Mucormycosis of Pouch of Douglas in a diabetic woman

Mucormycosis is a severe fungal infection which is rare in clinical practice. This infection is usually acquired by inhalation; other portals of entry are ingestion and traumatic implantation, especially in immuno-compromised patients. Here, we present a case of mucormycosis in a 44-year-old diabetic woman. The patient had collection of fluid in the Pouch of Douglas (POD) and history of bleeding per vagina. Hysterectomy was done which showed a blackish serosal surface of the posterior uterus. Subsequent investigations revealed mycormycosis caused by Rhizopus oryzae (R. arrhizus) affecting the POD. Patient was treated with liposomal amphotericin B and is now keeping well

Hexanuclear Zn(II) and Mononuclear Cu(II) Complexes containing imino phenol ligands: Exploitation of their Catalytic and Biological Perspectives

A unique hexanuclear zinc(II) (1) and two mononuclear copper(II) (2 and 3) complexes anchored with imino phenol ligand HL1 and HL2 were synthesized with good yield and purity (where HL1 = 4‐tert‐butyl‐2,6‐bis((mesitylimino)methylphenol and HL2 = 5‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxy‐3‐((mesitylimino)methyl)benzaldehyde). These complexes were characterized by utilizing various spectroscopic protocols like NMR, FTIR, UV as well as ESI‐Mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. Their potential to bind calf thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) was tested utilizing different techniques such as UV–visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. The experiment implies that they interact with CT‐DNA via non‐intercalative mode with moderate capabilities (Kb ~ 104 M−1). On the other hand, these complexes have high capabilities to quench the fluorescence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) following the static pathway. In addition, they are active catalysts for the oxidation reaction of 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatechol (3,5‐DTBC) to 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylquinone (3,5‐DTBQ) under aerobic condition. From the recorded EPR signals of all complexes, it has been concluded that the oxidation reaction proceeds via ligand oriented radical pathway instead of metal based redox participation. Kinetic studies using 1–3 indicate that it follows Michaelis–Menten type of equation with moderate to high turnover number (kcat). Apart from these aspects, complexes 1–3 were screened for their cytotoxic behavior towards HeLa cells (human cervical carcinoma) and found quite active with comparable IC50 values to cisplatin

Association of specific p53 polymorphisms with keratosis in individuals exposed to arsenic through drinking water in West Bengal, India

Although, more than six million people are endemically exposed to inorganic arsenic in West Bengal, India by drinking heavily contaminated groundwater, only about 300,000 people show arsenic induced skin lesions. This suggests that genetic variability plays an important role in arsenic induced skin lesions and skin cancers. Arsenic induced keratosis is considered as a possible precancerous state of in situ carcinoma. Several reports have suggested the role of p53 polymorphisms as potential marker for risk assessment of different types of cancers. This prompted us to study the association of three p53 polymorphisms with arsenic induced keratosis in a population exposed to arsenic through drinking water. A total of 366 unrelated individuals (177 individuals with arsenic induced keratosis and 189 individuals with no arsenic induced skin lesions) were recruited from North 24 Parganas, Nadia and Murshidabad districts between January 2003 and February 2005 for the study of the genotypic distribution of three p53 polymorphisms (16 bp duplication at intron 3, codon 72 Arg/Pro and G > A at intron 6 [nt 13,494]) by PCR-RFLP. The arginine homozygous genotype at codon 72, and homozygous genotype of no duplication polymorphism at intron 3 were over represented in the individuals with keratosis compared with individuals with no skin lesions (OR = 2.086; 95% CI = 1.318–3.299 and OR = 2.086; 95% CI = 1.257–3.457, respectively). This study indicates that individuals carrying the arginine homozygous genotype at codon 72, and/or no duplication homozygous genotype at intron 3 are at risk for the development of arsenic induced keratosis

Comparison of health effects between individuals with and without skin lesions in the population exposed to arsenic through drinking water in West Bengal, India

A study was conducted to explore the effect of arsenic causing conjunctivitis, neuropathy and respiratory illness in individuals, with or without skin lesions, as a result of exposure through drinking water, contaminated with arsenic to similar extent. Exposed study population belongs to the districts of North 24 Parganas and Nadia, West Bengal, India. A total of 725 exposed (373 with skin lesions and 352 without skin lesions) and 389 unexposed individuals were recruited as study participants. Participants were clinically examined and interviewed. Arsenic content in drinking water, urine, nail and hair was estimated. Individuals with skin lesion showed significant retention of arsenic in nail and hair and lower amount of urinary arsenic compared to the group without any skin lesion. Individuals with skin lesion also showed higher risk for conjunctivitis ((odd’s ratio) OR: 7.33, 95% CI: 5.05–10.59), peripheral neuropathy (OR: 3.95, 95% CI: 2.61–5.93) and respiratory illness (OR: 4.86, 95% CI: 3.16–7.48) compared to the group without any skin lesion. The trend test for OR of the three diseases in three groups was found to be statistically significant. Again, individuals without skin lesion in the exposed group showed higher risk for conjunctivitis (OR: 4.66, 95% CI: 2.45–8.85), neuropathy (OR: 3.99, 95% CI: 1.95–8.09), and respiratory illness (OR: 3.21, 95% CI: 1.65–6.26) when compared to arsenic unexposed individuals. Although individuals with skin lesions were more susceptible to arsenicinduced toxicity, individuals without skin lesions were also subclinically affected and are also susceptible to arsenic-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity when compared to individuals not exposed to arsenic

Advancements in Urban Environmental Studies : Application of Geospatial Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Urban Studies

Advancements in Urban Environmental Studie