Retinal vascular tortuosity in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

\u3cp\u3eThe micro-vasculature of retina and brain share common morphological, physiological, and pathological properties. Retina being easily accessible, retinal vascular examination provides an indirect assessment of cerebral vasculature. Considering the high prevalence of vascular morbidity in SCZ and BD a few studies have examined retinal vascular caliber and have reported increased retinal venular caliber in schizophrenia (SCZ). Retinal vascular tortuosity could serve as a better structural measure than caliber as it is static and less susceptible to pulse period variations. However, to date, no study has examined retinal vascular tortuosity in SCZ and bipolar disorder (BD). Hence, we examined retinal vascular tortuosity in comparison with healthy volunteers (HV). We included 255 subjects (78 HV, 79 SCZ, and 86 BD) in the age range of 18 to 50 years. Trained personnel acquired images using a non-mydriatic fundus camera. To measure the average retinal arteriolar tortuosity index (RATI) and retinal venular tortuosity index (RVTI), we used a previously validated, semi-automatic algorithm. The results showed significant differences across the three groups in RATI but not in RVTI; both BD and SCZ had significantly increased RATI compared to HV. There was also a significant difference between SCZ and BD, with BD having higher RATI. If shown to be of predictive utility in future longitudinal studies, it has the potential to identify patients at risk of development of adverse vascular events. As retinal vascular imaging is non-invasive and inexpensive, it could serve as a proxy marker and window to cerebral vasculature.\u3c/p\u3

PREVALENCE OF VANCOMYCIN RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCI FROM URINARY TRACT INFECTED PATIENTS

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the infectious diseases affecting human kind. The microbial agents that infect the tissues of the urinary tract from the renal cortex to the urethral meatus Enterococci are opportunistic pathogens that are found in the normal gut flora. Enterococci are the second leading cause of UTIs, accounting for 10% of all nosocomial UTIs. This species has become a major pathogen in the United States, Iran, Europe, and other parts of the world, including India. Antibiotic resistance is increasing, which slows the rate of progress in practical therapies, making susceptibility testing necessary. So, enterococci were isolated from urine samples of patients with UTI that were subjected to morphological characterization, biochemical assays, etc., The main aim of the study was to help in identifying resistance patterns and the dispersal of Enterococcus strains from various samples of urine to antibiotic agents like Penicillin G, Tetracycline, Teicoplanin, Norfloxacin, high level Gentamycin, Linezolid, Nitrofurantoin, and with special emphasis on Vancomycin antibiotic. The greatest threat posed by Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) is its ability to transfer resistance genes to more dangerous gram-positive bacteria, potentially leading to truly terrifying pathogens in the future. A long stay in the hospital and the use of Vancomycin were connected to VRE-UTI and colonisation. Renal dialysis, renal failure, previous aminoglycoside, and third-generation cephalosporin use were all relevant hazard factors for VRE from UTI. The paper also underlines the importance of screening clinical samples for VRE and proposes that control measures be implemented to limit the spread of VRE

The Corneal epithelial stem cell marker-novel combination of high expression of p63 and a large N/C Ratio

The cornea is a transparent avascular tissue that provides a protective barrier from the external environment and also serves as the main refractive element of the visual system. The corneal transparency relies on the normal functioning of its three tissue layers, epithelium, stroma and endothelium. Under normal circumstances, the superficial cells of the corneal epithelium undergo desquamation after terminal differentiation which is followed by replacement of lost cells from the limbus. For this system to perpetuate and maintain equilibrium, the primary source is considered to be the stem cells (SCs) residing in the limbal palisades of Vogt. Although the location of SCs is now well established, there are currently no definitive markers for identification of SCs. Therefore, a method was devised for the identification of a population of small cells with high expression of p63 combined with a large N/C ratio, using cytospin smear, doubleimmunofluorescence staining and quantitative confocal microscopy. We have demonstrated that these two parameters in combination,form a precise marker to identify SCs in the basal layer of limbus. We have further confirmed that the distinct group of small cells expressing high levels of nuclear protein p63 combined with a large N/C ratio is a precise corneal epithelial SC marker on the basis of the following findings: they are small cells (diameter 9-11μ m) with these two characteristics and are present in the limbal but not in the corneal epithelium; more specifically these cells are present in the isolated basal layer cells of limbus, but not in the isolated suprabasal/superficial cells; they are enriched by five-fold in the isolated limbal basal cells; they are positive for the SC-related markersacidic cytokeratins, K5 and negative for K3, Cx43, 14-3-3σ and Ki67; they possess slowcycling label retaining property; the isolated limbal basal layer cells have higher mRNA levels for Δ Np63a and display higher CFE; they are present in small numbers in ex vivo expanded limbal epithelium but not in that of corneal epithelium

The Hybrid Effect of Jute/Kenaf/E-Glass Woven Fabric Epoxy Composites for Medium Load Applications: Impact, Inter-Laminar Strength, and Failure Surface Characterization

This research has been carried out to find better hybrid natural/glass fiber-reinforced composites for engineering applications. This research work studied the impact and inter-laminar strength of E-glass with jute/kenaf woven fabric epoxy composites with the aim of evaluating the hybridization effects on different laminate stacking sequences made with jute, kenaf, and E-glass fabrics by the vacuum bagging method. All the laminates were prepared in 300 × 300 mm2 with a total of five plies maintained at 3 mm thickness, by varying the number and position of jute, kenaf, glass layers so as to obtain nine different stacking sequences. Among them, one group of all pure jute, pure kenaf, and pure E-glass laminates were also fabricated for comparison purpose. The specimen preparation and testing were carried out as per ASTM standards. From the results, it is shown that the properties of jute/kenaf fabrics-reinforced epoxy composites can be enhanced by hybridization with the addition of glass fabrics. The hybridization of jute/kenaf fabrics with E-glass fabrics provides a method to improve the mechanical impact and inter-laminar strength over pure natural fiber-reinforced composites. The hybrid laminate having E-glass and kenaf fiber plies as skin layers and jute fiber plies as core layers showed better properties compared to other laminates

Retinal vascular abnormalities in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder:A window to the brain

OBJECTIVES: The examination of retinal microvascular abnormalities through fundus photography is currently the best available non-invasive technique for assessment of cerebral vascular status. Several studies in the last decade have reported higher incidences of adverse cerebrovascular events in Schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). However, retinal microvasculature abnormalities in SCZ and BD have remained under-explored, and no study has compared this aspect of SCZ and BD till date. METHODS: Retinal Images of 100 SCZ patients, BD patients, and healthy volunteers each were acquired by trained individuals using a non-mydriatic camera with a 40-degree field of view. The retinal images were quantified using a valid semi-automated method. The average of left and right eye diameters of the venules and arterioles passing through the extended zone between 0.5 and 2 disc diameters from the optic disc were calculated. RESULTS: The groups differed significantly with respect to average diameters of both retinal venules (P < 0.001) and retinal arterioles (P < 0.001), after controlling for age and sex. Both SCZ and BD patients had significantly narrower arterioles and wider venules compared to HV. There were also significant differences between SCZ and BD patients; patients with BD had narrower arterioles and wider venules. CONCLUSION: Considering the affordability and easy accessibility of the investigative procedure, retinal microvascular examination could serve as a potential screening tool to identify individuals at risk for adverse cerebrovascular events. The findings of the current study also provide a strong rationale for further systematic examination of retinal vascular abnormalities in SCZ and BD