Post Hysterectomy morbidity: a suburban teaching hospital experience in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, South India

Background: Hysterectomy is the removal of uterus for benign uterine tumor and uterine descent in perimenopausal women. Post hysterectomy and follow up morbidity in rural women is studied over a period of 1 year. They were reviewed during hospital stay to identify morbidity and risk factors for prolonged hospital stay and formulate modalities to reduce morbidity. Risk factors assessed were fever, wound sepsis, anemia, previous post-operative adhesions and injury to other organs. Follow up was done at 4 weeks. 72% women were morbidity free. 46% women had more than one morbidity. The aim of this study is to analyse immediate and late post hysterectomy morbidity in a rural setup and to identify risk factors for prolonged hospitalization and formulate modalities to reduce morbidity and duration of hospital stay.Method: Perimenopausal women who underwent hysterectomy for benign uterine conditions and uterine descent were studied for post-operative morbidity at SSSMCRI over a period of one year. Post hysterectomy morbidity was clinically assessed from day one of surgery till discharge, for early and late morbidity. Abdominal skin incision smear, vault smear, urine culture and USG pelvis for collection of fluid was done in woman who developed fever. Follow-up morbidity was done at 4 weeks. Hysterectomy done for malignant conditions were excluded from the study.Results: In rural women, postoperative morbidity was assessed in 81 abdominal, 32 vaginal hysterectomy. Post-operative pain was felt by all 113 women for first 3 days. Fall of hemoglobin due to haemorrhage was seen in 43 (38%) women. 33 needed post-operative blood transfusion. Surgical site infection was seen in 13, needed re-suturing in 7. Fever was seen in 50 women (44%) due to UTI (E coli 13, Klebsiella 5). Pelvic fluid collection was seen in 9 with vault infection. We had one burst abdomen, one re-laparotomy, 3 bladder injuries. Prolonged hospital stay was seen in 41 women. 46% had more than one morbidity. Follow-up at 4 weeks, 72% were morbidity-free. Prolene granuloma 2, Stitch abscess 9, vaginal discharge 14, vault granuloma 3 were observed. Vaginal smear showed 9 Staphylococcus aureus and 5 bacterial vaginosis infection. 12 women had E. coli and 6 Klebsiella infection in urine culture.Conclusion: Pre-operative risk factors for post op morbidity like anemia, urinary and vaginal infection should be properly treated prior to surgery. Awareness of risk factors for morbidity, anticipation of complications due to size, site, nature of tumour and previous surgery adhesions, timely intervention by experienced surgeons and adequate blood transfusion will reduce morbidity and prolonged hospital stay

Clinical presentation and prevalence of uterine fibroids: a 3-year study in 3-decade rural South Indian women

Background: Uterine fibroids are benign tumors arising from smooth muscle cells of myometrium. This study was conducted in rural women belonging to poor socio-economic class and primary school dropouts to find out clinical presentation, prevalence of uterine fibroids, their knowledge about health services and to develop modalities to improve awareness and early reporting to prevent morbidity and improve quality of life.Methods: Women ranging from 26-55 years age attending Gynecology OPD of SSSMCRI for abdominopelvic mass, pain, menstrual abnormalities over a period of 3 years were registered for the study. Socio-demographic profile, detailed menstrual history, reason for attending hospital and previous treatment taken prior to the hospital visit were recorded. Women with pregnancy with fibroids and fibroids detected by ultra-sonogram less than 12 weeks were excluded from the study. Clinical, local and ultra-sonographic examination was done for the morphology of the fibroids. Comparison was done with histological picture for accuracy in clinical and sonographic diagnosis.Results: 362 women who presented with uterine fibroids, menorrhagia or with abdomino pelvic mass were registered for this study. Of 136 patients who had uterine fibroids 66% had menorrhagia with severe anemia, 23% needed blood transfusion, 17 were nulliparous women. Menorrhagia was the commonest menstrual pattern seen in 58.8% women. Asymptomatic fibroids with huge abdomino pelvic mass was seen in 46 women (33%). The size was 12-28 weeks. The mean age was 46 years. Abdominal hysterectomy was done in 88 women, and 3 in-situ hysterectomies (91 cases) (67%), polypectomy in 16 and myomectomy in 22 nulliparous women. Laparotomy for torsion sub-serous fibroids was done in 7.Conclusions: Further research is needed to find out biological factors causing fibroids including diet, stress, environmental and racial influences. Routine screening, early detection, increase awareness by early reporting to the hospital will reduces morbidity and improves quality of life socioeconomically

Comparison of 20nm silver nanoparticles synthesized with and without a gold core: Structure, dissolution in cell culture media, and biological impact on macrophages

Widespread use of silver nanoparticles raises questions of environmental and biological impact. Many synthesis approaches are used to produce pure silver and silver-shell gold-core particles optimized for specific applications. Since both nanoparticles and silver dissolved from the particles may impact the biological response, it is important to understand the physicochemical characteristics along with the biological impact of nanoparticles produced by different processes. The authors have examined the structure, dissolution, and impact of particle exposure to macrophage cells of two 20 nm silver particles synthesized in different ways, which have different internal structures. The structures were examined by electron microscopy and dissolution measured in Rosewell Park Memorial Institute media with 10% fetal bovine serum. Cytotoxicity and oxidative stress were used to measure biological impact on RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The particles were polycrystalline, but 20 nm particles grown on gold seed particles had smaller crystallite size with many high-energy grain boundaries and defects, and an apparent higher solubility than 20 nm pure silver particles. Greater oxidative stress and cytotoxicity were observed for 20 nm particles containing the Au core than for 20 nm pure silver particles. A simple dissolution model described the time variation of particle size and dissolved silver for particle loadings larger than 9 μg/ml for the 24-h period characteristic of many in-vitro studies

Investigate the emission characteristic of biodiesel from waste cooking oil

This paper aims to investigate the emission characteristics of biodiesel prepared from the waste cooking oil. The characterization of the performance of the blended fuel in diesel engines results in an improvement and a reduction in hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. Various amounts of fuel were mixed with leftover cooking oil to create the final product. In order to explore the performance function, combustion range, and emission properties of diesel engines, the setup described here was developed. The combustion properties, including exhaust gas emissions of NOx, CO, CO2, HC, smoke, and O2, have been examined under various load scenarios

Anisotropic Charge Distribution and Anisotropic van der Waals Radius Leading to Intriguing Anisotropic Noncovalent Interactions

Although group (IV-VII) nonmetallic elements do not favor interacting with anionic species, there are counterexamples including the halogen bond. Such binding is known to be related to the charge deficiency because of the adjacent atom's electron withdrawing effect, which creates s/p-holes at the bond-ends. However, a completely opposite behavior is exhibited by N-2 and O-2, which have electrostatically positive/negative character around cylindrical-bond-surface/bond-ends. Inspired by this, here we elucidate the unusual features and origin of the anisotropic noncovalent interactions in the ground and excited states of the 2nd and 3rd row elements belonging to groups IV-VII. The anisotropy in charge distributions and van der Waals radii of atoms in such molecular systems are scrutinized. This provides an understanding of their unusual molecular configuration, binding and recognition modes involved in new types of molecular assembling and engineering. This work would lead to the design of intriguing molecular systems exploiting anisotropic noncovalent interactions.open

Alteration of renal respiratory Complex-III during experimental type-1 diabetes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetes has become the single most common cause for end-stage renal disease in the United States. It has been established that mitochondrial damage occurs during diabetes; however, little is known about what initiates mitochondrial injury and oxidant production during the early stages of diabetes. Inactivation of mitochondrial respiratory complexes or alteration of their critical subunits can lead to generation of mitochondrial oxidants, mitochondrial damage, and organ injury. Thus, one goal of this study was to determine the status of mitochondrial respiratory complexes in the rat kidney during the early stages of diabetes (5-weeks post streptozotocin injection).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Mitochondrial complex activity assays, blue native gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE), Complex III immunoprecipitation, and an ATP assay were performed to examine the effects of diabetes on the status of respiratory complexes and energy levels in renal mitochondria. Creatinine clearance and urine albumin excretion were measured to assess the status of renal function in our model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Interestingly, of all four respiratory complexes only cytochrome c reductase (Complex-III) activity was significantly decreased, whereas two Complex III subunits, Core 2 protein and Rieske protein, were up regulated in the diabetic renal mitochondria. The BN-PAGE data suggested that Complex III failed to assemble correctly, which could also explain the compensatory upregulation of specific Complex III subunits. In addition, the renal F₀F₁-ATPase activity and ATP levels were increased during diabetes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In summary, these findings show for the first time that early (and selective) inactivation of Complex-III may contribute to the mitochondrial oxidant production which occurs in the early stages of diabetes.</p

Rapid biosynthesis of silver nanopeprintss using Crotalaria verrucosa leaves against the dengue vector Aedes aegypti: what happens around? An analysis of dragonfly predatory behaviour after exposure at ultra-low doses

Aedes aegypti is a primary vector of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease infecting 50–100 million people every year. Here, we biosynthesised mosquitocidal silver nanoparticles (AgNP) using the aqueous leaf extract of Crotalaria verrucosa. The green synthesis of AgNP was studied by UV–vis spectroscopy, SEM, EDX and FTIR. C. verrucosa-synthesised AgNPs were toxic against A. aegypti larvae and pupae. LC50 of AgNP ranged from 3.496 ppm (I instar larvae) to 17.700 ppm (pupae). Furthermore, we evaluated the predatory efficiency of dragonfly nymphs, Brachydiplax sobrina, against II and III instar larvae of A. aegypti in an aquatic environment contaminated with ultra-low doses of AgNP. Under standard laboratory conditions, predation after 24 h was 87.5% (II) and 54.7% (III). In an AgNP-contaminated environment, predation was 91 and 75.5%, respectively. Overall, C. verrucosa-synthesised AgNP could be employed at ultra-low doses to reduce larval population of dengue vectors enhancing predation rates of dragonfly nymphs

Impact of pulmonary exposure to gold core silver nanoparticles of different size and capping agents on cardiovascular injury

Background:The uses of engineered nanomaterials have expanded in biomedical technology and consumer manufacturing. Furthermore, pulmonary exposure to various engineered nanomaterials has, likewise, demonstrated the ability to exacerbate cardiac ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the influence of particle size or capping agent remains unclear. In an effort to address these influences we explored response to 2 different size gold core nanosilver particles (AgNP) with two different capping agents at 2 different time points. We hypothesized that a pulmonary exposure to AgNP induces cardiovascular toxicity influenced by inflammation and vascular dysfunction resulting in expansion of cardiac I/R Injury that is sensitive to particle size and the capping agent. Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to 200 μg of 20 or 110 nm polyvinylprryolidone (PVP) or citrate capped AgNP. One and 7 days following intratracheal instillation serum was analyzed for concentrations of selected cytokines; cardiac I/R injury and isolated coronary artery and aorta segment were assessed for constrictor responses and endothelial dependent relaxation and endothelial independent nitric oxide dependent relaxation. Results: AgNP instillation resulted in modest increase in selected serum cytokines with elevations in IL-2, IL-18, and IL-6. Instillation resulted in a derangement of vascular responses to constrictors serotonin or phenylephrine, as well as endothelial dependent relaxations with acetylcholine or endothelial independent relaxations by sodium nitroprusside in a capping and size dependent manner. Exposure to both 20 and 110 nm AgNP resulted in exacerbation cardiac I/R injury 1 day following IT instillation independent of capping agent with 20 nm AgNP inducing marginally greater injury. Seven days following IT instillation the expansion of I/R injury persisted but the greatest injury was associated with exposure to 110 nm PVP capped AgNP resulted in nearly a two-fold larger infarct size compared to naïve. Conclusions: Exposure to AgNP may result in vascular dysfunction, a potentially maladaptive sensitization of the immune system to respond to a secondary insult (e.g., cardiac I/R) which may drive expansion of I/R injury at 1 and 7 days following IT instillation where the extent of injury could be correlated with capping agents and AgNP size.This work was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences U19ES019525, U01ES020127, U19ES019544 and East Carolina Universit

Prevention of diabetic nephropathy in Ins2+/−AkitaJ mice by the mitochondria-targeted therapy MitoQ

Mitochondrial production of ROS (reactive oxygen species) is thought to be associated with the cellular damage resulting from chronic exposure to high glucose in long-term diabetic patients. We hypothesized that a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant would prevent kidney damage in the Ins2+/−AkitaJ mouse model (Akita mice) of Type 1 diabetes. To test this we orally administered a mitochondria-targeted ubiquinone (MitoQ) over a 12-week period and assessed tubular and glomerular function. Fibrosis and pro-fibrotic signalling pathways were determined by immunohistochemical analysis, and mitochondria were isolated from the kidney for functional assessment. MitoQ treatment improved tubular and glomerular function in the Ins2+/−AkitaJ mice. MitoQ did not have a significant effect on plasma creatinine levels, but decreased urinary albumin levels to the same level as non-diabetic controls. Consistent with previous studies, renal mitochondrial function showed no significant change between any of the diabetic or wild-type groups. Importantly, interstitial fibrosis and glomerular damage were significantly reduced in the treated animals. The pro-fibrotic transcription factors phospho-Smad2/3 and β-catenin showed a nuclear accumulation in the Ins2+/−AkitaJ mice, which was prevented by MitoQ treatment. These results support the hypothesis that mitochondrially targeted therapies may be beneficial in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. They also highlight a relatively unexplored aspect of mitochondrial ROS signalling in the control of fibrosis

The Magnitude and Mechanism of Charge Enhancement of CH∙∙O H-bonds

Quantum calculations find that neutral methylamines and thioethers form complexes, with N-methylacetamide (NMA) as proton acceptor, with binding energies of 2–5 kcal/mol. This interaction is magnified by a factor of 4–9, bringing the binding energy up to as much as 20 kcal/mol, when a CH3+ group is added to the proton donor. Complexes prefer trifurcated arrangements, wherein three separate methyl groups donate a proton to the O acceptor. Binding energies lessen when the systems are immersed in solvents of increasing polarity, but the ionic complexes retain their favored status even in water. The binding energy is reduced when the methyl groups are replaced by longer alkyl chains. The proton acceptor prefers to associate with those CH groups that are as close as possible to the S/N center of the formal positive charge. A single linear CH··O hydrogen bond (H-bond) is less favorable than is trifurcation with three separate methyl groups. A trifurcated arrangement with three H atoms of the same methyl group is even less favorable. Various means of analysis, including NBO, SAPT, NMR, and electron density shifts, all identify the +CH··O interaction as a true H-bond