Subaltern Bodies in Fluid Space of a Female Body: A Feminist Existential Study of Adrienne Rich’s Poems ‘Diving in the Wreck’& ‘Planetarium’

This research explores the subaltern bodies occupying a fluid space in a female body in Adrian Rich’s poems ‘Diving in the Wreck’ and ‘Planetarium’. Rich opines that the space of ‘female’ body is a natural home to both ‘she’ and ‘he’ simultaneously and is capable to excel in all walks of life, without being dependent on men for recognition. A search for relocation of female space in the patriarchal myth and the affirmation of the presence of both male and female sex within a single female body, as a source of power and strength is sought after in this study. The objective is to debunk the role of patriarchal myth in the construction and commodification of ‘female’ body. Moreover, our impetus for writing this research paper is to address the gap in the present scholarship regarding the recognition of the contribution made by people with diverse tendencies either homosexual, LGBTQ community and by ‘lesbian continuum’ in the postmodern era. Recognizing their talents and achievements can win them over to an equal status of efficient and responsible citizens of society. The study will incorporate the theoretical framework of Simon de Beauvoir’s feminist existentialism. It will facilitate future researchers in excavating the potentials and abilities of women, who have been downsized by hierarchal order of society

Involvement of thromboxane A2 and tyrosine kinase in the synergistic interaction of platelet activating factor and calcium ionophore A23187 in human platelet aggregation

The present study was carried out to examine the mechanisms of the synergistic interaction of PAF and A23187 mediated platelet aggregation. We found that platelet aggregation mediated by subthreshold concentrations of PAF (5 nM) and A23187 (1 mM) was inhibited by PAF receptor blocker (WEB 2086, IC50 = 0.65 mM) and calcium channel blockers, diltiazem (IC50 = 13 mM) and verapamil (IC50 = 18 mM). Pretreatment of platelets with PAF and A23187 induced rise in intracellular calcium and this effect was also blocked by verapamil. While examining the role of the down stream signaling pathways, we found that platelet aggregation induced by the co-addition of PAF and A23187 was also inhibited by low concentrations of phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor (U73122; IC50 = 10 mM), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin; IC50 = 0.2 mM) and inhibitor of TLCK, herbimycin A with IC50 value of 5 mM. The effect was also inhibited by a specific TXA2 receptor antagonist, SQ 29548 with very low IC50 value of 0.05 mM. However, the inhibitors of MAP kinase, PD98059 and protein kinase C, chelerythrine had no effect on PAF and A23187-induced platelet aggregation. These data suggest that the synergism between PAF and A23187 in platelet aggregation involves activation of thromboxane and tyrosine kinase pathways

Preparation of Nano-Particles and Their Applications in Adsorption

The nano-technologies and nano-materials draw incredible consideration in recent years. Nano-particles are the particles having size ranging from 1 to 100 nm. The nano-particles are usually categorized into different classes, and their classification is based on size, shape, material production, and dimension. They show superior properties, i.e., enhanced reactivity, high BET surface area, sensitiveness, and steadiness as compared to their bulk materials. In this chapter, different approaches of synthesizing nano-particles, including sol gel, chemical vapor deposition, and biosynthesis are talked over. In the treatment of wastewater, nano-particles offer a possibility for effective adsorption of contaminants organic as well as inorganic. This chapter presents an overview on nano-particles, their types, characteristics, synthetic approaches, and applications in the field of surface chemistry

Primary Renal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Unusual Malignancy

Malignancies of the upper urinary tract are rare, accounting for about 8% of all malignancies of the renal system, presenting mostly as urothelial carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising from the upper urinary tract is even more rare, accounting for about 0.5% of all malignancies of the renal system and 10% of all renal pelvic tumors. There are very few case reports in the indexed literature regarding renal squamous cell carcinoma. Here we present a case of SCC arising from the lower pole of left kidney, in a 35-year-old male resident of Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir

Quantitative gait analysis as a method to assess mechanical hyperalgesia modulated by disease-modifying antirheumatoid drugs in the adjuvant-induced arthritic rat

In the present study, azothioprine, chloroquine, D-penicillamine, methotrexate and sodium aurothiomalate (gold salt) were evaluated for possible disease-modifying effects in the adjuvant-induced arthritis model of human rheumatoid arthritis in rats. Gait analysis was used to examine the role of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in the development of pain. Body weights were also measured to monitor the progression of disease and the systemic antiarthritic effects of the test compounds used in this study, as well as their systemic toxicity. Our results showed that azothioprine (5 mg/kg/day), chloroquine (12.5 mg/kg/day), sodium aurothiomalate (2.5 mg/kg/day) and methotrexate (1 mg/kg/week) not only inhibited the macroscopic changes such as erythema and swelling of limbs, but also exhibited significant reversal of gait deficits seen in the untreated or saline-treated arthritic rats. No reduction in the body weights were observed in the arthritic rats treated with azothioprine, chloroquine, sodium aurothiomalate and methotrexate. D-Penicillamine (12.5 mg/kg/day), however, showed a significant reduction (P < 0.03) in the body weights of the arthritic rats over a period of 22 days; furthermore, it was unable to show any reduction in arthritic score (P < 0.1). In earlier experiments, chloroquine and methotrexate failed to suppress carageenan-induced edema, suggesting that the mode of antiarthritic action may be different from those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Since these disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are reported to have an immunomodulatory role, especially the gold salt, which influences the monocyte–macrophage system, it is suggested that the observed antiarthritic effects of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs may be partly attributed to their immunomodulatory activity

Technical varieties of ross procedure: A case series.

Replacement of aortic valve with the pulmonary autograft is carried out through the Ross procedure due to its potential for growth, durability in pediatric population, and absence of anticoagulation. This case series reports the postoperative outcome of two technical variations of Ross procedure in eight patients who underwent surgery from January 2007 to December 2016. The dominant valvular hemodynamic indication was aortic regurgitation. The techniques employed for Ross procedure included free standing root replacement in six patients and modified root replacement with autograft stabilisation using Dacron interposition graft in two patients. Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) conduit reconstruction was achieved by utilisation of Contegra bio prosthesis in four patients; and use of manually constructed valved conduit comprising of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethelene) membrane and bovine pericardial tube in remaining four patients. There was no mortality and no re-intervention. The technical varieties of Ross procedure offer freedom from need of anti-coagulation, mortality, and RVOT conduit failure in younger adults

Yeast sludge and its components ameliorate ochratoxin Ainduced toxicity in broiler chicks

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of yeast sludge (YS) and its components against ochratoxin A (OTA) in broiler chicks. Methods: Ochratoxin A (OTA) was produced through solid state fermentation, and quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A total of 1250 one-day old broiler chicks of Arbreaker breed were randomly assigned to five diet groups (A - E) replicated five times in such a way that each replicate had 50 chicks. The five diet groups were: A (normal poultry feed), B (200 µg/kg OTA), C (200 µg/kg OTA plus 2 g/kg YS), D (200 µg/kg OTA plus 2 g/kg yeast sludge cell mass, YSCM), and E (200 µg/kg OTA plus 2 g/kg yeast sludge cell wall (YSCW). The study lasted 35 days. Indices of liver and kidney functions were determined, as well as histopathological examination of samples of kidney, liver and bursa of Fabricius. Results: Supplementation of chicks diet with OTA at a dose of 200 ppb significantly reduced serum levels of total protein (TP), albumin, and creatinine, but significantly raised the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p &lt; 0.05). However, inclusion of YS, YSCM, and YSCW in OTA-contaminated diet significantly reversed the effect of OTA on the indices of liver and kidney functions (p &lt; 0.05). Yeast sludge and its components also significantly ameliorated OTA-induced histological changes in the liver, kidney and bursa of Fabricius. Conclusion: These results indicate that YS and it components improve hepatorenal function and histological changes induced by OTA

Association of Clinicopathological features of Cholecystitis with Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Gall bladders

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) have been associated with gastritis, but its presence in other parts of the gastrointestinal system has not been studied much. Few previous studies have identified “H. pylori” in gallbladder and found its association in causing cholecystitis and gallstones, but there is limited data showing a significant association in Pakistan. This study was designed to identify H. pylori microorganism in cholecystitis patients and find its association with the morphological changes seen in the affected gall bladders. Material and Methods: All patients with acute and chronic cholecystitis admitted in Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital (ANTH) between the ages of 18 and 80 years from January 2017 till March 2019, who underwent cholecystectomy, were included in the study. Gall bladder specimens were sent to Pathology department, ANTH after surgery and were analyzed for the presence of H pylori bacteria using Hematoxylin and Eosin and Giemsa staining. Signs of inflammation, hyperplasia, metaplasia, mucosal atrophy or erosion, lymphoid infiltration, fibrosis, cholesterolosis or any other morphological changes were also noted. Association of H. pylori with cholecystitis and other morphological changes were assessed by Chi Square analysis. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Chronic cholecystitis was present in 91% cases and acute cholecystitis in 9%. Other histological findings were Hyperplasia (10%), Metaplasia (15%), Fibrosis (79%), Cholesterolosis (19%) and ulcerations (36%). H pylori was found in 17% of gall bladders and all the cases were of chronic cholecystitis, with 11.7% males and 88% females. Gallstones were present in 76.4% cases and were more common in 41-60 years’ age group (64.7%). Other histological findings seen in H. pylori positive cases were; Hyperplasia in 11.7% cases, Metaplasia in 17.6%, Fibrosis in 94.1%, cholesterolosis in 23.5% and ulcerations in 17.6% cases. Association of H. pylori with gender, cholecystitis, gall stones, histological features and age distribution was non-significant.Conclusion: Although H. pylori infection has been found in cases of chronic cholecystitis and gall stone formation, its association with cholecystitis and other morphological changes could not be proved. Hence, it is uncertain whether H. pylori eradication in patients with gastritis can prevent cholecystitis or gall stones formation

Diastematomyelia due to Spinal intradural Extramedullary Teratoma in an Adult

Teratomas are rarely found in the Central Nervous System and are approximately 2% of all other Teratomas. Spinal Teratomas are extremely rare as compared to the teratomas that are found intracranially and are almost 0.1–0.5% of all tumors of spinal cord. These tumors are even more infrequent in adults. Diastematomyelia, also known as split cord malformation causes complete or incomplete sagittal division of the neural axis and duplicates it. This condition is mostly accompanied by various malformations and in rare cases it is associated with intradural spinal teratoma. We report a case of 39 years old male who presented with complaints of severe pain in the left leg and weakness with power 2/5 in left leg and urinary obstruction. On evaluation, he was diagnosed as having Diastematomyelia due to Spinal intradural Extramedullary Teratoma