Characterization of vacuole aquaporin function and its implication in membrane fission

All cells and organelles must regulate volume to control their size, shape and copy number. Volume homeostasis, in turn, is dependent on osmosis facilitated by aquaporins. Despite being critical for membrane fusion and fission events that underlie organelle morphology and membrane trafficking, volume regulations in the endocytic pathway and the aquaporins responsible have not been characterized. Thus, the primary goals of my dissertation research were to better understand the role of osmosis in membrane fusion or fission and identify the aquaporin(s) responsible using the yeast vacuole as a model. First, I characterized osmosis across isolated vacuole membranes and identified the aquaporins responsible, Aqy3 and Fps1, using stopped-flow fluorometry. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that knocking out AQY3 or both aquaporins disrupted vacuole morphology, indicative of an impairment in membrane fission. Using a new cell-free vacuole fission assay, I then determined that osmosis can drive fission in vitro and that this process involves inactivation of Ytp7, a Rab-GTPase and key regulator of vacuole morphology. These results support a model whereby water efflux by Aqy3 permits membrane invagination while signaling the fission machinery necessary for membrane fission

TOPICAL ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL EXTRACTED FROM SPHARENTHUS INDICUS (ASTERACEAE)

Objective: To evaluate the topical analgesic effects of essential oil extracted from Spharenthus indicus (Asteraceae).Methods: The essential oil was extracted from fresh flower of Spharenthus indicus. Topical ointment containing essential oil was investigated for analgesic activity in rat using hot plate method. Diclofenac sodium gel was taken as standard drug.Result: The analgesic activity of topical preparation was observed in the early phase. The analgesic activity of topical preparation showed significant activity comparative to standard drug diclofenac sodium.Conclusion: Hence the study validates the traditional use of Spharenthus indicus to relive pain.Â

A comparison of intrathecal dexmedetomidine and clonidine as adjuvants to hyperbaric bupivacaine for gynecological surgery

Background: Various adjuvants are being used with local anesthetics for prolongation of intraoperative and post-operative analgesia. Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective alpha2 adrenergic agonist, is a new neuraxial adjuvant gaining popularity. The purpose of this study was to compare the onset, duration of sensory and motor block, hemodynamic effects, post-operative analgesia, and adverse effects of dexmedetomidine and clonidine with hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia.Methods: 60 patients belonging to ASA Grade 1 and 2 undergoing elective gynecological surgery under spinal anesthesia were studied in this prospective. The patients were allocated in two groups (30 patients each). Group bupivacaine + clonidine (BC) received 17.5 mg of bupivacaine supplemented 45 mcg clonidine and Group bupivacaine + dexmedetomidine (BD) received 17.5 mg bupivacaine supplemented 5 mcg dexmedetomidine. The onset time of sensory and motor level, time to reach peak sensory and motor level, the regression time of sensory and motor level, hemodynamic changes, and side effects were recorded.Results: Patients in Group BD had significantly longer sensory and motor block time than patients in Group BC. The onset time to reach dermatome T4 and modified Bromage3 motor block were not significantly different between two groups. Dexmedetomidine group showed significantly less and delayed requirement of rescue analgesic.Conclusion: Intrathecal dexmedetomidine is associated with prolonged motor and sensory block, hemodynamic stability and reduced demand of rescue analgesic in 24 hrs as compared to clonidine

Management of an Intracanal Separated Instrument: A Case Report

Instrument fracture within the root canal during root canal treatment is an unwanted and frustrating complication. The fractured segment may hinder cleaning and shaping procedures with potential impact on prognosis of treatment. Fracture of endodontic instrument often results from incorrect use or overuse. If breakage occurs clinically, the patient should be informed of the incident and consideration should be given whether to remove the fragment or not. When managed properly, the presence of a broken fragment per se may not adversely affect the outcome of root canal treatment. This article reports management of an intracanal separated instrument. Masserann kit along with gates glidden drills were used to remove the intracanal broken instrument

Fetomaternal outcome in sickle cell disease in a tertiary care centre

Background: Sickle cell disease is a hereditary haematological disorder prevalent in tribal regions of India. Sickle cell disease can increase complications during pregnancy and in turn negatively influence pregnancy outcomes. This study reports the analysis of tribal maternal admissions in the tertiary centre S.S.G. Hospital, Baroda, Gujarat. Hence this study was conducted to assess complications in pregnancy and maternal and perinatal outcome among women with Sickle cell disease.Methods: It was a retrospective observational study including all pregnant women with sickle cell disease after 20 weeks of gestation who delivered at S.S.G. Hospital, Baroda from August 2019 to August 2020.Results: There were 43 antenatal women with Sickle cell disease during the study period. There was increased risk of obstetric complications like gestational hypertension (11.62%), preeclampsia (9.3%), eclampsia (6.97%), HELLP syndrome (4.65%), intrauterine growth retardation (23.25%), and oligohydramnios (11.62%). Medical complications observed were mainly anaemia (53.48%), vaso-occlusive crisis (18.16%), acute chest syndrome (4.65%) and infections like urinary tract infection (6.97%) and pneumonia (4.65%). The incidence of low birth weight babies (56.94%), low APGAR score (11.62%) and neonatal ICU admissions (23.25%) was high. 6.5% cases of maternal mortality and 4.65% cases of perinatal mortality was observed.Conclusions: Pregnancy in Sickle cell disease is associated with an increased maternal morbidity and high perinatal mortality due to obstetric and medical complications

Analysis of transfusion of blood and blood products and their utilization pattern at department of obstetrics of tertiary care hospital

Background: In developing countries, nutritional anaemia and obstetric complications are leading causes of transfusion of blood and blood products. The study was aimed to analyse utilization pattern and to identify the indications of transfusion of blood and blood products in obstetrics and to study outcome and management of pregnancy in patients who required blood and/or blood products.Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at department of obstetrics of tertiary care teaching hospital from September 2018 to November 2018 and data was collected from all patients who had received transfusion of blood and/or blood products for any obstetric cause.Results: A total of 164(6.8%) patients received blood and blood products transfusion. Department of obstetrics utilized maximum units of blood and FFP whereas PRC utilization was second highest. There were 62(37.8%) of patients who had not taken any antenatal care, whereas 64(39.0%) patients had less than 4 antenatal visits. Three most common indications for transfusion of blood and blood products were 63.4% in nutritional anaemia, 17.1% in obstetric haemorrhage and 11.6% in first trimester complications.Conclusions: Three most common indications for transfusion were nutritional anaemia, obstetric haemorrhage and first trimester complications. Majority of patients had inadequate or no antenatal care. Early and regular antenatal care, early diagnosis and management of high-risk pregnancies and obstetric complications, institutional delivery can reduce the rate of transfusion of blood and blood products

Access to yellow fever travel vaccination centres in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland: A geographical study.

BACKGROUND: More than 700,000 trips were made by residents in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (EWNI) in 2015 to tropical countries endemic for yellow fever, a potentially deadly, yet vaccine-preventable disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The aim of this study was to map the geographical accessibility of yellow fever vaccination centres (YFVC) in EWNI. METHODS: The location of 3208 YFVC were geocoded and the average geodetic distance to nearest YFVC was calculated for each population unit. Data on trips abroad and centres were obtained regionally for EWNI and nationally for the World Top20 countries in terms of travel. RESULTS: The mean distance to nearest YFVC was 2.4 km and only 1% of the population had to travel more than 16.1 km to their nearest centre. The number of vaccines administered regionally in EWNI was found correlated with the number of trips to yellow fever countries. The number of centres per 100,000 trips was 6.1 in EWNI, which was below United States (12.1) and above the rest of Top20 countries. CONCLUSIONS: The service availability was in line with demand regionally. With the exception of remote, rural areas, yellow fever vaccination services were widely available with only short distances to cover for the travelling public

Amplification of perceived risk among users of a national travel health Web site during the 2013-2016 West African Ebola virus outbreak.

Timely outbreak information was paramount to public health bodies issuing travel advisories during the 2013-2016 West Africa Ebola virus outbreak. This article explores the potential for a syndromic system/Shewhart control chart based on the online interaction with a national travel health Web site in comparison with searches on the Google UK search engine. The study showed an amplification of perceived risk among users of a national travel health Web site months before the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and the initial surge in public interest on Google UK in August 2014