Isolated primary Hydatid cyst of kidney: A case report of asymptomatic patient

We report an isolated primary hydatid cyst of kidney in a pregnant asymptomatic woman. We also present salient diagnostic feature of asymptomatic patients of hydatid cyst

Cooperative self-assembly of peptide gelators and proteins

Molecular self-assembly provides a versatile route for the production of nanoscale materials for medical and technological applications. Herein, we demonstrate that the cooperative self-assembly of amphiphilic small molecules and proteins can have drastic effects on supramolecular nanostructuring of resulting materials. We report that mesoscale, fractal-like clusters of proteins form at concentrations that are orders of magnitude lower compared to those usually associated with molecular crowding at room temperature. These protein clusters have pronounced effects on the molecular self-assembly of aromatic peptide amphiphiles (fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl- dipeptides), resulting in a reversal of chiral organization and enhanced order through templating and binding. Moreover, the morphological and mechanical properties of the resultant nanostructured gels can be controlled by the cooperative self-assembly of peptides and protein fractal clusters, having implications for biomedical applications where proteins and peptides are both present. In addition, fundamental insights into cooperative interplay of molecular interactions and confinement by clusters of chiral macromolecules is relevant to gaining understanding of the molecular mechanisms of relevance to the origin of life and development of synthetic mimics of living systems

Risk Factors and Protective Factors for COVID-19 Infection among Patients Visiting University Health Centre of Vadodara District: A Case Control study

Introduction: Identification of risk factors and protective factors of COVID-19 can help in controlling the disease in healthcare and the community. Objective: To determine the risk factors and protective factors of COVID-19 among patients visiting University Health Centre of Vadodara district. Method: A case control study was done at University Health Centre of the district. Hundred cases who were COVID-19 positive by RTPCR/RAT testing and 100 controls who were RTPCR/RAT negative and never displayed its signs and symptoms were asked about knowledge of parameters such as hand hygiene, social distancing, any ayurvedic or homeopathic medicine intake, chemoprophylaxis of HCQ, visit to public places, any travel history outside city, state or country, the manner, place, and type of masks used by them to know the risk and protective factors for COVID-19. Results: Significant risk factors for COVID-19 infection based on logistic regression were increasing age (OR=3.65, p=0.004), higher education (OR=4.72, p=0.001), self-medication of homeopathic or ayurvedic medicines (OR=6.27, p=0.005). Significant protective factors for COVID-19 infection based on logistic regression were regular use of mask (OR=0.03, p=<0.0001), correct technique of mask use (OR=0.17, p=0.02), and maintaining social distance (OR=0.18, p=0.049). Conclusion: This study revealed the factors associated with occurrence of COVID-19 were increasing age, higher education, self- medication and factors which protect from infection were regular use of mask, correct technique of mask use, and maintaining social distance

Prevalence of Health Problems, Professional and Financial Satisfaction among Doctors Working Across Vadodara City: A Cross-sectional Study

Background:&nbsp;The present study was conducted to know the distribution of various health problems among doctors and to assess professional and financial satisfaction levels among doctors.&nbsp;Methods:&nbsp;A Google Form questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 122 doctors in Vadodara selected purposively after taking consent. Google form was circulated by email and WhatsApp groups. The form consisted of questions related to demographic details, health problems, financial and job satisfaction. All the responses were recorded and analyzed in MS Excel 2019.&nbsp;Results:&nbsp;Among the 122 doctors, 89 (72.95%) were male and 33 (27.04%) were female and 101 (82.78%) doctors were taking treatment for some ailment. Around 86.9% of doctors regularly opt for a health check-up. Among the health problems reported by doctors, the most common were musculoskeletal ailments (72.13%) followed by hypertension (28.9%), diabetes (17.2), cardiac (12.3%), endocrinal (10.65%), eye (9.01), mental (6.55) problems. Approximately 37.70% of doctors answered that health problems temporarily affect their work; 5.73% of doctors felt the need to modify their work pattern. About 91.80% of doctors were satisfied by their profession, while 108 (88.52%) doctors were financially satisfied with their work.&nbsp;Conclusion:&nbsp;More than half of the professionals complained of musculoskeletal problems. The majority of health care professionals were professionally and financially satisfied

Image potential states as quantum probe of graphene interfaces

Image potential states (IPSs) are electronic states localized in front of a surface in a potential well formed by the surface projected bulk band gap on one side and the image potential barrier on the other. In the limit of a two-dimensional solid a double Rydberg series of IPSs has been predicted which is in contrast to a single series present in three-dimensional solids. Here, we confirm this prediction experimentally for mono- and bilayer graphene. The IPSs of epitaxial graphene on SiC are measured by scanning tunnelling spectroscopy and the results are compared to ab-initio band structure calculations. Despite the presence of the substrate, both calculations and experimental measurements show that the first pair of the double series of IPSs survives, and eventually evolves into a single series for graphite. Thus, IPSs provide an elegant quantum probe of the interfacial coupling in graphene systems.Comment: Accepted for publication in New Journal of Physic

PPE Antigen Rv2430c of Mycobacterium tuberculosis induces a strong B-cell response

The variation in sequence and length in the C-terminal region among members of the unique PE (Pro-Glu) and PPE (Pro-Pro-Glu) protein families of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a likely source of antigenic variation, giving rise to the speculation that these protein families could be immunologically important. Based on in silico analysis, we selected a hypothetical open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein belonging to the PPE family and having epitopes with predictably higher antigenic indexes. Reverse transcriptase PCR using total RNA extracted from in vitro-cultured M. tuberculosis H37Rv generated an mRNA product corresponding to this gene, indicating the expression of this ORF (Rv2430c) at the mRNA level. Recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli was used to screen the sera of M. tuberculosis-infected patients, as well as those of clinically healthy controls (n = 10), by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The panel of patient sera comprised sera from fresh infection cases (category 1; n = 32), patients with relapsed tuberculosis (category 2; n = 30), and extrapulmonary cases (category 3; n = 30). Category 2 and 3 sera had strong antibody responses to the PPE antigen, equal to or higher than those to other well-known antigens, such as Hsp10 or purified protein derivative (PPD). However, a higher percentage of patients belonging to category 1, as opposed to clinically healthy controls, showed stronger antibody response against the PPE protein when probed with anti-immunoglobulin M (IgM) (71 versus 37.5%) or anti-IgG (62.5 versus 28.12%). Our results reveal that this PPE ORF induces a strong B-cell response compared to that generated by M. tuberculosis Hsp10 or PPD, pointing to the immunodominant nature of the protein