IN-SILICO ANALYSIS OF PHYTOCOMPOUNDS FOR INHIBITION OF NICOTINE ACETYL- COA RECEPTOR (NACHR) MEDIATED LUNG CANCER

Objective: Lung cancer is mostly found in cigarette smokers. Nicotine Acetyl-CoA receptor (nAChR) is found to be responsible for this cancerous activity. When cigarette containing nicotine binds with this receptor of lung cells the carcinogenic activity is initiated. Hence, there is a possibility for the prevention of lung cancer formation when the nicotine is competitively inhibited by an interfering molecule preferably from natural products. This will add additional support in the management of lung cancer. This study was planned to identify the natural compounds which have more affinity to the nicotine Acetyl-CoA receptor (nAChR) than the nicotine by in silico evaluation using Auto dock software.Methods: About six compounds were subjected and proved with preclinical studies were obtained from a literature survey and were computed for docking and characterization.Results: Results showed that Taxol had minimum energy level of -11.54 kcal/mol to the nicotine Acetyl-CoA receptor (nAChR) compared to the nicotine energy level of -7.01. Other molecules are having the activity in the following order Combretastatins < Camptothecin < Liriodenine < Curcumin and Podophyllotoxin < Taxol.Conclusion: It is concluded that these data may be useful for the preparation of different combinations and formulations for the management of lung cancer.Â

Predictors of unfavorable responses to therapy in rifampicin-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis using an integrated approach of radiological presentation and sputum mycobacterial burden

INTRODUCTION: Despite the exalted status of sputum mycobacterial load for gauging pulmonary tuberculosis treatment and progress, Chest X-rays supplement valuable information for taking instantaneous therapeutic decisions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though literature on individual parameters is overwhelming, few studies have explored the interaction between radiographic parameters denoting severity with mycobacterial burden signifying infectivity. By using a sophisticated approach of integrating Chest X-ray parameters with sputum mycobacterial characteristics, evaluated at all the three crucial time points of TB treatment namely pre-treatment, end of intensive phase and completion of treatment, utilizing the interactive Cox Proportional Hazards model, we aimed to precisely deduce predictors of unfavorable response to TB treatment. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We extracted de-identified data from well characterized clinical trial cohorts that recruited rifampicin-sensitive Pulmonary TB patients without any comorbidities, taking their first spell of anti-tuberculosis therapy under supervision and meticulous follow up for 24 months post treatment completion, to accurately predict TB outcomes. Radiographic data independently obtained, interpreted by two experienced pulmonologists was collated with demographic details and, sputum smear and culture grades of participants by an independent statistician and analyzed using the Cox Proportional Hazards model, to not only adjust for confounding factors including treatment effect, but also explore the interaction between radiological and bacteriological parameters for better therapeutic application. RESULTS: Of 667 TB patients with data available, cavitation, extent of involvement, lower zone involvement, smear and culture grade at baseline were significant parameters predisposing to an unfavorable TB treatment outcome in the univariate analysis. Reduction in radiological lesions in Chest X-ray by at least 50% at 2 months and 75% at the end of treatment helped in averting unfavorable responses. Smear and Culture conversion at the end of 2 months was highly significant as a predictor (p2 zones, were 3.05 (95% CI: 1.12–8.23) and 1.92 (95% CI: 0.72–5.08) respectively. Patients without cavitation, zonal involvement 2 zones and 3+ smear grade individually and independently forecasted a poorer TB outcome. The interaction model revealed that Zonal involvement confined to 2 zones, without a cavity and smear grade up to 2+, constituting “minimal disease”, had a better prognosis. Radiological clearance >50% along with smear conversion at the end of intensive phase of treatment, observed to be a reasonable alternative to culture conversion in predicting a successful outcome. These parameters may potentially take up key positions as stratification factors for future trials contemplating on shorter TB regimens

Global overview of the management of acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic (CHOLECOVID study)

Background: This study provides a global overview of the management of patients with acute cholecystitis during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: CHOLECOVID is an international, multicentre, observational comparative study of patients admitted to hospital with acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on management were collected for a 2-month study interval coincident with the WHO declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and compared with an equivalent pre-pandemic time interval. Mediation analysis examined the influence of SARS-COV-2 infection on 30-day mortality. Results: This study collected data on 9783 patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to 247 hospitals across the world. The pandemic was associated with reduced availability of surgical workforce and operating facilities globally, a significant shift to worse severity of disease, and increased use of conservative management. There was a reduction (both absolute and proportionate) in the number of patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 3095 patients (56.2 per cent) pre-pandemic to 1998 patients (46.2 per cent) during the pandemic but there was no difference in 30-day all-cause mortality after cholecystectomy comparing the pre-pandemic interval with the pandemic (13 patients (0.4 per cent) pre-pandemic to 13 patients (0.6 per cent) pandemic; P = 0.355). In mediation analysis, an admission with acute cholecystitis during the pandemic was associated with a non-significant increased risk of death (OR 1.29, 95 per cent c.i. 0.93 to 1.79, P = 0.121). Conclusion: CHOLECOVID provides a unique overview of the treatment of patients with cholecystitis across the globe during the first months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The study highlights the need for system resilience in retention of elective surgical activity. Cholecystectomy was associated with a low risk of mortality and deferral of treatment results in an increase in avoidable morbidity that represents the non-COVID cost of this pandemic

Impact modeling of foam cored sandwich plates with ductile or brittle faceplates

This paper reports numerical results of low velocity impact on open-face sandwich plates with an impactor of 2.65 kg mass hitting with 6.7 m/s velocity. The numerical simulation is done using 3D finite element models in LS-DYNA. The sandwich plates used for the present work have a core made of commercial aluminum alloy foam (Alporas) with faceplates made of either ductile aluminum (Al) or brittle carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Selection of suitable constitutive models and erosion criterion for the failure analysis is investigated. A simplified analytical model for the peak load prediction under punch-through failure mode is presented. Numerically predicted contact force versus time, energy absorbed versus time along with the failure modes are compared with the experimental measurements and observations. Within experimental scatter, there is a good agreement between the numerical predictions and experimental measurements. Further more, the analytically predicted peak load values are in excellent agreement with the experimental measurements

Relative performance of metal and polymeric foam sandwich plates under low velocity impact

Relative performance of metal and polymeric foam cored sandwich plates is studied under low velocity impact loading. The metal and polymeric foam sandwich plates are constructed using a core of 40 mm thickness (with two layers of 20 mm each) and aluminum faceplates. Metal foam sandwich plates are constructed using aluminum alloy foam (ALPORAS) core while polymeric foam sandwich plates are constructed using polyvinyl chloride (Divinycell H80 and H250) foam core. Impact experiments are conducted with a hemispherical punch of mass 8.7 kg at a nominal velocity of 5.8 m/s. The effect of stepwise core grading on the maximum dynamic penetration force as well as energy absorption is studied. To maximize the energy absorption or to minimize the mass of the sandwich plate for a given penetration force, alternatives to Alporas foam are chosen based on either equivalent density (H250) or through-thickness compressive yield strength (H80). The increase in penetration force and energy absorption resulting from the choice of H250 in place of Alporas for the same density of the foam as well as the effect of decrease in mass of the sandwich panel by choosing H80 foam in place of Alporas for the same compressive strength of the foam is discussed. Numerical models were developed in LS-Dyna to predict the impact response (force-displacement history) and failure modes. Upperbound analysis is used to estimate the maximum penetration force. Peak force, energy absorption values and failure mode patterns obtained by analytical estimates, experimental measurements and numerical predictions all agree well.Accepted versio

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibodies in COVID-19 pneumonia patients

Aim: The aim is to know the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific neutralizing antibody responses in COVID-19 pneumonia patients and correlation of antibody titer values with COVID-19 pneumonia Category, cyclic threshold values of COVID-19 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, and computed tomography (CT) chest severity score. Material and Methods: Using serologic assay, SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were measured in 65 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia symptoms with either positive or negative COVID-19 RT-PCR tests and radiological changes in CT chest during COVID-19 Pandemic period. About 3–5 ml of venous blood was collected and blood samples were tested using Abbott SARS-COV 2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) assay. This assay detects IgG Antibody against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and has a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99.6%. Sixty-five patients were enrolled for this study and their clinical data, comorbid conditions, laboratory RT-PCR test reports, SARS-COV-2 antibody titers, and CT chest severity score were assessed cross-sectionally. Results: The study was done on 65 hospitalized patients. Among them, 39 were male (60.9%) and 25 were female (39.1%). Most common comorbidities among them were systemic hypertension (16.7%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (36.1%), diabetes mellitus (5.6%), coronary artery disease (22.2%), and bronchial asthma (27.8%). Among 65 patients, 36 (56.3%) tested COVID-19 RT-PCR positive and 28 (43.8%) tested COVID-19 RT-PCR negative. 24 patients belong to category B1 (55.8%), 11 patients belong to category B2 (25.6%), and 8 patients belong to category C (18.6%). A high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody after 2 weeks were observed-17% among Category B1 patients, 26% among Category B2 patients, and 43% among category C patients. CT chest severity score was correlated with serum antibody titers by Pearson correlation which revealed a positive correlation that is statistically significant (0.01). Cycle Threshold value of COVID-19 RT-PCR reports was correlated with serum antibody titers by Pearson correlation which revealed a negative correlation that is statistically insignificant. Conclusion: This study found a high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies among COVID-19 pneumonia patients and positive correlation of antibody titers with clinical COVID-19 pneumonia category and with CT Chest Severity score

Molecular Characterisation of Multidrug Resistant Pathogen Isolated from Egg and its Control Measures

Multidrug resistance is a condition enabling a disease causing microorganism to resist distinct drugs or chemical of wide variety of structure and function targeted at eradicating the bacteria. Microorganisms that display multidrug resistant can be pathogenic cells. In this study, table eggs are used commonly, because it considered the most nutritious economical source of protein that can be a part of healthy diet. However, egg shell carries bacteria which cause illness; even unbroken clean fresh shell egg may also contain harmful bacteria. In egg shell presence of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were found. Out of total examined sample, no Salmonella was detected. Several disease occurred in poultry are caused by Staphylococcus sp. such as Staphylococcus aureus. It produces Enterotoxins which create food poisoning in consumers. Eggs are the potential source of transmitting antibiotics. Resistant Staphylococcus strain to human causing food-borne infection through Staphylococcus strains can potentially be harmful to humans. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is considered as one of the important bacterium. As a result, Multidrug resistance (MDR) in the bacteria may develop. Nowadays poultry farm increase day by day in Tamilnadu, there is a chance of transmitting the MRSA to Human through egg consumption. This present study was conducted to isolate the bacterial species and the characterization of Staphylococcus aureus along with remedial measure on egg Shell surface. Keywords: Multidrug resistant, Pathogenic, Egg shell, Antibiotics, Human welfar