Septate uterus: incidental finding in multiparous woman with breech with bad obstetric history who had an emergency caesarean

The most common anomalies of reproductive tract are Mullerian duct anomalies, among which septate uterus is the commonest with highest reproductive failure rate. As there are some pitfalls in diagnosis therefore the incidence is difficult to be mentioned as many remain asymptomatic. A 20 year old G5P1L0A3 with 36+4 weeks of gestation with breech presentation in active labour came to our hospital. Patient had previous history of intrauterine death at 8 months of amenorrhea and previous abortions at 5, 5 and 4 months of amenorrhoea in the year 2011, 2013, and 2014 respectively. She underwent emergency caesarean section due to breech at 36+4 weeks in active labour with the delivery of a live late preterm female baby extracted by complete breech of weight 2.28kgs with bilateral CTEV of the baby. Intraoperative findings- of septate uterus–septum extending from fundus to external os, fundal dimpling present. Though rare but uterine anomalies should be suspected in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss, preterm birth and malpresentation

Obstetric outcome in pregnancy complicated by ovarian cysts

Background: Ovarian masses are diagnosed in 0.5-1% pregnancies. During pregnancy ovarian cysts can undergo: resolution of the cyst, change of ultrasound pattern, occurrence of ovarian torsion and intra-cystic haemorrhage or rupture. Ovarian masses (esp torsion) is a cause of pain abdomen during pregnancy. The choice of treatment is mainly conservative, provided the patient is asymptomatic. Dilemma in management arises when the patient is symptomatic. Optimal timing for a planned surgery is the second trimester as it is shown to have least neonatal outcome. The objective of this study was to evaluate management options for ovarian cyst in pregnancy and its effect on outcome of pregnancy.Methods: This study was conducted for 2 years from June 2014 to June 2016, at RL Jalappa Hospital, Kolar. A total of 46 pregnant women were included. The pregnancy outcome and the management used were studied. Also studied were the complications most likely to occur in pregnancies complicated by ovarian masses ovarian masses.Results: Out of 46 patients, 2 (4.3%) patients with ovarian cyst torsion underwent emergency laparotomy. 8 patients underwent surgery (6 in 2nd trimester and 2 at term) for various complications. Only one patient had miscarriage and remaining patients continued till term. Histopathological report of all the masses excised were obtained and 6 were reported to be benign serous cystadenomas,1 benign mucinous cystadenoma and 3 simple cysts.Conclusions: Optimal management for ovarian cyst is conservative in pregnancy provided patient remain asymptomatic and characteristic of cyst are consistent with benign pathology. Surgical management is to be reserved for symptomatic patient

Synthesis, Characterization and Biological activities of 2-Amino-3-Methyl pyridine New Dithiocarbamate metal complexes

Dithiocarbamates are a class of sulfur-based metal-chelating compounds with various applications in medicine. A new series of new transition metal [Cu(II), and Ni(II)] complexes of dithiocarbamates were synthesized from 2-Amino-3-Methyl pyridine and Carbon disulfide and further characterized. The investigation of these complexes confirmed that the stability of metal–ligands coordination through, S&S,N atoms as bidendate chelates.. It is necessary to understand the binding properties in developing new potential Protein targeting against neurological disorders. Keywords:2-Amino-3-Methylpyridine,MetalComplexes,Dithiocarbamates,neurological disorders

Tryptophan fluorescence quenching as a binding assay to monitor protein conformation changes in the membrane of intact mitochondria

Intrinsic protein fluorescence is due to aromatic amino acids, mainly tryptophan, which can be selectively measured by exciting at 295 nm. Changes in emission spectra of tryptophan are due to the protein conformational transitions, subunit association, ligand binding or denaturation, which affect the local environment surrounding the indole ring. In this study, tryptophan fluorescence was monitored in intact mitochondria at 333 nm following excitation at 295 nm in presence of insecticides using spectrofluorometer. Methyl-parathion, carbofuran, and endosulfan induced Trp fluorescence quenching and release of cytochrome c when incubated with the mitochondria, except fenvalarate. Mechanism of insecticide-induced mitochondrial toxicity for the tested insecticides has been discussed. Reduction in the intensity of tryptophan emission spectra of mitochondrial membrane proteins in presence of an increasing concentration of a ligand can be used to study the interaction of insecticides/drugs with the intact mitochondria. Furthermore, this assay can be readily adapted for studying protein–ligand interactions in intact mitochondria and in other cell organelles extending its implications for pesticide and pharma industry and in drug discovery

Methylparathion- and carbofuran-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in Helicoverpa armigera (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera is a polyphagous pest of several crops in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean Europe. Organophosphate and carbamate insecticides are used on a large-scale to control Helicoverpa. Therefore, we studied the effect of methylparathion and carbofuran, an organophosphate and carbamate insecticide, respectively, on oxidative phosphorylation and oxidative stress in H. armigera larvae to gain an understanding of the different target sites of these insecticides. It was observed that state III and state IV respiration, respiratory control index (RCI), and P/O ratios were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by methylparathion and carbofuran under invitro and in vivo conditions. Methylparathion and carbofuran inhibited complex II by ∼ 45% and 30%, respectively. Lipid peroxidation, H2O2 content, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity increased and glutathione reductase (GR) activity decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner in insecticide-fed larvae. However, catalase activity was not affected in insecticide-fed larvae. Larval growth decreased by ∼ 64 and 67% in larvae fed on diets with sub-lethal doses of methylparathion and carbofuran. The results suggested that both the insecticides impede the mitochondrial respiratory functions and induced lipid peroxidation, H2O2, and LDH leak, leading to oxidative stress in cells, which contribute to deleterious effects of these insecticides on the growth of H. armigera larvae, along with their neurotoxic effects

Characterization of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase from the mitochondria of Helicoverpa armigera, a pest resistant to insecticides

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DHLDH) was isolated from the mitochondria of Helicoverpa armigera, a destructive pest which has developed resistance to commonly used insecticides. The flavoenzyme was purified 17.98-fold to homogeneity with an overall yield of 10.53% by employing ammonium sulfate precipitation, hydroxylapatite chromatography and CM-Sephadex chromatography. The purified enzyme exhibited the specific activity of 18.7 U/mg and was characterized as a dimer with a subunit mass of 66 kDa. The enzyme showed specificity for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide – hydrogen (NADH) and lipoamide, as substrates, with Michaelis-Menten constants (Km) of 0.083 mmol/L and 0.4 mmol/L, respectively. The reduction reaction of lipoamide by the enzyme could be explained by ping-pong mechanism. The spectra of DHLDH showed the maximum absorbance at 420 nm, 455 nm and 475 nm. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by mercurial and arsenical compounds. The N-terminal sequence of Ha-DHLDH showed homology with those of mammalian and arthropod DHLDH. Since H. armigera has developed high levels of resistance to commonly used insecticides, biochemical properties of the metabolic enzymes such as DHLDH, could be helpful to develop insecticidal molecules for the control of H. armigera, with a different mode of action

Monitoring biosafety of pharmaceutical drugs, insecticides, and other bioactive molecules to mitochondria

Mitochondria are large cell organelles in plant and animal cells. They convert chemical energy from food in the cell to usable energy using oxygen. This process is called oxidative phosphorylation, which takes place inside the mitochondria. Reactions of Krebs cycle produce a chemical, NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, reduced form), which is then used by enzymes present in the inner mitochondrial membrane to generate energy rich adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules. These molecules are utilized by the cells whenever energy is required. Therefore, mitochondria are also referred as power houses of the cell. Mitochondria are abundantly present in muscle and brain cells, and sperms to supply ATPs during demand for energy. Monitoring biosafety of pharmaceutical drugs, insecticides, and other bioactive molecules to mitochondria is necessary because some of them interact with the mitochondrial membrane or membrane proteins, thereby affecting the energy levels of cells or even induces mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis (programmed cell death)

Interaction of plant cell signaling molecules, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid, with the mitochondria of Helicoverpa armigera

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera is a polyphagous pest in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean Europe. Salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) are the cell signaling molecules produced in response to insect attack in plants. The effect of these signaling molecules was investigated on the oxidative phosphorylation and oxidative stress of H. armigera. SA significantly inhibited the state III and state IV respiration, respiratory control index (RCI), respiratory complexes I and II, induced mitochondrial swelling, and cytochrome c release in vitro. Under in vivo conditions, SA induced state IV respiration as well as oxidative stress in time- and dose-dependent manner, and also inhibited the larval growth. In contrast, JA did not affect the mitochondrial respiration and oxidative stress. SA affected the growth and development of H. armigera, in addition to its function as signaling molecules involved in both local defense reactions at feeding sites and the induction of systemic acquired resistance in plants

Effect of pyrethroids, permethrin and fenvalarate, on the oxidative stress of Helicoverpa armigera

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera is a polyphagous pest of several crops in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean Europe. Pyrethroid insecticides are used to control noxious insects in agriculture, forestry, households and horticulture. Therefore, the effect of permethrin and fenvalarate was evaluated on the oxidative stress in H. armigera. Lipid peroxidation, H2O2 content, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity increased and glutathione reductase (GR) activity decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner in insecticide-fed larvae. However, catalase activity was not affected in insecticide-fed larvae. Larval growth decreased by ~ 64 and 70% in larvae fed on diets with sub-lethal doses of permethrin and fenvalarate. The results suggested that both the insecticides induced lipid peroxidation, H2O2, LDH leak, and altered antioxidant enzymes leading to oxidative stress in cells, which contribute to deleterious effects of these insecticides on the growth of H. armigera larvae, along with their neurotoxic effects