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Background Spinal anesthesia is commonly used in various surgical procedures but is often associated with hypotension, which can lead to significant complications. The Inferior Vena Cava Collapsibility Index (IVCCI) and Caval Aorta Index (CAI) are potential predictors of fluid responsiveness and can help anticipate hypotension after spinal anesthesia. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of IVCCI and CAI in predicting hypotension following spinal anesthesia. Materials and Methods A total of 100 patients scheduled for elective surgeries under spinal anesthesia were enrolled in this prospective clinical study. Preoperative IVCCI and CAI measurements were obtained using ultrasound. Spinal anesthesia was administered using 0.5% bupivacaine. Blood pressure was monitored every 5 minutes for 30 minutes post-anesthesia. Hypotension was defined as a systolic blood pressure decrease of more than 20% from baseline or below 90 mmHg. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression to assess the predictive value of IVCCI and CAI for hypotension. Results Out of 100 patients, 35 developed hypotension after spinal anesthesia. The mean IVCCI for the hypotensive group was 45%, compared to 25% in the non-hypotensive group (p < 0.01). The mean CAI was 0.8 in the hypotensive group and 0.6 in the non-hypotensive group (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that both IVCCI and CAI were significant predictors of hypotension, with IVCCI having a higher predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.85) compared to CAI (AUC = 0.78). Conclusion The Inferior Vena Cava Collapsibility Index and Caval Aorta Index are effective predictors of hypotension following spinal anesthesia. IVCCI, in particular, demonstrates superior predictive accuracy. Incorporating these indices into preoperative assessments may enhance the management and prevention of hypotension, improving patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Global water safety concerns drive advanced heavy metal detection methods. • Innovative sensor development addresses limitations of AAS, TXRF in Heavy metal detection. • LIBS: Non-destructive method for trace element detection in water. • Fluorescent quantum dots provide highly sensitive sensors for heavy metal ion detection. • Nanozymes serve as versatile tools for compact and efficient on-site detection of heavy metal ions. Presence of contaminants, one Heavy metals and the other, radioactive substances has been a significant matter of concern throughout the world especially in some developing countries like India, Indonesia, Serbia, China, Uganda and Kenya. Even a minute concentration of these metals tends to cause toxicity in living organisms. Metallic ions like Cr (VI), As (V and III), Cd (II), Pb (II), Hg (II) and Cu (II) is accountable for several health disorders in personage such as hepatic dysfunction, impaired renal function, gastric carcinoma and cutaneous melanoma, presenile dementia et cetera. Consequently, the assessment of concentration of these ions is a requisite and further shape the structure of this review paper. Hence, the primary aim of this review literature is to assess and discuss the technologies used for the detection and quantification of heavy metals and also endeavours to shed light on the current state of detection methodologies. In this regard, consistent detection techniques and sensory devices have been developed and concurrently improved to synchronize with the presence of newer emerging substances resulting from modernization in industrialization. The scope of this analysis extends to a comprehensive exploration of both conventional and cutting-edge detection techniques and sensory apparatuses, aiming to provide insights into their effectiveness and potential for improvement. Additionally, the review will assess the applicability of these methods in various settings, considering factors such as LOD, accessibility, and accuracy. While traditional lab-based spectroscopic methods like Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, and SARS are commonly used for heavy metal ion sensing and quantification, innovative sensor devices such as quantum dots sensors, bio-chemical sensors, and nanotechnology-based identification probes are increasingly being developed to improve detection capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Elucidation of the antiproliferative efficacy and mechanism of action of a design‐optimized noscapine analog, N‐4‐CN. Methods: Cell viability was studied using an MTT assay. The drug‐tubulin interactions were investigated using spectrofluorometry. The architectural defects, hyper stabilization, and recovery competence of cellular microtubules were studied using immunofluorescence microscopy. DCF‐DH and rhodamine 123 were used as probes to to examine the levels of reactive oxygen species and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, respectively. Flow cytometry revealed the cell cycle progression pattern of the drug‐treated cells. Key findings: Among the cell lines tested, N‐4‐CN showed the strongest inhibition of the viability of the triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line MDA‐MB‐231(IC50, 2.7 ± 0.1 µmol/L) and weakest inhibition of the noncancerous epithelial cell line, VERO (IC50, 60.2 ± 3 µmol/L). It perturbed tertiary structure of tubulin and stabilized colchicine binding to the protein. In cells, N‐4‐CN hyperstabilized the microtubules, and prevented the recovery of cold‐depolymerized microtubules. Its multitude of effects on tubulin and microtubules facilitated cell cycle arrest and subsequent cell death that were complemented by elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Significance: Owing to its ability to perturb a well‐defined cancer drug target, tubulin, and to promote ROS‐facilitated apoptosis, N‐4‐CN could be investigated further as a potential therapeutic against many neoplasms, including TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the antiproliferative effect of a rationally designed, novel noscapine analogue, 9‐((perfluorophenyl)methylene) aminonoscapine, '9‐PAN') on MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell line, and to elucidate the underlying mechanism of action. Methods: The rationally designed Schiff base‐containing compound, 9‐PAN, was characterized using IR, NMR and mass spectra analysis. The effect of the compound on cell viability was studied using an MTT assay. Cell cycle and cell death analyses were performed using flow cytometry. Binding interactions of 9‐PAN with tubulin were studied using spectrofluorometry. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were investigated using the probes, DCFDA and rhodamine‐123, respectively. Immunofluorescence imaging was used to visualize cellular microtubules. Key findings: 9‐PAN inhibited cell proliferation (IC50 of 20 ± 0.3 µm) and colony formation (IC50, 6.2 ± 0.3 µm) by arresting the cells at G2/M phase of the cell cycle. It bound to tubulin in a concentration‐dependent manner without considerably altering the tertiary conformation of the protein or the polymer mass of the microtubules in vitro. The noscapinoid substantially damaged cellular microtubule network and induced cell death, facilitated by elevated levels of ROS. Conclusions: 9‐PAN exerts its antiproliferative effect by targeting tubulin and elevating ROS level in the cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cases of female targeted violence often go uncounted in India. To identify the unreported cases of violence, Sukoon was established in 2014 as a hospital-based 'One Stop Crisis Centre' (OSCC). Sukoon provides counselling, police assistance and legal aid to the victims. The aim of the present study was to recognize the role of Sukoon in preventing violence against women (VAW) in the region. Methods: Secondary data was extracted from 430 victims who approached Sukoon from August 2014 through January 2017. Data was collected on different variables: age, marital status, nature of violence, medium through which victims approached Sukoon and type of assistance provided. Significance of association of studied factors with the type of assault was investigated usi ng 2 test. Results: Age of study-victims ranged from 4 to 75 years with a median age of 26 years and mean age of 27.61 years with standard deviation of 10.56 years. Major types of VAW (96.51%) were domestic violence, sexual assault, physical assault and poisoning. The types of violences were significantly associated with victims' age (2 =5.76, d.f.=1, p<0.05) and marital status (2 = 98.23, d.f=4, p<0.001). About 78% of victims were identified from Sukoon through screening and counseling. Around 69% of the cases were resolved directly by Sukoon or through police assistance. Conclusion: The above results indicate a significant role of Sukoon in screening victims of violence and providing them required assistance within the hospital environment in one location. Such centers should be further promoted by the government to address the issues of VAW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyridoxal hydrochloride, a vitamin B6 vitamer, was synthetically converted to a series of diverse redox‐active benzoyl pyridinium salts. Cyclic voltammetry studies demonstrated redox reversibility under basic conditions, and two of the most promising salts were subjected to laboratory‐scale flow battery tests involving galvanostatic cycling at 10 mM in 0.1 M NaOH. In these tests, the battery was charged completely, corresponding to the transfer of two electrons to the electrolyte, but no discharge was observed. Both CV analysis and electrochemical simulations confirmed that the redox wave observed in the experimental voltammograms corresponds to a two‐electron process. To explain the irreversibility in the battery tests, we conducted bulk electrolysis with the benzoyl pyridinium salts, affording the corresponding benzylic secondary alcohols. Computational studies suggest that the reduction proceeds in three consecutive steps: first electron transfer (ET), then proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) and finally proton transfer (PT) to give the secondary alcohol. 1H NMR deuterium exchange studies indicated that the last PT step is not reversible in 0.1 M NaOH, rendering the entire redox process irreversible. The apparent reversibility observed in CV at the basic media likely arises from the slow rate of the PT step at the timescale of the measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dihydroxy - 1 - selenolane (DHS) previously reported to exhibit radioprotective activity was investigated to understand its mechanism of action in CHO cells of epithelial origin. DHS pre-treatment at 25 μM for 16 h significantly protected CHO cells from radiation (4 – 11 Gy) - induced delayed mitotic cell death. Further to examine, how increased cellular uptake can influence this mechanism, studies have been performed with DHS - C 6 , a lipophilic conjugate of DHS. Accordingly CHO cells pre-treated with DHS - C 6 , showed increased survival against radiation exposure. Notably treatment with both DHS and DHS - C 6 significantly increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in cells by ∼ 2.5 fold. Additionally, the compound DHS or DHS - C 6 led to faster repair of DNA in irradiated cells and subsequently inhibited the G2/M arrest. Anticipating the role of GPx in radioprotection, our investigations revealed that addition of mercaptosuccinic acid, a pharmacological inhibitor of GPx reversed all the above effects of DHS or DHS - C 6 . Further inhibitors of check point kinase 1 (CHK1) and DNA - protein kinase (DNA - PK) although abrogated the radioprotective effect of DHS or DHS - C 6 separately, did not show additive effect in combination with GPx inhibitor, suggesting their cross talk. In contrast to these results, both DHS and DHS - C 6 treatment did not protect spleen lymphocytes from the radiation - induced apoptosis. Thus results confirmed that both DHS and DHS - C 6 protected cells from radiation - induced mitotic death by augmenting DNA repair in a GPx dependant manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymmetric total synthesis of optically pure (-)-gracilamine ( 1) was achieved by employing a bioinspired approach. The strategy involved elaboration of 3 a-arylhexahydroindole 7, a designed precursor, to 3 a-formylarylhexahydroindole 5, which upon heating with l-leucine ethyl ester gave (-)- 1 efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dihydroxyselenolane (DHS), a simple water-soluble organoselenium compound, was evaluated for radioprotection in BALB/c mice after whole-body irradiation (WBI) (8 Gy 60 Co, 1 Gy/min), by monitoring 30-d post-irradiation survival and biochemical/histological changes in radiosensitive organs. Intraperitoneal administration of DHS at 2 mg/kg for five consecutive days before irradiation and three times per week during the post-irradiation period showed maximum benefit (40% improvement in 30 d post-irradiation survival). DHS treatment, despite inducing expression of glutathione peroxidases ( GPx1 , GPx2 , and GPx4 ) in spleen and intestine, did not protect against radiation-induced acute (10-day) haematopoietic and gastrointestinal toxicities. DHS treatment significantly reduced radiation-induced DNA damage in peripheral leukocytes and inflammatory responses in intestine, lung, and circulation. The anti - inflammatory effect of DHS was associated with reductions in lipid peroxidation, expression of pro - inflammatory genes such as Icam-1 , Ccl-2 , and iNos-2 , and subsequent infiltration of inflammatory cells. Irradiated mice treated with DHS survived until day 30 post-irradiation and showed restoration of spleen cellularity and intestinal villi, but had moderately increased systemic and tissue-specific inflammatory responses. Another organoselenium compound, selenomethionine, evaluated in parallel with DHS at the same dose and treatment schedule, showed comparable radioprotective effects. The mechanism of radioprotection by DHS is mainly via suppression of inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio-protectors are employed to minimize the deleterious effects of ionizing radiations on the normal cells. In recent times, organoselenium compounds are being considered as new class of radio-protectors. Previous studies in our lab showed that dihydroxy selenolane (DHS) exhibits wide range of biological activities such as free radical scavenging, mimicking the function of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalysing the oxidative protein folding reaction. 1,2,3 Here DHS was evaluated for its radio-protective activity involving cellular and in vivo model systems. The dosage optimisation indicated that intraperitoneal administration of DHS at 2 mg/Kg body weight starting from five consecutive days prior to irradiation and three times a week during the post irradiation period showed the maximum improvement by 40% in 30 days survival of the mice. DHS administration did not improve haematopoietic parameters, however significantly inhibited radiation induced inflammatory responses in intestine, lung and the circulation. The anti - inflammatory effect of DHS was attributed to increase in the activity of GPx, and the reduction in levels of lipid peroxidation, and pro - inflammatory genes like Icam-1 , Ccl-2 and iNos-2 . Futher, radioprotection studies in cellular models involving epithelial cells (CHO) and lymphocytes indicated that DHS was effective in preventing the radiation induced cell cycle arrest and subsequent mitotic catastrophe but not the apoptosis. DHS showed signifcant inhibition of radiation induced DNA damage in CHO cells. Taken together, our study proposes that designing selenium compound to induce intra cellular GPx level not only provides radioprotection but also inhibits radiotherapy associated inflammatory side effects. References (1) Kumakura et al., Eur. J. Org. Chem. 3: 440-445, 2010; (2) Singh et al., J. Phys. Chem. A. 114: 8271-8277, 2010; (3) Verma et al.,Toxicol. Res. 5: 434-445, 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tenosynovitis is an infrequent presentation of Hansen's disease. It may occur during the natural course of disease or treatment as part of type 1 reaction or rarely may be the presenting complaint. We report a case of tenosynovitis of bilateral wrist joints who after being ineffectively treated by an orthopedician as well as rheumatologist for several months and was finally diagnosed as a case of Hansen's disease (borderline lepromatous) in type 1 reaction with excellent response to multidrug therapy and tapering doses of systemic steroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) is a rare genetic autosomal recessive disorder of zinc deficiency which manifests in infancy with triad of peri-orificial skin rash, alopecia, and diarrhea. We report the case of an 8-month-old infant with dermatological features of AE being managed as a case of candidial-intertrigo and diaper dermatitis who showed excellent response to oral zinc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the onset of the present pandemic, effect of the novel corona virus on other infectious conditions continues to be investigated. Although the immunological responses to SARS‐Cov‐2 infection have been elaborated extensively, they fail to explain, variations in its clinical manifestations and its interaction with other diseases. Hansen's disease is known to present as a complex immunological response to the lepra bacilli, resulting in its varied spectral manifestations. An interaction between these two infectious agents, hence, may affect Hansen's disease. We came across six cases of Hansen's disease who developed COVID19 co‐infection. This series presents their clinical course and outcome, during the period of co‐infection. All cases were followed up for a minimum eight‐week period thereafter. In all these cases the active phase of coronavirus infection had no effect on Hansen's disease and those on prednisolone for their lepra reaction had a more favorable outcome, with two cases manifesting exacerbation of their lepra reactions in the follow period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]