BIOCOMPATIBILITY STUDIES OF SILVER DOPED HAP/ALUMINA BY SOL-GEL METHOD

Silver doped hydroxyapatite (Ag- HAP) coated of alumina having antibacterial properties is of great interest for the development of new biomedical applications. In the current study pure hydroxyapatite (HAP), 1.5wt% (0.9gm)Ag doped in hydroxyapatite (Ag-HAP) coated on alumina disk were processed and characterized. Pure HAP and Ag-HAP were synthesized using the sol-gel method. Calcium nitrate tetrahydrate Ca(NO3)2.4H2O as a source of Ca precursor, phosphorous pentaoxide (P2O5) as a source of P precursor and Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) as a source of Ag precursor were used. Samples were characterized using SEM, FTIR, ECA (in Ringer's solution) and OCA. SEM study shows the granular like Ag-HAP. The formation HAP and Ag-HAP was confirmed using FTIR and XRD. Wettability study shows that the surface of Ag-HAP is more hydrophilic as compared to pure HAP Samples. Corrosion study reveals that Ag-HAP has lesser corrosion rate as compared to HAP. There is no toxic effect of Ag-HAP as found by bacterial cell culture test

Vulvar myiasis: a rare case report

Myiasis is the parasitic infestation of dipterous larvae (maggots) in humans and other vertebrate animals. Maggots are commonly seen on exposed body parts but it is very rare to find on covered body parts like external genitalia. Diagnosis and treatment are simple. We hereby present a rare case of vulvar myiasis in a young unmarried girl living in rural area in conditions of poor hygiene.

A Narrative Review on Priorities of Mental Health Issues among Transgenders: “So Near, Yet so Far”

In recent years there is a rapid rise in coming out of sexual and gender minority adults to their family members and society. Unfortunately, studies on unmet health needs of transgenders with a special focus to mental health is under-researched in India. The current paper aimed to explore about the mental health of transgenders and a literature search was done using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases for the following medical subject headings (MeSH) key terms “transgender”, “mental Health”, “social stigma”, “LGBT”, “gender dysphoria”, “genderqueer”, “intersex”, “MSM”, “hijra”, “gay”, “lesbian”, “bisexual”, and “homosexual”. Transgender individuals were found to show high rates of mental health concerns. The most common mental health problems that we have shown in this review article are depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, suicidal attempts and bipolar disorders. Transgender people are at more risk for mental health problems than their heterogenous counterparts. The intervention program to eliminate or reduce these problems needs to be planned carefully, considering all the determinants

Nano Layers of 2D Graphene Versus Graphene Oxides for Sensing Hydrogen Gas

Hydrogen is one of the most useful but dangerous gases because of its broad combustion range and small ignition temperature. Currently, there is a great need for hydrogen detectors with selectivity, high sensitivity and reliable operations in view of its safe production, storage, transportation and other applications. In this regard, nano thin films of two dimensional materials like graphene, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have immense promise because their material attributes can be exceptionally tuned to achieve the desired characteristics. Also graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide serve as potential sensing hosts due to the presence of functional groups on their surfaces. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to compare the work done in the field of hydrogen sensors using pure graphene and graphene derivatives such as graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide. The response parameters like sensitivity, stability, selectivity, response time, recovery time, detection limit, linearity, dynamic range, and working temperatures for various graphene based sensors have been elaborately compared. Finally, a conclusion and future outlook on nano scale thin film of graphene and graphene oxides for gas sensing have been briefly discussed

Foetus Papyraceous

Fetus papyraceous or compress is the compressed, mummified, parchment-like remains of a dead twin which is retained in-utero after intrauterine death in the second trimester. It is an uncommon finding. The incidence of fetus papyraceous is reported as 1 in 17,000 to 1 in 20,000 pregnancies. Incidence of fetus papyraceous in twin pregnancy is 1 in 184 to 1 in 200 pregnancies. A case of fetus papyraceous which was discovered following expulsion of a Twin at 17 weeks and 1 day of gestation with low lying placenta in a monochorionic monoamniotic twin pregnancy is reported here

Metabolic fingerprinting of joint tissue of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease whose major characteristics persistent joint inflammation that results in joint destruction and failure of the function. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat is an autoimmune disease model and in many ways shares features with RA. The CIA is associated with systemic manifestations, including alterations in the metabolism. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based metabolomics has been successfully applied to the perchloric acid extract of the joint tissue of CIA rat and control rat for the analysis of aqueous metabolites. GPC (Glycerophosphocholine), carnitine, acetate, and creatinine were important discriminators of CIA rats as compared to control rats. Level of lactate (significance; p = 0.004), alanine (p = 0.025), BCA (Branched-chain amino acids) (p = 0.006) and creatinine (p = 0.023) was significantly higher in CIA rats as compared to control rats. Choline (p = 0.038) and GPC (p = 0.009) were significantly reduced in CIA rats as compared to control rats. Choline to GPC correlation was good and negative (Pearson correlation = -0.63) for CIA rats as well as for control rats (Pearson correlation = -0.79). All these analyses collectively considered as metabolic fingerprinting of the joint tissue of CIA rat as compared to control rat. The metabolic fingerprinting of joint tissue of CIA rats was different as compared to control rats. The metabolic fingerprinting reflects inflammatory disease activity in CIA rats with synovitis, demonstrating that underlying inflammatory process drives significant changes in metabolism that can be measured in the joint tissue. Therefore, the outcome of this study may be helpful for understanding the mechanism of metabolic processes in RA. This may be also helpful for the development of advanced diagnostic methods and therapy for RA

Otpornost bakterija Escherichia coli i Pseudomonas aeruginosa na karbapenem u antilope (Antilope cervicapra) i leoparda (Panthera pardus) iz zatočeništva u Indiji

The study aimed to investigate the occurrence of carbapenem resistant E. coli and P. aeruginosa in apparently healthy, captive blackbucks and leopards of India. Faecal samples of blackbucks (n = 7) and leopards (n = 7) were processed to isolate carbapenem resistant E. coli (CRE) and P. aeruginosa (CRP). Forty (leopards n = 26; blackbuck n = 14) E. coli and two P. aeruginosa (blackbuck n = 2) samples were isolated from the faecal samples (n = 14). Eleven carbapenem resistant isolates were recovered, of which 10 were CRE and one was CRP. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for meropenem for carbapenem resistant isolates and was between 8 and 64 μg/mL. All the CRE and CRP were phenotypically multidrug resistant, and six CRE were extended-spectrum beta- lactamases (ESBL) producers. On genotypic screening, seven CRE and one CRP were positive for the blaNDM carbapenemase gene. Efflux pump-mediated carbapenem resistance was noticed in four CRE isolates (36.4%, 4/11). Of the six ESBL producing CRE, four isolates carried blaCTX-M-1 genes. The CRE isolates also harbored blaTEM-1, blaAmpC, qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, tetA, tetB and sul1 resistance genes. On Shiga toxin virulence screening, Stx1, Stx2 genes were detected in two and one isolates, respectively. Plasmid typing of CRE revealed that the blaNDM genes were carried on an Incl1 plasmid. The plasmid multilocus sequence typing (pMLST) of the isolates showed the Sequence Type (ST) 297. The occurrence of carbapenem resistance bacteria in captive wildlife should be a major public health priority.Cilj rada bio je istražiti slučajeve otpornosti bakterija E. coli i P. aeruginosa na karbapenem u zdravih antilopa i leoparda iz zatočeništva u Indiji. Uzorci izmeta antilopa (n = 7) i leoparda (n = 7) obrađeni su kako bi se izolirale bakterije E. coli (CRE) i P. aeruginosa (CRP) otporne na karbapenem. Iz uzoraka izmeta (n = 14) dobiveno je 40 izolata (leopard n = 26, antilopa n = 14) E. coli i 2 izolata P. aeruginosa (antilopa n = 2). Pronađeno je 11 izolata otpornih na karbapenem, od kojih je 10 E. coli i 1 P. aeruginosa. Određena je minimalna inhibicijska koncentracija (MIK) za meropenem za izolate otporne na karbapenem, od 8 za E. coli i 64 μg/mL za P. aeruginosa. Svi izolati E. coli i P. aeruginosa fenotipski su bili otporni na širok spektar lijekova, a 6 izolata E. coli proizvodilo je beta- laktamaze širokog spektra (ESBL). Genotipskim probirom 7 izolata E. coli i 1 izolat P. aeruginosa bili su pozitivni na karbapenemaza gen blaNDM. Otpornost na karbapenem putem efluks pumpe zabilježena je u 4 izolata E. coli (36,4 %, 4/11). Od 6 ESBL producirajućih CRE, 4 izolata nosila su gen blaCTX-M-1. Izolati E. coli također su sadržavali blaTEM-1, blaAmpC, qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, tetA, tetB i sul1 gene otpornosti. Pretragom na šiga-toksin, Stx1 i Stx2 geni utvrđeni su u dva odnosno jednom izolatu. Tipiziranje plazmida CRE otkrilo je prisutnost blaNDM gena na Incl1 plazmidu. Multilokusno tipiziranje sekvencija plazmida (pMLST) izolata otkrilo je sekvenciju tipa (ST) 297. Pojava otpornosti bakterija na karbapenem u divljih životinja iz zatočeništva trebala bi biti javnozdravstveni prioritet

Relationship of APOA5, PPARγ and HL gene variants with serial changes in childhood body mass index and coronary artery disease risk factors in young adulthood

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Triglycerides is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) and is especially important in Indians because of high prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia in this population. Both genetic and environmental factors determine triglyceride levels. In a birth cohort from India, hypertriglyceridemia was found in 41% of men and 11% of women. Subjects who had high triglycerides had more rapid body mass index (BMI) or weight gain than rest of the cohort throughout infancy, childhood and adolescence. We analysed polymorphisms in <it>APOA5</it>, hepatic lipase and <it>PPARγ</it> genes and investigated their association with birth weight and serial changes in BMI.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Polymorphisms in <it>APOA5</it> (-1131T > C, S19W), <it>PPARγ</it> (Pro12Ala) and hepatic lipase (-514C > T) were studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction digestion in 1492 subjects from the New Delhi Birth Cohort (NDBC). We assessed whether these polymorphisms influence lipid and other variables and serial changes in BMI, both individually and together.</p> <p>The risk allele of <it>APOA5</it> (-1131C) resulted in 23.6 mg/dl higher triglycerides as compared to normal allele (P < 0.001). Risk allele of HL (-514T) was associated with significantly higher HDL2 levels (P = 0.002). Except for the marginal association of <it>PPARγ</it> Pro12Ala variation with a lower conditional weight at 6 months, (P = 0.020) and A<it>POA5</it> S19W with a higher conditional BMI at 11 yrs of age (P = 0.030), none of the other associations between the gene polymorphisms and serial changes in body mass index from birth to young adulthood were significant.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The promoter polymorphism in <it>APOA5</it> was associated with raised serum triglycerides and that of HL with raised HDL2 levels. None of the polymorphisms had any significant relationship with birth weight or serial changes in anthropometry from birth to adulthood in this cohort.</p

Molekularna karakterizacija iz psa izdvojenog izolata bakterije Escherichia coli koji proizvodi prošireni spektrum beta-laktamaza i New Delhi metalo-beta-laktamazu-1 (blaNDM1) - prikaz slučaja

In this article, we report the molecular characterization of extensively drug resistant (XDR), extended spectrum, class C beta-lactamases and NDM-1 carbapenemase producing E. coli, isolated from the scrotal fluid of a 3-year-old male dog. In an antibiotic susceptibility test the E. coli isolate was susceptible only to tigecycline and resistant to all clinically applicable antibiotics tested in the study. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of meropenem, cefotaxime and cefepime was 256, 128 and 64 µg/mL, respectively. On genotypic screening by PCR, the isolate was positive for blaNDM, blaCTX-M, blaAmpC, blaTEM and sul1 genes. The isolate was a ESBL, AmpC and metalo beta-lactamase producer. On molecular pathotyping, the isolate harbored the Shiga toxin producing gene (Stx2). The extensively drug resistant, carbapenem resistant and ESBL producing E. coli constitutes a major public health concern, since there is a great chance of dissemination of resistance genes to humans due to the close association of humans and companion animals. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of blaNDM1 isolated from a dog in India.U radu se izvješćuje o molekularnoj karakterizaciji bakterije E. coli izdvojene iz skrotalne tekućine psa, iznimno otporne na antibiotike širokog spektra, koja proizvodi klasu C beta-laktamaza i NDM-1 karbapenemazu. Pas je bio u dobi od od tri godine. Izolat E. coli bio je osjetljiv samo na tigeciklin, a otporan na sve antibiotike primjenjivane u kliničkoj praksi. Minimalna inhibicijska koncentracija (MIC) za meropenem iznosila je 256, cefotaksim 128 i cefepim 64 µg/mL. Pretragom genotipa lančanom reakcijom polimerazom izolat je bio pozitivan na gene blaNDM, blaCTX-M, blaAmpC, blaTEM i sul1. Proizvodio je ESBL, AmpC i metalo-beta-laktamazu. Molekularnom patotipizacijom dokazano je da posjeduje gen za shiga-toksin (Stx2). E. coli otporna na karbapenem, koja proizvodi beta-laktamaze širokog spektra, velika je prijetnja za javno zdravstvo s obzirom na to da postoji velika mogućnost prijenosa E. coli s genom za rezistenciju na ljude u bliskom dodiru s kućnim ljubimcima. Ovo je prvo izvješće o blaNDM1 dokazanom u psa u Indiji

Genomic-regions associated with cold stress tolerance in Asia-adapted tropical maize germplasm

Maize is gaining impetus in non-traditional and non-conventional seasons such as off-season, primarily due to higher demand and economic returns. Maize varieties directed for growing in the winter season of South Asia must have cold resilience as an important trait due to the low prevailing temperatures and frequent cold snaps observed during this season in most parts of the lowland tropics of Asia. The current study involved screening of a panel of advanced tropically adapted maize lines to cold stress during vegetative and flowering stage under field conditions. A suite of significant genomic loci (28) associated with grain yield along and agronomic traits such as flowering (15) and plant height (6) under cold stress environments. The haplotype regression revealed 6 significant haplotype blocks for grain yield under cold stress across the test environments. Haplotype blocks particularly on chromosomes 5 (bin5.07), 6 (bin6.02), and 9 (9.03) co-located to regions/bins that have been identified to contain candidate genes involved in membrane transport system that would provide essential tolerance to the plant. The regions on chromosome 1 (bin1.04), 2 (bin 2.07), 3 (bin 3.05–3.06), 5 (bin5.03), 8 (bin8.05–8.06) also harboured significant SNPs for the other agronomic traits. In addition, the study also looked at the plausibility of identifying tropically adapted maize lines from the working germplasm with cold resilience across growth stages and identified four lines that could be used as breeding starts in the tropical maize breeding pipelines