Study of chronic pelvic pain by laparoscopy in tertiary care hospital

Background: Laproscopy in chronic pelvic pain can revel findings that cannot be detected clinically, by ultrsonography, so it can be treated and diagnosed at the same sitting. This study was undertaken to evaluate role of laproscopy in chronic pelvic pain. Methods: Study design is a prospective study conducted in JJ hospital and Cama and Albless Hospital. A total of ‘44’ women presenting in OPD with chronic pelvic pain for more than 6 months duration were taken for the study. Results: Out of 44 patients who presented with pelvic pain 1 (2.27%) patient had no detectable pelvic pathology by laparoscopy. Prior ultrasound done in these 44 patients revealed that 14 (31%) had normal pelvic scan. Hence, ultrasound underdiagnosed 13 patients who actually had pelvic pathology on laparoscopy. Out of 44 patients 3 (6%) had normal clinical diagnosis, hence clinical examination under-diagnosed 2 other patients who on laparoscopy did not have any pelvic pathology. Conclusions: Laparoscopy is valuable in definitive diagnosis of pelvic pain. Use of laparoscopy for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes helps in avoiding laparotomy in majority of patients and morbidity and mortality associated with it

Evaluating assumptions of scales for subjective assessment of thermal environments – Do laypersons perceive them the way, we researchers believe?

International audienc

The Timing of Daily Demand for Goods and Services – Multivariate Probit Estimates and Microsimulation Results for an Aged Population with German Time Use Diary Data

Though consumption research provides a broad spectrum of theoretical and empirical founded results, studies based on a daily focus are missing. Knowledge about the individual timing of daily demand for goods and services, opens – beyond a genuine contribution to consumption research – interesting societal and macro economic as well as individual personal and firm perspectives: it is important for an efficient timely coordination of supply and demand in the timing perspective as well as for a targeted economic, social and societal policy for a better support of the every day coordination of life. Last not least, the individual daily public and private living situations will be visible, which are of particular importance for the social togetherness in family and society. Our study contributes to the timing of daily consumption for goods and services with an empirical founded microanalysis on the basis of more than 37.000 individual time use diaries of the nationwide Time Budget Survey of the German Federal Statistical Office 2001/02. We describe the individual timing of daily demand for goods and services for important socio-demographic groups like for women and men, the economic situation with income poverty and daily working hour arrangements. The multivariate microeconometric explanation of the daily demand for goods and services is based on a latent utility maximizing approach over a day. We estimate an eight equation Multivariate/Simultaneous Probit Model, which allows the decision for multiple consumption activities in more than one time period a day. The estimates quantify effects on the timing of daily demand by individual socio-economic variables, which encompasses, personal, household, regional characteristics as well as daily working hour arrangements within a flexible labour market. The question about individual effects of an aged society on the timing of daily demand for goods and services is analyzed with our microsimulation model ServSim and a population forecast for 2020 by the German Federal Statistical Office. Main result: There are significant differences in explaining the timing of daily demand for goods compared to services on the one hand and in particular for different daily time periods. The conclusion: without the timing aspects an important and significant dimension for understanding individual consumption behaviour and their impacts on other individual living conditions would be missing

Transcriptome-wide identification, characterization, and phylogenomic analysis of cytochrome P450s from Nothapodytes nimmoniana reveal candidate genes involved in the camptothecin biosynthetic pathway

The plant Nothapodytes nimmoniana is an important source of camptothecin (CPT), an anticancer compound widely used in the treatment of colorectal, lung, and ovarian cancers. CPT is biosynthesized by the combination of the seco-iridoid and indole pathways in plants. The majority of the biosynthetic steps and associated genes still remain unknown. Certain reactions in the seco-iridoid pathway are catalyzed by cytochrome P450 enzymes. Hence, identifying transcriptionally active cytochrome P450 genes becomes essential in the elucidation of the CPT biosynthetic pathway. Here, we report the identification of 94 cytochrome P450s from the assembled transcriptomic data from leaf and root tissues of N. nimmoniana. The identified cytochrome P450 genes were full length and possessed all four conserved characteristic signature motifs of cytochrome P450 genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the protein sequences revealed their evolution and diversification and further categorized them into A-type (52.12%) and non-A-type (47.87%) cytochrome P450s. These 94 sequences represent 38 families and 63 subfamilies of cytochrome P450s. We also compared the transcriptional activity of identified cytochrome P450s with the expression of their homologs in the CPT-producing plant Ophiorrhiza pumila. Based on expression profiles and quantitative PCR validation, we propose NnCYP81CB1 and NnCYP89R1 as candidate cytochrome P450 genes involved in camptothecin biosynthesis in N. nimmoniana.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Sar1-GTPase-dependent ER exit of KATP channels revealed by a mutation causing congenital hyperinsulinism

The ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel controls insulin secretion by coupling glucose metabolism to excitability of the pancreatic β-cell membrane. The channel comprises four subunits each of Kir6.2 and the sulphonylurea receptor (SUR1), encoded by KCNJ11 and ABCC8, respectively. Mutations in these genes that result in reduced activity or expression of KATP channels lead to enhanced β-cell excitability, insulin hypersecretion and hypoglycaemia, and in humans lead to the clinical condition congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). Here we have investigated the molecular basis of the focal form of CHI caused by one such mutation in Kir6.2, E282K. The study led to the discovery that Kir6.2 contains a di-acidic ER exit signal, 280DLE282, which promotes concentration of the channel into COPII-enriched ER exit sites prior to ER export via a process that requires Sar1-GTPase. The E282K mutation abrogates the exit signal, and thereby prevents the ER export and surface expression of the channel. When co-expressed, the mutant subunit was able to associate with the wild-type Kir6.2 and form functional channels. Thus unlike most mutations, the E282K mutation does not cause protein mis-folding. Since in focal CHI, maternal chromosome containing the KATP channel genes is lost, β-cells of the patient would lack wild-type Kir6.2 to rescue the mutant Kir6.2 subunit expressed from the paternal chromosome. The resultant absence of functional KATP channels leads to insulin hypersecretion. Taken together, we conclude that surface expression of KATP channels is critically dependent on the Sar1-GTPase-dependent ER exit mechanism and abrogation of the di-acidic ER exit signal leads to CHI

N‑Terminal Disordered Domain of <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> Hop1 Protein Is Dispensable for DNA Binding, Bridging, and Synapsis of Double-Stranded DNA Molecules But Is Necessary for Spore Formation

The cytological architecture of the synaptonemal complex (SC), a meiosis-specific proteinaceous structure, is evolutionarily conserved among eukaryotes. However, little is known about the biochemical properties of SC components or the mechanisms underlying their roles in meiotic chromosome synapsis and recombination. Functional analysis of <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> Hop1, a key structural component of SC, has begun to reveal important insights into its function in interhomolog recombination. Previously, we showed that Hop1 is a structure-specific DNA-binding protein, exhibits higher binding affinity for the Holliday junction, and induces structural distortion at the core of the junction. Furthermore, Hop1 promotes DNA condensation and intra- and intermolecular synapsis between duplex DNA molecules. Here, we show that Hop1 possesses a modular domain organization, consisting of an intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain and a protease-resistant C-terminal domain (Hop1CTD). Furthermore, we found that Hop1CTD exhibits strong homotypic as well as heterotypic protein–protein interactions, and its biochemical activities were similar to those of the full-length Hop1 protein. However, Hop1CTD failed to complement the meiotic recombination defects of the <i>Δhop1</i> strain, indicating that both N- and C-terminal domains of Hop1 are essential for meiosis and spore formation. Altogether, our findings reveal novel insights into the structure–function relationships of Hop1 and help to further our understanding of its role in meiotic chromosome synapsis and recombination

Researchers’ toolbox for the future:understanding and designing accessible and inclusive artificial intelligence (AIAI)

Abstract As Artificial Intelligence (AI) is integrated into all things technical, there is a valid concern over its lack of diversity, inclusiveness, and accessibility. Further, questions such as what it means for AI to be accessible and inclusive, why is inclusive AI required, and how can it be achieved, is an emerging area of research. In this two-part workshop, we will explore the nuanced challenges towards Accessible and Inclusive AI together with participants with diverse backgrounds. First, we will collaboratively define Accessible and Inclusive AI (AIAI), building on the diverse experiences of the participants and moderators. The goal is to contribute to the formulation of a shared vision for Accessibility and AI as well as identify the challenges and opportunities towards realizing this vision. Working in small teams, participants will collaboratively conceptually design a future scenario for AIAI or critically analyse an example solution. The aim is for teams to tackle tough questions related to what it means for AI to be accessible and inclusive, while addressing algorithmic biases and limitations of AI, in addition to opportunities for overcoming them in the future. Finally, teams will present their conceptual designs and scenarios in the larger group. Overall, the workshop will ignite innovative, and even provocative, ideas and future scenarios, building towards an inclusive and accessible AI