Orexin and MCH neurons: regulators of sleep and metabolism

Sleep-wake and fasting-feeding are tightly coupled behavioral states that require coordination between several brain regions. The mammalian lateral hypothalamus (LH) is a functionally and anatomically complex brain region harboring heterogeneous cell populations that regulate sleep, feeding, and energy metabolism. Significant attempts were made to understand the cellular and circuit bases of LH actions. Rapid advancements in genetic and electrophysiological manipulation help to understand the role of discrete LH cell populations. The opposing action of LH orexin/hypocretin and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons on metabolic sensing and sleep-wake regulation make them the candidate to explore in detail. This review surveys the molecular, genetic, and neuronal components of orexin and MCH signaling in the regulation of sleep and metabolism

A micro bacteriological culture assessment of the histopathological alterations in liver and bile in gallstone disease

Background: The present investigation aims to evaluate both the intensity and occurrence of hepatic impairment in patients afflicted with gallstone disease, examining the involvement of bacteria in the progression of these alterations. Methods: This prospective observational investigation was carried out on 189 patients scheduled for open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy at IGIMS in Patna, Bihar, India. In all the patients, laboratory and radiological investigations were performed. A healthy section of the liver border near the gallbladder fossa was chosen and grasped with non-traumatic forceps. Approximately 1 cm of the liver edge was excised using scissors and forwarded for histopathological analysis. Results: An examination of 189 liver biopsy specimens revealed that 87 (46%) patients showed no abnormalities, while 102 patients (54%) exhibited one or more changes. Upon analysing the liver biopsy samples from the control cohort (41 patients) during autopsy, 37% of the cases were identified to display hepatic lipidosis, while 48% of the cases showed lymphocytic invasion. Importantly, no cases of acute inflammatory changes were detected in the control cohort. Microbiological analysis was conducted on 96 patients, of which 33 (34%) showed positive cultures, with one or more microorganisms isolated from either the biliary tract or liver. Among these, 74% (24 cases) originated from the bile or gallbladder, while 26% (9 cases) were isolated from the liver. Conclusions: Gallstone disease induces significant liver histological changes, notably more prevalent in patients with prolonged symptoms. The present study clearly identifies this and underscores the importance of timely diagnosis and intervention for the effective management of this disease

First principles investigation of anionic redox in bisulfate lithium battery cathodes

The search for an alternative high-voltage polyanionic cathode material for Li-ion batteries is vital to improve the energy densities beyond the state-of-the-art, where sulfate frameworks form an important class of high-voltage cathode materials due to the strong inductive effect of the S$^{6+}$ ion. Here, we have investigated the mechanism of cationic and/or anionic redox in Li$_x$M(SO$_4$)$_2$ frameworks (M = Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni and 0 $\leq$ x $\leq$ 2) using density functional calculations. Specifically, we have used a combination of Hubbard $U$ corrected strongly constrained and appropriately normed (SCAN+$U$) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA+$U$) functionals to explore the thermodynamic (polymorph stability), electrochemical (intercalation voltage), geometric (bond lengths), and electronic (band gaps, magnetic moments, charge populations, etc.) properties of the bisulfate frameworks considered. Importantly, we find that the anionic (cationic) redox process is dominant throughout delithiation in the Ni (Mn) bisulfate, as verified using our calculated projected density of states, bond lengths, and on-site magnetic moments. On the other hand, in Fe and Co bisulfates, cationic redox dominates the initial delithiation (1 $\leq$ x $\leq$ 2), while anionic redox dominates subsequent delithiation (0 $\leq$ x $\leq$ 2). In addition, evaluation of the crystal overlap Hamilton population reveals insignificant bonding between oxidizing O atoms throughout the delithiation process in the Ni bisulfate, indicating robust battery performance that is resistant to irreversible oxygen evolution. Finally, we observe both GGA+$U$ and SCAN+$U$ predictions are in qualitative agreement for the various properties predicted. Our work should open new avenues for exploring lattice oxygen redox in novel high voltage polyanionic cathodes, especially using the SCAN+$U$ functional.Comment: Draft and supporting information included, 40 pages tota

CADEXOMER VERSUS POVIDONE IODINE DRESSING IN CHRONIC LEG ULCERS- A PROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Background: In the present scenario the entire healthcare system has been overburdened with chronic wounds be it monetary wise or manpower requirements like nurses, doctors, etc. A chronic wound is being treated by many topical drugs which are prevailing in the market. So we considered this study i.e. “the effect of cadexomer and providone iodine on chronic leg ulcers”. Objective:  The main and primary objective of this study was to compare the outcome of both, Cadexomer and povidone-iodine, about their effect on the treatment of leg ulcers. Methods: With 30 patients in each group, 30 patients with chronic wounds participated in this prospective study. As part of the statistical analysis, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient and the Student's Paired T-Test are used. Results: Patients who received cadexomer iodine ointment had a significantly (p<0.05) greater rate of wound healing, as well as a significantly lower level of bacterial overload and promotion of the creation of granulation tissue. Conclusion: The effect of cadexomer as a vector in combination with providone iodine ointment resulted in a higher rate of biofilm, slough, and debris reduction and a better rate of granulation tissue formation promotion, both of which increased the rate at which a wound heals and lowered the cost of managing chronic wounds. Recommendation:  It is recommended that the efficacy of the ointments (cadexomer and providone iodine) be researched for proper healing of ulcers and wounds in diabetic leg ulcers because a significant number of diabetic patients experience leg ulcers because, in this study, it was discovered that over 60 people suffered with the risk of leg ulcers

Effects of Ecklonia cava as fucoidan-rich algae on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology and caecal microflora in weanling pigs

Objective: In the present study, role of increasing levels of Ecklonia cava (seaweed) supple mentation in diets was investigated on growth performance, coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients, serum immunoglobulins, cecal microflora and intestinal morphology of weanling pigs. Methods: A total of 200 weaned pigs (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc; initial body weight 7.08±0.15 kg) were randomly allotted to 4 treatments on the basis of body weight. There were 5 replicate pens in each treatment including 10 pigs of each. Treatments were divided by dietary Ecklonia cava supplementation levels (0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, or 0.15%) in growing finishing diets. There were 2 diet formulation phases throughout the experiment. The pigs were offered the diets ad libitum for the entire period of experiment in meal form. Results: The pigs fed with increasing dietary concentrations of Ecklonia cava had linear increase (p<0.05) in the overall average daily gain, however, there were no significant differences in gain to feed ratio, CTTAD of dry matter and crude protein at both phase I and phase II. Digestibility of gross energy was linearly improved (p<0.05) in phase II. At day 28, pigs fed Ecklonia cava had greater (linear, p<0.05) Lactobacillus spp., fewer Escherichia coli (E. coli) spp. (linear, p<0.05) and a tendency to have fewer cecal Clostridium spp. (p = 0.077). The total anaerobic bacteria were not affected with supplementation of Ecklonia cava in diets. Polynomial contrasts analysis revealed that villus height of the ileum exhibited a linear increase (p<0.05) in response with the increase in the level of dietary Ecklonia cava. However, villus height of duodenum and jejunum, crypt depth, villus height to crypt depth ratio of different segments of the intestine were not affected. Conclusion: The results suggest that Ecklonia cava had beneficial effects on the growth performance, cecal microflora, and intestinal morphology of weanling pigs