Rosai Dorfman Disease of the Orbit

 Introduction: Rosai-Dorfman disease or Sinus Histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML) is a rare, benign and self-limited histiocytic proliferative disorder which affects mainly lymph nodes and very rarely extranodal sites.Presentation of case: A 60 year old lady with SHML of orbit is described. She underwent excision of the mass, received steroids for 6 weeks and is in remission at 2 years.Conclusion: Though the orbit is a rare site for SHML, the disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of orbital swellings.

Insilico generation of novel ligands for the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro) using deep learning

The recent emergence of novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global public health crisis, and a crucial need exists for rapid identification and development of novel therapeutic interventions. In this study, a recurrent neural network (RNN) is trained and optimized to produce novel ligands that could serve as potential inhibitors to the SARS-CoV-2 viral protease: 3 chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro). Structure-based virtual screening was performed through molecular docking, ADMET profiling, and predictions of various molecular properties were done to evaluate the toxicity and drug-likeness of the generated novel ligands. The properties of the generated ligands were also compared with current drugs under various phases of clinical trials to assess the efficacy of the novel ligands. Twenty novel ligands were selected that exhibited good drug-likeness properties, with most ligands conforming to Lipinski’s rule of 5, high binding affinity (highest binding affinity: −9.4 kcal/mol), and promising ADMET profile. Additionally, the generated ligands complexed with 3CLpro were found to be stable based on the results of molecular dynamics simulation studies conducted over a 100 ns period. Overall, the findings offer a promising avenue for the rapid identification and development of effective therapeutic interventions to treat COVID-19

The third international hackathon for applying insights into large-scale genomic composition to use cases in a wide range of organisms

publishedVersio

3D bioactive composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Bone is the second most commonly transplanted tissue worldwide, with over four million operations using bone grafts or bone substitute materials annually to treat bone defects. However, significant limitations affect current treatment options and clinical demand for bone grafts continues to rise due to conditions such as trauma, cancer, infection and arthritis. Developing bioactive three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds to support bone regeneration has therefore become a key area of focus within bone tissue engineering (BTE). A variety of materials and manufacturing methods including 3D printing have been used to create novel alternatives to traditional bone grafts. However, individual groups of materials including polymers, ceramics and hydrogels have been unable to fully replicate the properties of bone when used alone. Favourable material properties can be combined and bioactivity improved when groups of materials are used together in composite 3D scaffolds. This review will therefore consider the ideal properties of bioactive composite 3D scaffolds and examine recent use of polymers, hydrogels, metals, ceramics and bio-glasses in BTE. Scaffold fabrication methodology, mechanical performance, biocompatibility, bioactivity, and potential clinical translations will be discussed

Natural Conditions Override Differences in Emergence Rhythm among Closely Related Drosophilids

<div><p>Previous studies on adult emergence rhythm of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> (DM) done under semi-natural conditions have shown that emergence is correlated to daily changes in temperature, humidity and light at dawn. Recently we showed that under laboratory conditions <i>D. ananassae</i> (DA), a closely related species of DM exhibits patterns in its activity/rest rhythm distinct from the latter. Here, we report the results of a study aimed at examining whether this difference in activity/rest rhythm among species extends to other circadian behaviours such as the adult emergence rhythm under a more natural environment with multiple cyclic time cues. We monitored the adult emergence rhythm of recently wild-caught DM and DA populations in parallel with those of a related species <i>D. malerkotliana</i> (DK), both in the laboratory and under semi-natural conditions. We find that although DM, DK and DA showed marked difference from one another under laboratory conditions, such differences were not detectable in the emergence behaviour of these three species under semi-natural conditions, and that they respond very similarly to seasonal changes in the environment. The results suggest that seasonal changes in temperature and humidity contribute largely to the variation in adult emergence waveform in terms of gate width, phase and amplitude of the peak and day-to-day variance in the timing of the emergence peak. In all three species, seasons with cooler and wetter conditions make the rhythm less tightly gated, with low amplitude peak and high day-to-day variation in timing of the peak of emergence. We show that in nature the emergence rhythm of DM, DK and DA is strongly influenced by environmental factors such that in a given season all of them exhibit similar time course and waveform and that with the changing season, they all modify their emergence patterns in a similar manner.</p> </div

Properties of adult emergence rhythm of three Drosophilid species under semi-natural conditions (SN).

<p>(A) Average gate-width of emergence (averaged across 10 vials) of DM, DK and DA. (B) Average phase of onset of adult emergence (external time, averaged across 10 vials) of DM, DK and DA. (C) Average phase of adult emergence peak (external time, averaged across 10 vials) of DM, DK and DA. (D) Average percentage of nighttime emergence of flies (averaged across 10 vials) of DM, DK and DA. (E) Day-to-day variance in peak phase of emergence (averaged across 10 vials) of DM, DK and DA. Error bars are 95% Confidence Interval (± 95% CI). </p

Seasonal variation in adult emergence rhythm of three Drosophilids under semi-natural conditions (SN).

<p>Average profiles of adult emergence rhythm (percentage of flies emerged/ 2-hr ± SEM, for each species averaged across 10 vials) of DM, DK and DA during five different months of the years 2012 (March, April, November and December) and 2013 (February) under SN is plotted along with environmental factors light (orange-solid curve), temperature (red-dashed curve) and humidity (blue-solid curve). Values in parentheses indicate the total number of flies emerged averaged across 10 vials (± SEM).</p

Adult emergence rhythm of <i>D. melanogaster</i> differed from <i>D. ananassae</i> under laboratory conditions.

<p>(A) Average adult emergence profiles (percentage of flies emerged/ 2 h ± SEM, for each species averaged across 10 vials) of <i>D. melanogaster</i> (DM), <i>D. malerkotliana</i> (DK) and <i>D. ananassae</i> (DA) under LD 12:12. Grey shaded areas in the average profiles indicate darkness and 5% of the emergence is denoted by the grey horizontal line. Arrows indicate the peak for each cycle in this average profile. Values in parentheses indicate the total number of flies emerged averaged across 10 vials (± SEM). (B) Average adult emergence profiles of DM, DK and DA under DD (averaged across 10 vials ± SEM). Dotted lines indicate phase of lights-ON in the previously experienced LD regime. All other details are same as in panel A. (C) Average period based on onset of emergence (± 95% CI, averaged across vial) of DM, DK and DA under DD. (D) Average phase of onset of emergence (Time of onset - lights-ON ± 95% CI, averaged across 10 vials) of DM, DK and DA under LD. (E) Average gate-width of emergence (± 95% CI, averaged across 10 vials) of DM, DK and DA under LD and DD. (F) Average phase of the peak of emergence (Time of peak - lights-ON ± 95% CI, averaged across 10 vials) of DM, DK and DA under LD. (G) Average percentage of nighttime emergence (± 95% CI, averaged across 10 vials) of DM, DK and DA under LD. (H) Average day-to-day variation in peak emergence under LD estimated for each vial (<i>n</i> = 10 vials). *<i>p</i> < 0.05. </p

Risk Factors and Predictors of Violence: Insights From the Emergency Department at a Level 1 Trauma Center in the USA

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the risk factors and predictors of violence among patients admitted to a Level 1 trauma center in a single institution. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who were admitted with a history of violence between 2012 and 2016. RESULTS: A total of 9855 trauma patients were admitted, of whom 746 (7.6%) had a history of violence prior to the index admission. Patients who had history of violence were younger and more likely to be males, Black, Hispanic and covered by low-income primary payer in comparison to non-assault trauma patients (P \u3c 0.001 for all). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that covariate-adjusted predictors of violence were being Black, male having low-income primary payer, Asian, drug user, alcohol intoxicated and smoker. CONCLUSIONS: Violence is a major problem among young age subjects with certain demographic, social and ethnic characteristics. Trauma centers should establish violence injury prevention programs for youth and diverse communities