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The present research work was carried out on testes procured from six healthy adult non-descript male cats brought for castration/ neutering at Veterinary Clinical Complex of the College in Anand (Gujarat, India). The fibrous connective tissue capsule of testes was made up of outer tunica albugenia and inner tunica vasculosa. The tunica albugenia was thinner as compared to tunica vasculosa layer. The capsule was having collagen fibers and sparce number of elastic fibers. Mean thickness of tunica albuginea was 38.35±1.42 µm. The mediastinal testis was located centrally in the testicular parenchyma. The rete testis was lined by simple cuboidal epithelial cells, presenting prominent oval and horizontally placed nuclei in it. Each lobule of testis was oval to coiled irregular in shape. The mean diameter of seminiferous tubules was 243.37±2.52 µm, whereas the mean height of spermatogenic epithelium was 65.52±0.77 µm. There was average 17-18 Sertoli cells noticed per cross section of seminiferous tubules. The mean height of Sertoli cells was 38.35±1.42 µm. Clusters of Leydig cells were arranged in triangle, rectangle or irregular shape in the interstitial spaces. There was presence of lipid material in the Leydig cells. The mean diameter of Leydig cells was 7.4 µm. The elongated myoid cells were found at the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules. The tunica albuginea, basement membrane of seminiferous tubules and mediastinal testis were strongly positive for PAS Alcian blue stain indicating more amount of neutral mucopolysaccharides. The seminiferous tubular epithelial cells and interstitial cells were moderately positive for neutral mucopolysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted on 103 dead goat fetuses ranging from 34 days (CR 1.55 cm) to 148 days (full term, CR 42.00 cm). The length and width of primary ossification centers of scapula, humerus, radius, ulna and large metacarpus were recorded from radiographs and statistically analyzed to assess age associated growth and to evolve age prediction formulae in the goat fetuses at birth or death/ abortion. Amongst the bones of thoracic limb, the diaphyseal length of ulna showed the highest growth rate (0.94 mm/day) followed by radius, humerus, scapula and large metacarpus. The correlation coefficients between various bone measurements and fetal age were very high (r= >0.9). Among the simple linear regression equations formulated for prediction of fetal age; the length of scapula, humerus and radius gave 98 % predictability (R²) indicating them as reliable bone measurements for estimation of age in goat fetuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, effect of varying lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) salt concentration in polymer gel electrolytes (PGE) containing heat resistant polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and succinonitrile (SN) is investigated via electrochemical and physical properties. The electrolyte specimen with high LiClO4 salt concentration of 1.5 M supports maximum ionic conductivity of 4.9 × 10–5 S cm−1 and electrochemical stability window of ~ 4 V. The ion-transport parameters evaluated from the tangent loss studies confirms that the optimized electrolyte possesses diffusivity (D) of 4.52 × 10–2, mobility (μ) of 1.746 cm2 V−1 s−1, number of charge carriers (N) of 1.78 × 1014 cm−3 and Nµ of 3.106 × 1014 cm−1 V−1 s−1. The dielectric constant studies show that the optimized electrolyte possesses maximum dielectric constant and lower value of modulus towards the high frequency region. The thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry studies confirms that the prepared electrolytes offer weight loss of < 9% up to 373 K and maintains the gel phase up to 570 K, respectively. X-ray diffraction suggest that the PGE system becomes more amorphous with progressive addition of LiClO4 up to 1.5 M, while the Fourier transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy study reveal the salt-polymer interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Succinylcholine is a muscle relaxant of choice for paediatric intubation due to its fast onset and ultrashort duration of action but it is associated with unwanted sideeffects. Rocuronium bromide can be used alternatively to avoid those unwanted side-effects because of its fast onset and intermediate duration of action. Aim: To compare two doses of rocuronium bromide with succinylcholine in terms of intubating conditions, duration of action, haemodynamic variations, and complications to get a better alternative dose of rocuronium bromide in children undergoing elective surgeries. Materials and Methods: The present randomised, doubleblinded clinical trial study was conducted in the Department of Anaesthesiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India from January 2021 to October 2022. Ninety American Society of Anaesthesiology (ASA) Grade-I-II children of both sexes of 1-10 years age, undergoing elective surgery were equally divided into three groups. Group-R9 (n=30) and Group-R12 (n=30) received rocuronium bromide 0.9 mg/kg and 1.2 mg/kg, respectively while Group-S (n=30) received succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg. Comparative evaluation of intubating conditions was done around 60 seconds in all three groups and duration of action, haemodynamic variations, and complications were noted. All data were entered in a microsoft excel sheet and results were expressed as percentages, mean Standard Deviation (SD), chi-square test, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test where the difference was considered statistically significant if the p-value <0.05 by using the software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 11.0 (SPSS version 11.0). Results: Rocuronium bromide 1.2 mg/kg and succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg provided excellent intubating conditions in 96.7% children and good intubating conditions in 3.3% children in both groups while rocuronium bromide 0.9 mg/kg provided excellent intubation conditions in 83.3% of children and good intubating conditions in 16.7% of children There was a significant difference present in intubation scores between three groups (p=0.01). The duration of action was longer with rocuronium bromide 1.2 mg/kg (38.93±4.323 min) as compared to rocuronium bromide 0.9 mg/kg (26.07±2.791 min) while it was shortest with succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg (6.00±1.74 min). Adverse effects like fasciculations were only found in children (n=30) receiving succinylcholine (p=0.01) but not in rocuronium bromide groups. Conclusion: Rocuronium bromide 1.2 mg/kg gives the same intubating conditions as succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg with good haemodynamic stability and no side-effects but the duration of action was longer with rocuronium bromide 1.2 mg/kg as compared to rocuronium bromide 0.9 mg/kg. So, to avoid unwanted sideeffects of succinylcholine in children, rocuronium bromide 1.2 mg/kg can be used as an alternative to succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg in children undergoing elective surgeries where early return of spontaneous recovery is not needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perioperative management of pregnant women with cardiac disease is challenging. The physiological cardiac changes that occur during late pregnancy leads to haemodynamic stress to the patient with the cardiac disease during and immediately after parturition. Pregnant women with severe valvular disease do not tolerate haemodynamic changes associated with pregnancy. The choice of anaesthesia technique either general anaesthesia or regional anaesthesia is depending on the haemodynamic goals, cardiac status of the patient, and mode of delivery. A 23-year-old female patient was planned for elective caesarean section for safe confinement. She was an operated case of Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty (BMV). General anaesthesia was preferred due to the severity of mitral stenosis. Incorporation of epidural analgesia with general anaesthesia provided intraoperatively haemodynamic stability during laryngoscopy, intubation, and extubation. Also, postoperatively analgesia could be achieved due to epidural top-ups. Ultimately, a good perioperative outcome has been achieved due to haemodynamic stability which reduces perioperative morbidity and mortality of the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As a depolarising Neuromuscular Blocking Drug (NMBD), succinylcholine is a muscle relaxation of choice during intubation due to its fast onset effect and ultrashort duration of action. But, it is associated with complications like bradycardia, asystole, hyperkalaemia, myalgia, an increase in intraocular pressure and masseter spasm in children. Rocuronium bromide is an intermediate-acting non depolarising muscle relaxant with faster onset of action. So, it can be used as an alternative for intubation to avoid unwanted side-effects of succinylcholine. Aim: To compare two doses of rocuronium bromide with succinylcholine in terms of intubating conditions, duration of action, haemodynamic variations and complications associated with muscle relaxant. Materials and Methods: A randomised double blinded clinical trial will be planned after taking prior permission from ethical committee. A total 90 children of age between 1-10 years with American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA)-I and ASA-II would be equally divided into three groups. Group S would receive succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg while Group R9 and R12 would receive rocuronium bromide 0.9 mg/kg and 1.2 mg/kg, respectively. Comparative evaluation of intubating conditions would be done around 60 seconds in all three groups. Also, the duration of action, haemodynamic parameters and complications would be observed. Conclusion: At the end of study, one can compare the two doses of rocuronium bromide against succinylcholine which provides the same intubating conditions without haemodynamic variations and complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gir forest is the sole home of Asiatic lion. In the present study the anatomy of 4 humerus bones of Asiatic lion were studied. The humerus is long bone with spirally twisted shaft. The mean circumference of proximal extremity was 21.11 cm, while that of distal extremity was 18.00 cm. The mean length of shaft was 17.20 cm. The mean diameter of shaft from the middle was 8.62 cm. The musculo-spiral groove was wide, smooth and spiral on lateral surface of humerus. There were three fossae, olecranon fossa at caudal aspect and radial and coronoid fossae at cranial aspect of distal extremity of humerus. Supracondyloid foramen was present on medial side of distal extremity above medial condyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer is substantially higher in Asian/Pacific Islanders (APIs) than other racial groups. Examining age-specific incidence patterns by racial group and histology could inform disease etiology. We analyzed data from 2000 through 2019 from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program to compare age-specific incidence rates of nasopharyngeal cancer in non-Hispanic (NH) Blacks, NH APIs, and Hispanics to NH Whites using incidence rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). NH APIs showed the highest incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer across all histologic subtypes and almost all age groups. The racial differences were most pronounced in the age 30–39 group; relative to NH Whites, NH APIs were 15.24 (95% CI: 11.69–20.05), 17.26 (95% CI: 12.56–24.07), and 8.91 (95% CI: 6.79–11.48) times as likely to have differentiated non-keratinizing, undifferentiated non-keratinizing, and keratinizing squamous cell tumors, respectively. These findings suggest an earlier onset of nasopharyngeal cancer among NH APIs, which highlight unique early life exposure to critical nasopharyngeal cancer risk factors as well as genetic predisposition in this high-risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural stability is a major constraint on the evolution of protein sequences. However, under strong directional selection, mutations that confer novel phenotypes but compromise structural stability of proteins may be permissible. During the evolution of antibiotic resistance, mutations that confer drug resistance often have pleiotropic effects on the structure and function of antibiotic-target proteins, usually essential metabolic enzymes. In the present study, we show that trimethoprim (TMP)-resistant alleles of dihydrofolate reductase from Escherichia coli (EcDHFR) harboring the Trp30Gly, Trp30Arg or Trp30Cys mutations are significantly less stable than the wild-type, making them prone to aggregation and proteolysis. This destabilization is associated with a lower expression level, resulting in a fitness cost and negative epistasis with other TMP-resistant mutations in EcDHFR. Using structurebased mutational analysis, we show that perturbation of critical stabilizing hydrophobic interactions in wild-type EcDHFR enzyme explains the phenotypes of Trp30 mutants. Surprisingly, though crucial for the stability of EcDHFR, significant sequence variation is found at this site among bacterial dihydrofolate reductases (DHFRs). Mutational and computational analyses in EcDHFR and in DHFR enzymes from Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis demonstrate that natural variation at this site and its interacting hydrophobic residues modulates TMP resistance in other bacterial DHFRs as well, and may explain the different susceptibilities of bacterial pathogens to TMP. Our study demonstrates that trade-offs between structural stability and function can influence innate drug resistance as well as the potential for mutationally acquired drug resistance of an enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are facing a rapidly growing geriatric population (65+) that will live for multiple decades and are challenged with environmental pollution far exceeding that of previous generations. Consequently, we currently have a poor understanding of how environmental pollution will impact geriatric health distinctly from younger populations. Few toxicology studies have considered age differences with geriatric individuals. Critically, all top ten most prevalent age-related diseases are linked to metal exposures. Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a metal of major environmental health concern that can induce aging phenotypes and neurotoxicity. However, there are many knowledge gaps for Cr(VI) neurotoxicity, including how Cr(VI) impacts behavior. To address this, we exposed male rats across three ages (3-, 7-, and 18-months old) to Cr(VI) in drinking water (0, 0.05, 0.1 mg/L) for 90 days. These levels reflect the maximum contaminant levels determined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Here, we report how these Cr(VI) drinking water levels impacted rat behaviors using a battery of behavior tests, including grip strength, open field assay, elevated plus maze, Y-maze, and 3-chamber assay. We observed adult rats were the most affected age group and memory assays (spatial and social) exhibited the most significant effects. Critically, the significant effects were surprising as rats should be particularly resistant to these Cr(VI) drinking water levels due to the adjustments applied in risk assessment from rodent studies to human safety, and because rats endogenously synthesize vitamin C in their livers (vitamin C is a primary reducer of Cr[VI] to Cr[III]). Our results emphasize the need to broaden the scope of toxicology research to consider multiple life stages and suggest the current regulations for Cr(VI) in drinking water need to be revisited. • We exposed male rats to Cr(VI) in drinking water at MCLs set by WHO and US EPA. • We assessed behaviors in 5 assays to determine effects across ages (3-, 7-, 18 mo). • Behavior effects were observed as early as 1 week after exposure. • Middle-aged (7-month old) rats were the most impacted age group. • Social and spatial memory were the most impacted behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To study the impact of vestibular suppressant drugs (VSD) on provocative positional tests (PPT) in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Settings and Design: A prospective case-control observational study. Materials and Methods: Patients with a history suggestive of BPPV were tested for PPT. Patients with vertiginous symptoms and with nystagmus on PPT were classified as objective BPPV (O-BPPV, control group), while those without nystagmus with no alternate diagnosis were classified as subjective BPPV (S-BPPV, case group). Details of VSD treatment were noted in all the patients. In both groups, patients were instructed to discontinue VSD and were further assigned as the VSD and non-VSD subgroups. Patients were followed for 2 months with PPT every week. PPT positive patients were treated by vestibular rehabilitation maneuvers. Statistics: Student t-test with two-tailed, unpaired, was used for continuous scale and Chi-square test for categorical differences between the two groups. Results: 295 consecutive BPPV patients were enrolled in the study, 55 in the S-BPPV group and 240 in the O-BPPV group. Significantly higher proportion of patients in the S-BPPV group were on VSD at presentation, 80.00% vs. 53.75% (OR 2.52; 95% CI: 1.30-4.86), P = 0.006. In an unadjusted analysis of the S-BPPV group following discontinuation of VSD, PPT became positive in 79.54% of patients as compared to 18.19% in the non-VSD group (OR 35.0; 95% CI: 6.2-197.3), P < 0.001. Conclusion: A higher proportion of S-BPPV patients were receiving VSD in comparison to O-BPPV at the initial visit. The PPT converted positive four times higher after ceasing the VSD in S-BPPV patients. Study Design: Prospective case-control observational study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Health status is associated with socioeconomic status (SES) of the individuals. The aim of this study was to identify any link between the SES and influenza-like illness (ILI). Materials and Methods: This observational case-control study was done on 18–70 years old patients presented with ILI (cases) at tertiary care hospital of western India. Controls were selected from demographically matched elective surgery patients except the SES. SES was evaluated as per the Modified B G Prasad 2017 scale and participants were further classified in lower SES (per capita income <2000 INR) and non-lower SES groups. Results: 810 cases and 830 controls were compared. Many cases were from lower SES, had poor hand hygiene, and were using soil, mud, ash (SMA) for hand cleaning as compared to the control. Among the cases significant numbers were from lower SES (543/810[67%],P < 0.02), many were alcoholics, smokers, had poor hand hygiene, were using SMA for hand cleaning, and had preexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while few were having diabetes in the lower SES group as compared to the non-lower SES group. ILI was more common among lower SES class in unadjusted analysis (odds ratio [OR] 1.58, 95% CI 0.89–2.76) and the results were significant even after the adjustment of covariates (OR 1.62, 95% CI, 0.94–2.85). Conclusion: Lower SES people were 2.8 times more prone to ILI as compared to the age- and sex-matched control in western part of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Compound tincture benzoin (CTB) is used as a post-procedure skin seal antiseptic agent since ancient times; but this drug is reported to cause allergic contact dermatitis and other unwanted side effects. Our aim of the present study was to compare alternative agent like Medicated Adhesive dressing (MAD) with CTB as a post-procedure skin seal dressing. Design: This prospective randomized controlled experimental study included an equal number of patients in MAD and CTB as a post-operative seal dressing material for percutaneous interventions. Both the groups were graded for various efficacy parameters like comfort, applicability, dressing material, and immediate post-operative complications by operating doctor and attending nurse with a maximum 10 points in each group. Results: 120 patients were studied in each MAD and CTB group. Out of total patients 31.25% were males and the mean age of the patient was 33.56 ± 11.10. Allergic contact dermatitis developed in 9 (7.49%) of CTB group and in 1 (0.83%) of MAD group (P < 0.002), while local site skin infections were noted in 8 (6.67%) of CTB group and in 1 (0.83%) of MAD (P < 0.002). Operating doctor graded MAD and CTB to 7.60 ± 0.49 and 3.62 ± 0.48 (P < 0.003); and attending nurse 7.40 ± 0.49 and 3.41 ± 0.49 (P < 0.003) respectively. Conclusion: MAD is a safe, efficient and non-inferior alternative dressing material for post-procedure skin incision seal in comparison to CTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the clinical trials of delirious mania patients to study medically and psychiatrically illness characteristics of the disease. Potential errors in distinguishing psychotic states from delirium; Procedure used by clinician to make a diagnosis of delirious mania; Prospects of neuroleptics in treatment of the disease.