Iatrogenic insertion of impression mould into middle ear and mastoid and its retrieval after 9 years: a case report

The magnitude of hearing loss in Pakistan is enormous. One in twelve children of Pakistan suffers from some form of hearing impairment. Many of them are unable to afford surgical procedures and resort to the use of cheap hearing aids fitted by untrained individuals or people lacking the required expertise. This predisposes the patients to significant complications during a process that is otherwise considered safe. We report the case of a child, where the process of making the mould for a hearing aid led to the perforation of the tympanic membrane and pouring of mould material into the middle ear, necessitating surgical intervention. During initial surgery it was thought that all mould had been removed from the middle ear but 9 years later this child underwent cochlear implantation at the same center and remaining part of ear mould was discovered from mastoid cavity

Dysregulation of Macrophage-Secreted Cathepsin B Contributes to HIV-1-Linked Neuronal Apoptosis

Chronic HIV infection leads to the development of cognitive impairments, designated as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). The secretion of soluble neurotoxic factors by HIV-infected macrophages plays a central role in the neuronal dysfunction and cell death associated with HAND. One potentially neurotoxic protein secreted by HIV-1 infected macrophages is cathepsin B. To explore the potential role of cathepsin B in neuronal cell death after HIV infection, we cultured HIV-1ADA infected human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) and assayed them for expression and activity of cathepsin B and its inhibitors, cystatins B and C. The neurotoxic activity of the secreted cathepsin B was determined by incubating cells from the neuronal cell line SK-N-SH with MDM conditioned media (MCM) from HIV-1 infected cultures. We found that HIV-1 infected MDM secreted significantly higher levels of cathepsin B than did uninfected cells. Moreover, the activity of secreted cathepsin B was significantly increased in HIV-infected MDM at the peak of viral production. Incubation of neuronal cells with supernatants from HIV-infected MDM resulted in a significant increase in the numbers of apoptotic neurons, and this increase was reversed by the addition of either the cathepsin B inhibitor CA-074 or a monoclonal antibody to cathepsin B. In situ proximity ligation assays indicated that the increased neurotoxic activity of the cathepsin B secreted by HIV-infected MDM resulted from decreased interactions between the enzyme and its inhibitors, cystatins B and C. Furthermore, preliminary in vivo studies of human post-mortem brain tissue suggested an upregulation of cathepsin B immunoreactivity in the hippocampus and basal ganglia in individuals with HAND. Our results demonstrate that HIV-1 infection upregulates cathepsin B in macrophages, increases cathepsin B activity, and reduces cystatin-cathepsin interactions, contributing to neuronal apoptosis. These findings provide new evidence for the role of cathepsin B in neuronal cell death induced by HIV-infected macrophages

Dopamine Receptor Activation Increases HIV Entry into Primary Human Macrophages

Macrophages are the primary cell type infected with HIV in the central nervous system, and infection of these cells is a major component in the development of neuropathogenesis and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Within the brains of drug abusers, macrophages are exposed to increased levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that mediates the addictive and reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse such as cocaine and methamphetamine. In this study we examined the effects of dopamine on HIV entry into primary human macrophages. Exposure to dopamine during infection increased the entry of R5 tropic HIV into macrophages, irrespective of the concentration of the viral inoculum. The entry pathway affected was CCR5 dependent, as antagonizing CCR5 with the small molecule inhibitor TAK779 completely blocked entry. The effect was dose-dependent and had a steep threshold, only occurring above 108 M dopamine. The dopamine-mediated increase in entry required dopamine receptor activation, as it was abrogated by the pan-dopamine receptor antagonist flupenthixol, and could be mediated through both subtypes of dopamine receptors. These findings indicate that the effects of dopamine on macrophages may have a significant impact on HIV pathogenesis. They also suggest that drug-induced increases in CNS dopamine may be a common mechanism by which drugs of abuse with distinct modes of action exacerbate neuroinflammation and contribute to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in infected drug abusers

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Not AvailableA protein isolate was prepared from karanj seed (KPI) with 921.2 g protein/kg seed, which contained a negligible amount of anti-nutritional factors and a balanced amino acid composition, especially rich in methionine. For 60-day feeding trial, five isoni-trogenous (300 g/kg CP) and isocaloric (15 MJ DE/kg) diets were formulated by re-placing soybean protein isolate (SPI) on protein equivalent basis, KPI-0 (control, 0 g/kg KPI); KPI-25 (replacing 250 g/kg SPI protein with KPI); KPI-50 (replacing 500 g/kg SPI protein with KPI); KPI-75 (replacing 750 g/kg SPI protein with KPI) and KPI-100 (replacing 1,000 g/kg SPI protein with KPI) for the feeding of L. rohita. The weight gain percentage, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio were not significantly (p > .05) varied among the KPI fed and control groups. A significantly higher hepatosomatic index was recorded in the control and KPI-25 groups compared with other groups. The whole-body compositions, except ether ex-tract, did not differ significantly (p > .05) among the groups. Digestive (amylase, pro-tease, lipase and alkaline phosphatase) and metabolic enzyme activities (hexokinase, transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase) and glycogen stores were not significantly affected, whereas intestinal alkaline phosphatase differed significantly (p < .05). The RNA–DNA ratio was significantly (p < .05) higher in the KPI-75 group. Thus, the study revealed that KPI can completely replace SPI protein at 191 g/kg inclusion level in the diets of L. rohita fingerlings.Not Availabl

Water model experiments on mixing phenomena in a VOD ladle

Mixing phenomena in a VOD ladle were characterized by a watermodel simulation from the determination of mixing times by electrical conductivity measurements. Two mixing times defined for two degrees of mixing, viz., t(95) (95% mixing) and t(99) (99% mixing) were identified for each experiment. Various operating conditions as well as different placements of bottom nozzle with and without a top jet were simulated. irrespective of whether the top blow is present or not, mixing rates were found to be increasing considerably as the nozzle position is moved from the center to the mid-radius position. The presence of a top jet, as in a VOD ladle, was found to weaken mixing for both a coaxial and non coaxial placement of the lance with the bubble plume. The results of watermodel experiments have been used to construct a simple two-tank model of mixing inside the actual ladle, in which the parameters are obtained as functions of process variables

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Not AvailableGreen pea, Pisum sativum leaf meal (PSLM) was evaluated by conducting a 60-day feeding trial in the diet of Labeo rohita fingerlings. Six iso- nitrogenous (310 g CP/kg) and isocaloric (14 MJ DE/kg) diets viz. Control (0 g PSLM/kg), LM150 (150 g PSLM/kg), LM300 (300 g PSLM/kg), CCX (control + 1 g cellulase and xylanase, CX mixture/kg), LM150CX (LM150 + 1 g CX/kg) and LM300CX (LM300 + 1 g CX/kg) were prepared. Two hundred and seventy acclimated fish (5.06 ± 0.08 g) were randomly distributed in six experimental groups in triplicate with the stocking density of 15 fish per tank and the fish of each experimental tank were fed with respective diet at satiation level. The specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, apparent dry matter digestibility coefficient, amylase activity and the activities of muscle aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase of LM150CX group were the highest among the experimental groups. However, LM300CX and control groups exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) values of these parameters than other groups except LM150CX group. Hepatic catalase and superoxide dismutase activities of LM150CX group were the lowest. Moreover, LM300CX and control groups showed significantly lower (p < 0.05) activities of these enzymes than other dietary groups except LM150CX group. The groups fed with leaf meal and exogenous enzyme showed enhanced hepatic IGF-1 expression. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of PSLM at 300 g/kg with supplementation of CX (1:1) at 1 g/kg could replace DORB completely in the diet of L. rohita without compromising the growth performance.Not Availabl

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Not AvailablePhospholipid (PL) constitutes the bilayer of the cell membrane and maintains cellular function like absorption, transportation, assimilation of lipid, eicosanoid synthesis, hormonal actionetc. These functions make PL as an essential nutrient for the larval nutrition of fish and crustacean. Several studies reported that inclusion of PL in the micro diet and enrichment of live foodwith PL improves growth, survival, qualityand immune responses in larvae. Use of PL in plant-based feed showspromising result for fish and shellfish production. Study on use of PL in aquaculture feed showimprovement of gut physiology, digestive enzyme activity, lipid transport, stress handling and enhance immunity through antibacterial and bactericidal effect. Asian catfish like Clarias batrachus, Heteroneustes fossilis etc. whose larval growth and survival is still challenging. Addition of PL in Asian catfish diet might be helpful to improve their survival and growth to promote adequate seed supply.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA feeding trial was conducted to explore the effect of dietary Houttuynia cordata leaf extract (HCLE) and leaf meal (HCLM) on immunological responses and expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) gene in Labeo rohita fingerlings. Six isonitrogenous (350 g/kg CP) and isocaloric (17 MJ/kg DE) pu-rified experimental diets were formulated with Houttuynia cordata leaf extract and leaf meal comprising control, C (0 g/kg HCLE and HCLM), E2.5 (2.5 g/kg HCLE), E5 (5 g/kg HCLE), E10 (10 g/kg HCLE), M10 (10 g/kg HCLM) and M20 (20 g/kg HCLM). Labeo rohita fingerlings (3.37± 0.23 g) were distributed in six experimental groups in triplicates following the complete random distribution. Fish were fed twice daily with respective experimental diets for a period of 60 days. A significantly (p< .05) lower lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were registered in supplemented groups compared with control group, while respiratory burst and lysozyme activities were significantly (p< .05) higher in E10 group compared with other experimental groups. Haemoglobin, total leucocyte count, total erythrocyte count and haematocrit values were significantly (p< .05) higher in E10 group. The expression of IFN-γ and TNF-α in both the kidney and liver was significantly up-regulated in leaf extract and meal supplemented groups with the highest expression in the fish of E10 group. Overall, these results suggest that the dietary supplementation of ethanolic extract of the Houttuynia cordata leaf at 10 g/kg level can enhance the immune response of L. rohita fingerlings.Not Availabl