Search

The thermostable xylanase from Aspergillus fumigatus JCM 10253 was purified and characterized. The purification of the enzyme was carried out by 80% ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by dialysis and DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography with a 17.1% yield. The molecular weight of purified xylanase was approximately 19 kDa. The optimum xylanase activity was achieved at 45°C and pH 6.0. The metal profile exhibited activating effect at 10 mM concentration of Ca2+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, K+, Zn2+, Ba2+, and Co2+ ions. The xylanase activity was strongly inhibited by SDS, sodium sulfite, and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride whilst stimulated by Triton X-100. The presence of organic 30% solvents, 1-butanol and n-pentane, retained xylanase activity during a prolonged incubation period of 7 days. The purified enzyme had KM and Vmax values of 10.95 mg/mL and 115.8 µmol mg–1min–1, respectively, against beechwood xylan as a substrate. The purified xylanase from A. fumigatus JCM 10253 could be a potential candidate for developing high value-added products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: There is much interest in the relationship between coagulation status and complications of pregnancy. The thrombelastograph (TEG) has been proposed as a useful, inexpensive tool to screen for patients with hypercoagulable states. Materials and methods: We investigated 588 unselected pregnant women at booking, obtaining blood samples for TEG and thrombophilia investigation. Pregnancy outcome data was recorded. Results: We found significant correlations between TEG parameters and the Prothrombin time (PT) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin time (APTT) (p<0.01) and with plasma Antithrombin level (p<0.01). There was no correlation between TEG and other thrombophilic defects (protein C, protein S, Factor V Leiden mutation, Prothrombin G20210A mutation, MTHFR C677T mutation and Lupus Anticoagulant). There was a significant association of TEG parameters with mid-trimester loss (MTL) but not with other adverse pregnancy outcomes. Conclusions: The correlation between TEG and PT, APTT and antithrombin level supports its value in providing a global measure of haemostasis. Coagulation status at booking is associated with increased risk of MTL but not with complications occurring later in pregnancy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thromboembolic disease remains the leading cause of maternal death in the UK. Recent literature has proposed that folate status is a strong predictor for venous thrombosis. Using thrombelastography (TEG®), we tested the hypothesis that folic acid supplementation is associated with a reduction in whole blood coagulability. Blood samples and questionnaire data were obtained at a mean gestation of 13·6 weeks (SD: 3·8, range: 6–38 weeks) from unselected consecutive women attending for their antenatal booking scan. Of 588 patients, 439 (74·7%) took folic acid. All TEG® parameters were less hypercoagulable in women that had taken folic acid compared with those that had not: mean maximum amplitude (MA) 60·3versus62·1; mean difference 1·8; 95% confidence interval 0·8, 2·8;P = 0·0001; mean coagulation index (CI) 0·54versus0·85; mean difference 0·31; 95% confidence interval 0·11, 0·5;P = 0·002. There was no difference in the incidence of the homozygous MTHFR mutation in patients taking folic acid (5·53%) compared with those that were not (4·08%). This study suggests that benefit may be derived from longer-term treatment, although large multicentre studies are required to determine whether the relative hypocoagulability is associated with a reduction in risk of venous thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistin, also known as Fizz3 or ADSF, is a protein found in murine adipose tissue and inflammatory lung exudates. The present studies found that resistin was released by explants of human adipose tissue but the release was quite variable ranging from 3 to 158 ng/g over 48 h. The release of resistin was 250% greater by explants of omental than by explants of human subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue. Resistin release by adipocytes was negligible as compared to that by the non-fat cells of adipose tissue. Leptin formation by adipocytes was 8-fold greater than its formation by the non-fat cells, while the formation of PAI-1 by adipocytes was 38% of that by the non-fat cells. The conversion of glucose to lactate as well as the formation of PGE2 and IL-8 was approximately 15% of that by the non-fat cells. In contrast the release of IL-6 and IL-1β by adipocytes was 4–7% of that by the non-fat cells while the formation of resistin and IL-10 by adipocytes was 2% of that by non-fat cells. The release of adiponectin by explants ranged from 1000 to 5000 ng/g over 48 h but did not correlate with that of resistin. The present data suggest that resistin release by explants of human adipose tissue in primary culture is largely derived from the non-fat cells present in the explants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines the transcatheter occlusion of atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale using the buttoned device to prevent recurrent paradoxic embolism and stroke. Implantation of buttoned device across the atrial septum in patients; Complications of transcatheter closure of the atrial defect.

Abstract Thermophysical properties of halogen-free ionic liquids are gaining significant attention for industrial applications. In this context, trioctylalkylammonium bis(salicylato)borate (N888n-BScB) ionic liquids having variable alkyl chain length (n = 4, 8, 12, 16) are synthesized to explore the effect of chain length and temperature on their physicochemical properties. The density (ρ), refractive index (n D), and speed of sound (u) are measured in the temperature range of 293.15 to 333.15 K. The tetraoctylammonium-BScB is found to be highly dense ionic liquid, and it was attributed to the closer packing of symmetric structure of tetraoctylammonium cation. Furthermore, derived thermodynamic properties such as isentropic compressibility (β s), coefficient of thermal expansion (α), standard entropy (S °), intermolecular free length (L f) and lattice energy (U POT) are calculated for the N888n-BScB ionic liquids using the experimental data and shown the effect of variable chain length. This study provides a comprehensive insight on the thermophysical properties of halogen-free ionic liquids. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Trioctylalkylammonium bis(salicylato)borate ILs are synthesized for evaluation of their physicochemical properties • Density, speed of sound, and refractive index are studied as functions alkyl chain length in the cation and temperature • Symmetric structure of tetraoctylammonium cation provided closer packing, consequently the higher density • Molecular volume of ionic liquids and alkyl chain length in the cation exhibited a linear correlation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the clinical and virological status in urban and rural populations. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak for a period of six months. Upper respiratory tract (URT) specimens including nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from the patients and their contacts and processed by RT-PCR technique for COVID-19 detection. Further, clinical and virological response in both the population were assessed and compared. Results: A total of 37,724 URT samples were tested, out of which 20,144 (53%) samples were from the rural population and 17,580 (47%) from the urban population. Out of the total samples from urban and rural population, COVID-19 positivity was 13.9% in urban population and 6.2% in rural population. Around 86% patients or contacts were asymptomatic in both the rural and urban population and rests were symptomatic 14%. Among the symptomatic patients, sore throat was seen as the most common presenting symptom (95-100%) followed by fever (80-83%), dry cough (55-61%), nasal discharge (18-23%), and breathlessness (3-5%) in both the rural and urban population. Conclusion: Our outcomes provide novel facts that the COVID-19 epidemic severely affected both rural and urban populations but with few differences. In our study, positivity rate in case of urban population was 13.9% as compared to 6.2% in rural population. There are two foremost facets that contributed variation in positivity in both the population. First, better immune response in rural population as compared to urban population which can be due to the fact that rural people in India are more exposed to various pathogens during their early lifetime thus, improving their immune status. Second, factor could be elevated population densities in urban areas which can contribute to increased infectiousness thus higher positivity rate. In addition, people living in urban population have to commute more for their work and are exposed to more people throughout the day thus, having more possibility to get infection of COVID-19 as compared to the rural population. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies conducted on COVID-19, among rural population of Haryana. Hence, this study will allow us to fill the gap in knowledge about the variation in contagion spread and immune response in both rural and urban populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidazolium-hexafluorophosphate (ImPF 6 ) ionic liquid thin film is prepared on a silicon surface using 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane as a bifunctional chemical linker. XPS result revealed the covalent grafting of ImPF 6 thin film on a silicon surface. The atomic force microscopic images demonstrated that the ImPF 6 thin film is composed of nanoscopic pads/clusters with height of 3–7 nm. Microtribological properties in terms of coefficient of friction and wear-resistivity are probed at the mean Hertzian contact pressure of 0.35–0.6 GPa under the rotational sliding contact. The ImPF 6 thin film exhibited low and steady coefficient of friction ( μ = 0.11) along with remarkable wear-resistivity to protect the underlying silicon substrate. The low shear strength of ImPF 6 thin film, the covalent interaction between ImPF 6 ionic liquid thin film and underlying silicon substrate, and its regular grafting collectively reduced the friction and improved the anti-wear property. The covalently grafted ionic liquid thin film further shows immense potential to expand the durability and lifetime of M/NEMS based devices with significant reduction of the friction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pituitary metastasis as a presenting manifestation of silent systemic malignancy is rare. We describe four such cases. Materials and Methods: Four patients (0.7%) of malignancy with pituitary metastasis out of 540 patients of sellar mass within a period of 10 years were analyzed for clinical, hormonal and radiological findings. Result: The age range of these patients was 39-60 years with lag time ranging from 2to 5 months. Pituitary pathology was presenting manifestation in all 4 patients including diabetes insipidus, ophthalmoplegia and variable anterior pituitary hormone deficiency. 2 patients had bronchogenic carcinoma and one each had squamous cell and adenocarcinoma with unknown primary. Diagnosis of pituitary metastasis was confirmed in three on pituitary mass histopathology and in one it was based on rapidly appearing mass in a short time. Conclusion: Rapidly appearing mass in the sellar region, short lag time, sudden onset of ophthalmoplegia, -symptoms and signs disproportionate to the size of mass, presence of diabetes insipidus and destroyed but normal sized sella should invoke the suspicion of pituitary metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The increasing prevalence of obesity is a public health concern and perceived as a potential risk factor in open heart surgery. We critically appraised the literature available regarding postoperative complications in obese patients. Methods: A single-center retrospective evaluation of complication rates (1999–2004) in cardiac surgical patients categorized by body mass index (BMI) was conducted. The overall incidence of complications (CX), renal failure (RF), hemodialysis (HD), atrial fibrillation (AF), cardiac arrest (CA), infections (INF), stroke (CVA and TIA), prolonged ventilation (VENT), and pulmonary embolism (PE) were observed. Patients with normal BMI (20–30) served for comparison, obesity and extreme obesity (ExtOb) were defined as BMI 30–40 and ≥40, respectively. Results : In our institutional review of 1920 patients, 1780 met the inclusion criteria with BMI<20 (n =53), 20–30 (n =1056), 30–40 (n =592), and ≥40 (n =79) based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) criteria. Significant increase in complications (STS database guideline definitions) were observed with a BMI≥40, 58% versus 47% (p =0.04). Extremely obese patients (ExtOb) had increased length of stay (LOS) (11.4 days vs 9.6 days; p ≤0.01), rate of renal failure (14.3% vs 5%; p ≤0.01) and prolonged ventilation (39%; p =0.01) compared to non-obese patients. Extremely obese had no significant increase in hemodialysis (7.3% vs 3.2%; p =0.11) or stroke (5.2% vs 2.9%; p =0.29). Obese patients (Ob) had increased LOS (10 days vs 9.6 days; p =0.04) and prolonged ventilation (28.3% vs 23.5%; p =0.03). Conclusions: Cardiac surgery can be performed without significant increase in perioperative and 30-day mortality in obese and extremely obese patients. Overall complication rates and LOS in patients with BMI≥40 is increased and demands attention. We provide evidence that rates of few specific complications increase with extreme obesity. For risk stratification in the setting of an obesity epidemic, we advocate an interdisciplinary approach in obese patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]