine field, veterinary medicine and environmental sciences to upgrade the health of humans, animals, and ecosystem. The data in this article is compiled from different websites and publications of World Health Organization (WHO), Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), grey literature and media. There is an urgent need for better surveillance and disease burden assessments in the country and to gain detailed insights into vector biology, factors of environment influencing the diseases, mapping of endemic areas, strengthen intersectoral coordination, infection control practices, and ensure use of Personal Protective Equipment’s (PPE) and availability of drugs and vaccines to handle the outbreaks in a better way

Gastroesophageal Reflux and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) commonly co-exist. Pathophysiological mechanisms causing IPF are still not well understood, and GERD has been implicated in both as a probable causative and disease-promoting entity. Although not conclusively proven, this relationship has been the subject of several studies, including therapeutic interventions aimed at treating GERD and its resultant effect on IPF and related outcomes. Our review aims to present the current concepts and understanding of these two disease processes, which are multifaceted. Their complex interaction includes epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, review of research studies conducted to date, and future directions for research

Fatigue analysis of the friction stir welded AA6061-T6 aluminum alloy

Investigation of mechanical and fatigue behavior is necessary to find out the long-term durability of the welded joints. The current work focuses on the mechanical and fatigue behavior of the joint formed when AA6061-T6 alloy plates were friction stir welded (FSWed) then joint was also analyzed as compared with parent material. The tensile strength and microhardness profile were obtained by the uniaxial tensile test and Vickers hardness test respectively. The maximum yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the FSWed specimens were found to be 207.2 N mm ^−2 and 264 N mm ^−2 which are 72.2% and 80.3% of the parent metal respectively. The minimum value of hardness in FSWed specimen was equivalent to 63% of the parent material. The fatigue tests were carried out in a constant amplitude loading condition at a positive load ratio (R = 0.1). The limit of maximum stress applied during the fatigue tests was determined based on the results of the tensile tests. Microstructural and scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination of welded specimens was also carried out to understand the effect of FSW on microstructural development, commence of fatigue crack, and the way the crack spreads. The outcomes show the formation of a fine-grained microstructure in the center of the weldment. Results of the fatigue tests show that the fatigue strength of both types of configurations i.e. FSWed and parent material were almost the same at the low-stress level. At high-stress level, parent material exhibits superior fatigue strength than FSWed specimens. An effort has also been made to relate the fatigue resistance to the microstructural observations of the welded specimens

Lung Transplantation in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality in its more advanced stages. Antifibrotic therapies are generally effective in delaying the progression of disease; however, some patients continue to progress despite treatment. Lung transplantation is a surgical option for selected patients with advanced pulmonary fibrosis that increases their overall survival and quality of life. Changes in the Lung Allocation Score (LAS) in 2005 have resulted in increased transplants and decreased waitlist mortality in this population. Indications for transplant evaluation and listing include the clinical progression of the disease and related mortality risk ≥50% at 2 years without a transplant. Patients with clinically rapid deterioration or acute flares needing hospitalization can be bridged to transplant on extracorporeal support while remaining ambulatory and free from mechanical ventilation

Seminal vesicle sparing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy using a low-energy source: Better continence and potency

Objectives: Ongoing with the newer developments in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), we report our experience in a consecutive series of 42 patients with a mean 18-month follow-up. We also studied the use of a low-energy source, especially in the region of the prostatic apex and the neurovascular bundle and evaluated its outcome on continence and potency. Materials and Methods: Between November 2003 and December 2008, 50 patients aged 50-80 yrs underwent LRP with vesicourethral anastomosis and of these, 42 patients who had a minimum follow-up of 3 months were selected for the study. Of these, the initial 16 patients were operated by the routine method and the 26 patients operated in the later part of our experience were operated upon using a minimal energy source. Results: The mean follow-up was 18 months (range 3-60). Continence was evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Eleven of the 16 patients in Group I were continent as compared with 21 of 26 patients in Group II. The difference in continence rates was mainly due to less use of electrocautery and harmonic scalpel at the bladder neck. Of the eight patients who were potent pre-operatively in Group I, four remained potent 3 months after LRP. In Group II, 20 of the 26 patients were potent pre-operatively and 16 remained potent 3 months after LRP. Conclusions: Use of a low-energy source at the bladder neck and neurovascular bundle, sparing of seminal vesicle, and leaving behind a long, healthy stump of the urethra during apical dissection, is associated with better continence and potency without compromising oncological outcome