Cancer morbidity in rheumatoid arthritis: role of estrogen metabolites

Estrogen metabolites have been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cancer, although the mechanism remains unestablished. Some estrogen metabolites, which are used for the assessment of cancer risk, play an important role in RA. The pathways by which malignancies associated with RA remain elusive. Possible mechanism involves enzymatic or nonenzymatic oxidation of estrogen into catecholestrogen metabolites through semiquinone and quinone redox cycle to produce free radicals that can cause DNA modifications. Modifications of DNA alter its immunogenicity and trigger various immune responses leading to elevated levels of cancer and RA antibodies. However, the role of different estrogen metabolites as a mediator of immune response cannot be ruled out in various immune-related diseases

Autoantibodies and Cytokines in Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder in which increased autoantibody production and enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines are the hallmark of the disease. A strictly controlled balance of antibody production and proinflammatory cytokines is the key to the healthy state. A slight tilt in this balance causes proinflammatory diseases. In RA there is an increased production of autoantibodies such as rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA), anti-cartilage type II antibodies, and etc., which have a prominent clinical significance. Furthermore, there is increased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 (IL-1) which have an impact of great magnitude on the RA disease progression and severity. A better understanding of the mechanism of autoantibody production and secretion of cytokines together with crosstalk between immune cells and cytokines can provide us a better insight into the disease pathogenesis as well disease prognosis and management

Environmentally Friendly Utilization of Wheat Straw Ash in Cement-Based Composites

The open burning of biomass residue constitutes a major portion of biomass burning and leads to air pollution, smog, and health hazards. Various alternatives have been suggested for open burning of crop residue; however, each of them has few inherent drawbacks. This research suggests an alternative method to dispose wheat straw, i.e., to calcine it in a controlled environment and use the resulting ash as a replacement of cement by some percentage in cement-based composites. When wheat straw, an agricultural product, is burned, it is very rich in SiO2, which has a pozzolanic character. However, the pozzolanic character is sensitive to calcination temperature and grinding conditions. According to the authors’ best knowledge, until now, no systematic study has been devised to assess the most favorable conditions of burning and grinding for pozzolanic activity of wheat straw ash (WSA). Hence, a systematic experimental program was designed. In Phase I, calcination of WS was carried out at 500 ◦C, 600 ◦C, 700 ◦C, and 800 ◦C for 2 h. The resulting ashes were tested for color change, weight loss, XRD, XRF, Chapelle activity, Fratini, and pozzolanic activity index (PAI) tests. From test results, it was found that beyond 600 ◦C, the amorphous silica transformed into crystalline silica. The WSA calcined at 600 ◦C was found to satisfy Chapelle and Fratini tests requirements, as well as the PAI requirement of ASTM at 28 days. Therefore, WSA produced at 600 ◦C (WSA600) showed the best pozzolanic performance. In Phase II, WSA600 was ground for various intervals (15–240 min). These ground ashes were tested for SEM, Blaine fineness, Chapelle activity, Fratini, and PAI tests. From test results, it was observed that after 120 min of grinding, there was an increase of 48% in Blaine surface area, with a consequence that WSA-replaced cement cubes achieved a compressive strength almost similar to that of the control mix. Conclusively, wheat straw calcined at 600 ◦C and ground for 120 min was found to be the most effective way to use pozzolanic material in cement-based composites. The addition of WSA in cement-based composites would achieve manifold objectives, i.e., aiding in the production of environmentally friendly concrete, the use of wheat straw as fuel for electricity production, and adding economic value to wheat straw

A localization-free interference and energy holes minimization routing for underwater wireless sensor networks

Interference and energy holes formation in underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) threaten the reliable delivery of data packets from a source to a destination. Interference also causes inefficient utilization of the limited battery power of the sensor nodes in that more power is consumed in the retransmission of the lost packets. Energy holes are dead nodes close to the surface of water, and their early death interrupts data delivery even when the network has live nodes. This paper proposes a localization-free interference and energy holes minimization (LF-IEHM) routing protocol for UWSNs. The proposed algorithm overcomes interference during data packet forwarding by defining a unique packet holding time for every sensor node. The energy holes formation is mitigated by a variable transmission range of the sensor nodes. As compared to the conventional routing protocols, the proposed protocol does not require the localization information of the sensor nodes, which is cumbersome and difficult to obtain, as nodes change their positions with water currents. Simulation results show superior performance of the proposed scheme in terms of packets received at the final destination and end-to-end delay

Combined Approach for Excision of Advanced Angiofibroma : A Study of 12 Cases

To determine effectiveness of combined skull base approach for excision of advanced angiofibroma.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the Department of Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery and Neurosurgery, Post Graduate Medical Institute Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. This was retrospective observational study. The duration of the study was 5 years from Jan., 2003 to Dec., 2008. This study included 12 cases with advanced (stage IIIA and IVB) of Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. These cases were assessed in terms of detailed history, through examination and radiological investigations to stage according to the Fisch classification. The tumour was completely excised by combined approach of a team of Neurosurgeons and ENT surgeons. No recurrence found in 30 months post-op observation.Results: This study included 12 cases. All were male. Age of the patients was in range of 14 to 19 years with mean of 16.5 years. They belonged to lower and middle class of society. They presented with history of unilateral nasal obstruction (100%) while MRI where needed. The disease was involving nose, nasopharynx, sinuses and had Extracranial and intracranial extension. Nine cases (75%) were in stage IIIB and 3 cases (25%) in stage IVA according Fisch classification. The procedure time was average 7.5 hours and average 700 ml blood was transfused. Platal fistula formed in one case (8.3%) and no recurrence found on 18 months follow up.Conclusion: The cooperation of neurosurgeons and otorhinolaryngological doctors provides a good way to minimize invasiveness in skull base surgery. Sufficient preoperative preparation, well equipped theatre and surgical expertise are necessary for complete resection of benign tumor like angiofibroma