Peyer's Patches Are Precocious to the Appendix in Human Development

PP are first visible at ∼15.5 wk gestation after which there is a rapid spurt in the development and maturation of lymphoid follicles so that at any given point of time new foci of PP development are continuously formed at a rapid rate. Addition of rows of follicles results in the formation of a PP. Immature PP of younger fetuses have a spongy structure in contrast with the compact lymphoid follicles of mature PP of older fetuses. Immunocytochemical studies reveal that there is a subtle gradation in the expression of lymphocyte surface markers with increasing fetal age. Expression of antigenic markers occurs in an ordered sequence viz. HLA – DR, CD19 (B cell population), CD9 (pre-B cells), CD3 T lymphocytes, CD4 helper / inducer lymphocytes, the CD8 suppressor / cytotoxic cells and lastly, the CD57 Natural Killer cells. The antigens are expressed first on lymphocytes of PP and thereafter in those of the appendix. Our findings clearly demonstrate that the ∼5 wk fetal period from 17.5 wk to 22 wk represents a major growth phase in the development of surface markers of lymphocytes in the mucosal immune system of the gut

History of Premenstrual Mood Change and Postpartum Episodes are Associated with Perimenopausal Episodes in Women with Bipolar Disorder

Background and Aims: Reproductive life events are potential triggers of mood episodes in women with bipolar disorder. We aimed to establish whether a history of premenstrual mood change and postpartum episodes are associated with perimenopausal episodes in women who have bipolar disorder. Methods: Participants were 339 post-menopausal women with DSM-IV bipolar disorder recruited into the Bipolar Disorder Research Network (www.bdrn.org). Women self-reported presence (N = 200) or absence (N = 139) of an illness episode during the perimenopausal period. History of premenstrual mood change was measured using the self-report Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST), and history of postpartum episodes was measured via semi-structured interview (Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, SCAN) and inspection of case-notes. Results: History of a postpartum episode within 6 months of delivery (OR = 2.13, p = 0.03) and history of moderate/severe premenstrual syndrome (OR = 6.33, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of the presence of a perimenopausal episode, even after controlling for demographic factors. When we narrowed the definition of premenstrual mood change to premenstrual dysphoric disorder, it remained significant (OR = 2.68, p = 0.007). Conclusions: Some women who have bipolar disorder may be particularly sensitive to reproductive life events. Previous mood episodes in relation to the female reproductive lifecycle may help clinicians predict individual risk for women with bipolar disorder approaching the menopause. There is a need for prospective longitudinal studies of women with bipolar disorder providing frequent contemporaneous ratings of their mood to overcome the limitations of retrospective self-report data

Growth and characterization of heteroepitaxial La-substituted BaSnO3_3 films on SrTiO3_3 (001) and SmScO3_3 (110) substrates

Heteroepitaxial growth of BaSnO$_3$ (BSO) and Ba$_{1-x}$La$_x$SnO$_3$ (x = 7 %) (LBSO) thin films on different perovskite single crystal (SrTiO$_3$ (001) and SmScO$_3$ (110)) substrates has been achieved by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) under optimized deposition conditions. X-ray diffraction measurements indicate that the films on either of these substrates are relaxed due to the large mismatch and present a high degree of crystallinity with narrow rocking curves and smooth surface morphology while analytical quantification by proton induced x-ray emission (PIXE) confirms the stoichiometric La transfer from a polyphasic target, producing films with La contents above the bulk solubility limit. The films show degenerate semiconducting behavior on both substrates, with the observed room temperature resistivities, Hall mobilities and carrier concentrations of 4.4 $m \Omega cm$, 10.11 $cm^2 V^{-1} s^{-1}$, and 1.38 $\cdot 10^{20} cm^{-3}$ on SmScO$_3$ and 7.8 $m \Omega cm$, 5.8 $cm^2 V^{-1} s^{-1}$, and 1.36 $\cdot 10^{20} cm^{-3}$ on SrTiO$_3$ ruling out any extrinsic contribution from the substrate. The superior electrical properties observed on the SmScO3 substrate are attributed to reduction in dislocation density from the lower lattice mismatch.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, supplementary informations 2 figure

A comparative Study of Structural Properties and Antacid activity of some commercial samples of Shauktika bhasma

Backgroud: Shauktika Bhasma is a traditional ayurvedic medicine which is an excellent remedy for a number of stomach disorders, hyper acidity and ulcers. It is prepared from mother pearl by subjecting the powder of mother pearl to traditional ayurvedic processes. To get a worldwide recognition to such supreme ancient medicine, it is necessary to reinvestigate it on the basis of modern analytical techniques.In the present work a comparative study of some commercial samples of Shauktika bhasma is undertaken to understand the current status of this bhasma and to explore its acid neutralization capacity using back titration method. Materials and Methods: Samples from renowned pharmacies are collected and subjected to chemical and structural investigations using analytical techniques like XRD, IR and UV. Back titration method is applied to find acid neutralizing capacity of these bhasma samples. Conclusion:The study reveals that Shauktika bhasma is chemically calcite form of calcium carbonate. Antacid activity of the samples is reported for these samples using simple titration method which is useful to estimate number of moles neutralized for a quick comparison. The antacid activity of the samples is found to be inversely proportional to the crystallite size of the bhasma

Structure-property correlation of Zr-base alloys

Zirconium alloys, because of their unique combination of high strength, good corrosion resistance in water and low capture cross-section for thermal neutrons, have become attractive for use as structural materials in the nuclear industry. Presently, Zircaloy-2 and Zircaloy-4 find wide application as fuel and pressure tube materials for water cooled power reactors. In order to understand how the various alloying elements of Zircaloy, namely Sn, Fe, Cr and Ni, affect the mechanical properties, a programme has been initiated to evolve a correlation between chemistry, microstructure and mechanical properties of Zr-alloy containing various amounts of Sn, Fe and Cr. In the present investigation, mechanical properties of Zr-alloys with various addition of Sn, Fe and Cr have been determined at 300 K and 573 K in various metallurgical conditions such as recrystallised annealed, β-quenched, tempered and α-annealed conditions. The study revealed that the reduced tin content dit not affect the mechanical properties as the reduced tin leads to formation of fine precipitates. The mechanical properties were also not altered drastically with the low level of iron and chromium concentrations studied. Cold work and α-annealing after β-quenching resulted in the growth and redistribution of second phase particles. Metallographie studies showed that particle distribution was not uniform. A TEM investigation of the alloys has also been undertaken to study the details of microstructure developed during various heat-treated conditions. It has been found that the β-quenched samples exhibit the most uniform microstructure consisting of acicular alpha phase with lath boundary enriched by solute element and fine intermetallic particle formation. The observed microstructural features together with the mechanical properties data have been compared with the available mechanical properties cum microstructure of Zircaloy