INVESTIGATING INFECTION'S ROLE AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE GENETIC AND EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS OF ENDOMETRIOSIS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW.

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological condition, characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. It is associated with symptoms such as pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and infertility, significantly impacting women's quality of life. Despite its prevalence, the pathophysiology of endometriosis is not fully understood, with genetic, epigenetic, environmental, immunological, and hormonal factors all playing roles in its development. This review aims to systematically examine the evidence linking infections to the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of endometriosis, highlighting how these interactions may contribute to the disease's development and progression. Recent research has identified a connection between genetic predispositions to endometriosis and an enhanced immune response to infections. Specific genetic markers associated with an increased risk of endometriosis have also been linked to heightened immune reactions to infectious agents, suggesting a complex interplay between endometriosis and infections. Variations in genes regulating the immune system and inflammatory processes, such as the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), have been implicated in both endometriosis and the body's response to infections. Furthermore, infections can induce epigenetic changes that may influence the development and severity of endometriosis by altering gene expression related to inflammation, immune surveillance, and tissue repair. Understanding the relationship between infections, genetic predispositions, and epigenetic modifications in endometriosis opens new avenues for research into targeted therapies. Addressing the underlying genetic and immunological factors contributing to endometriosis could lead to more effective treatment strategies, potentially improving the quality of life for those affected by the condition. Clinicians should consider the potential role of infections in the exacerbation of endometriosis symptoms and the importance of comprehensive patient evaluations to identify and treat any concurrent infections. Future therapeutic strategies should also explore anti-inflammatory therapies and preventive measures against pathogens known to influence endometriosis progression

Extraction and separation of zinc and chromium from electroplating effluent

Toxicity of industrial effluent is mainly due to the presence of heavy metals like Zn, Cd, Cr, Pb, As, etc. The treatment of these effluents will not only reduce environmental pollution but also conserve the natural resources. Present paper reports selective extraction and separation of zinc and chromium from the electroplating effluent (~15 g/L Zn and ~30 g/L Cr) using solvent extraction technique. Initial studies were carried out from synthetic solution containing Zn (1.78 g/L) and Cr (3.6 g/L) using 10% DE2PHA diluted with kerosene. Various process parameters viz. effect of pH, time, O/A ratio, loading capacity, etc. were studied and optimized. 98.17% Zn gets extracted in 5 min at equilibrium pH 2.5 maintaining O/A ratio 1. 10% H SO was used for stripping 2 4 the loaded organic. The optimum condition for extraction was validated with the original electroplating effluent supplied by M/s Sinha Electrochemical Plant, Jamshedpur, India. Complete extraction of Zn from the original effluent takes place in 5 min at an equilibrium pH 2.5 and phase ratio (O/A) 1, leaving 99% Cr in the raffinate. From the pure solution obtained, metal or salt could be produced by evaporation,precipitation, electrowinning, crystallization, etc

Acetylcholine Receptor Gating at Extracellular Transmembrane Domain Interface: the Cys-Loop and M2–M3 Linker

Acetylcholine receptor channel gating is a propagated conformational cascade that links changes in structure and function at the transmitter binding sites in the extracellular domain (ECD) with those at a “gate” in the transmembrane domain (TMD). We used Φ-value analysis to probe the relative timing of the gating motions of α-subunit residues located near the ECD–TMD interface. Mutation of four of the seven amino acids in the M2–M3 linker (which connects the pore-lining M2 helix with the M3 helix), including three of the four residues in the core of the linker, changed the diliganded gating equilibrium constant (Keq) by up to 10,000-fold (P272 > I274 > A270 > G275). The average Φ-value for the whole linker was ∼0.64. One interpretation of this result is that the gating motions of the M2–M3 linker are approximately synchronous with those of much of M2 (∼0.64), but occur after those of the transmitter binding site region (∼0.93) and loops 2 and 7 (∼0.77). We also examined mutants of six cys-loop residues (V132, T133, H134, F135, P136, and F137). Mutation of V132, H134, and F135 changed Keq by 2800-, 10-, and 18-fold, respectively, and with an average Φ-value of 0.74, similar to those of other cys-loop residues. Even though V132 and I274 are close, the energetic coupling between I and V mutants of these positions was small (≤0.51 kcal mol−1). The M2–M3 linker appears to be the key moving part that couples gating motions at the base of the ECD with those in TMD. These interactions are distributed along an ∼16-Å border and involve about a dozen residues

Leaching of lead from solder material used in electrical and electronic equipment

Present work is a part of developing novel recycling tec-hnique for waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) i.e. the liberation of metals from PCBs by organic swelling follow-ed by the treatment of resin to remove/ recover hazardous soldering materials. In order to recover the hazardous metallic constituent lead from the liberated resin, init-ially the leaching studies were made using fresh solder co-ntaining 63.9% Pb and remaining tin. Experimental results obtained in different conditions viz. time,temperature and acidity showed ~97.20% of lead dissolution with 6M HNO3 at solid to liquid (S:L) ratio 1:10 (g/mL) and temperature 90oC in 75 minutes. The result of the studies validated with crushed PCBs shows that almost total lead and tin was leached out with 6M HNO3 and 6M HCl respectively at S:L ratio 1:10 (g/mL) and temperature 90oC within 50 minutes. The results will be useful for the treatment and safe dis-posal of PCBs resin

Review on hydrometallurgical recovery of rare earth metals

Rare earth metals are essential ingredients for the development of modern industry as well as designing and developing high technology products used in our daily lives. Consequently, the worldwide demand of rare earth metals is rising quickly and predicted to surpass the supply by 40,000 tons annually. However, their availability is declining, mainly due to the export quotas imposed by the Chinese government and actions taken against illegal mining operations. This has laid emphasis to exploit and expand technologies to meet the future necessities of rare earth metals. Bastnasite, monazite, and xenotime are their chief mercantile sources, which are generally beneficiated by flotation, gravity or magnetic separation processes to get concentrates that are processed using pyro/hydrometallurgical routes. To develop feasible and eco-friendly processes, R&D studies are being conducted for the extraction of rare earth metals from leached solutions (chloride, nitrate, sulfate, thiocyanate, etc.) using different cationic, anionic and solvating solvents or ions depending on material and media. Commercial extraction of rare earth metals has been carried out using different extractants viz. D2EHPA, Cyanex 272, PC 88A, Versatic 10, TBP, Aliquat 336, etc. The present paper reviews the methods used for the recovery of rare earth metals from primary as well as secondary resources, with special attention to the hydrometallurgical techniques, consisting of leaching with acids and alkalis followed by solvent extraction, ion exchange or precipitation. The piece of comparative and summarized review will be useful for the researchers to develop processes for rare earth recovery under various conditions

Leaching of Korean monazite for the recovery of rare earth metals

The technological innovations resulted in various applications using rare earth metals (REM), which lead to a steep increase in their demand. Monazite is the second most essential naturally occurring phosphate mineral containing REM. The present work reports the recovery of REM from Korean monazite which contained mainly 50.12% rare earth oxide and 29.4% phosphate. For the recovery of REM from monazite, the hydrometallurgical process consisting of alkaline leaching of phosphate followed by acid dissolution of REM has been reported. As the presence of phosphate decreases the leaching efficiency of REM from monazite, the studies were carried out initially for hot digestion of phosphate present in the monazite in an autoclave using sodium hydroxide, which resulted in the formation of RE oxide and soluble sodium phosphate. To get the optimum condition for phosphate decomposition by alkaline leaching, the various process parameters such as concentration of sodium hydroxide, temperature, mixing time and pulp density were studied. The obtained slurry was washed with hot water and filtered to get sodium phosphate in the solution. A maximum of 99% phosphate was removed from monazite concentrate using 50% sodium hydroxide solutions (wt./vol.) at 170oC in 4 h mixing time maintaining the pulp density of 100 g/L. From the phosphate free monazite sample, REM was leached out using hydrochloric acid. More than 95% of REM was found to be leached out using 6M HCl at constant pulp density 100 g/L, temperature 90oC and mixing time 2 h. Further studies are in progress to obtain pure solution and salts of REM from chloride leach liquor using recipitation/ solvent extraction/ ion-exchange techniques

Synthetic and mass spectral fragmentation studies on trisubstituted 2H-pyran- 2-ones and comparative EIMS behaviour of biologically active 3,5- disubstituted pyrazoles and isoxazoles

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Intraspecific Aflatoxin Inhibition in Aspergillus flavus Is Thigmoregulated, Independent of Vegetative Compatibility Group and Is Strain Dependent

Biological control of preharvest aflatoxin contamination by atoxigenic stains of Aspergillus flavus has been demonstrated in several crops. The assumption is that some form of competition suppresses the fungus's ability to infect or produce aflatoxin when challenged. Intraspecific aflatoxin inhibition was demonstrated by others. This work investigates the mechanistic basis of that phenomenon. A toxigenic and atoxigenic isolate of A. flavus which exhibited intraspecific aflatoxin inhibition when grown together in suspended disc culture were not inhibited when grown in a filter insert-plate well system separated by a .4 or 3 µm membrane. Toxigenic and atoxigenic conidial mixtures (50∶50) placed on both sides of these filters restored inhibition. There was ∼50% inhibition when a 12 µm pore size filter was used. Conidial and mycelial diameters were in the 3.5–7.0 µm range and could pass through the 12 µm filter. Larger pore sizes in the initially separated system restored aflatoxin inhibition. This suggests isolates must come into physical contact with one another. This negates a role for nutrient competition or for soluble diffusible signals or antibiotics in aflatoxin inhibition. The toxigenic isolate was maximally sensitive to inhibition during the first 24 hrs of growth while the atoxigenic isolate was always inhibition competent. The atoxigenic isolate when grown with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) toxigenic isolate failed to inhibit aflatoxin indicating that there is specificity in the touch inhibiton. Several atoxigenic isolates were found which inhibited the GFP isolate. These results suggest that an unknown signaling pathway is initiated in the toxigenic isolate by physical interaction with an appropriate atoxigenic isolate in the first 24 hrs which prevents or down-regulates normal expression of aflatoxin after 3–5 days growth. We suspect thigmo-downregulation of aflatoxin synthesis is the mechanistic basis of intraspecific aflatoxin inhibition and the major contributor to biological control of aflatoxin contamination