The Gut-Wrenching Effects of Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis in Children

Cryptosporidium species and Giardia duodenalis are infectious intestinal protozoan pathogens that cause alarming rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Children are more likely to have clinical symptoms due to their less developed immune systems and factors such as undernutrition, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The severity of the symptoms and clinical manifestations in children may vary from asymptomatic to life-threatening depending on the Cryptosporidium species/G. duodenalis strains and the resulting complex stepwise interactions between the parasite, the host nutritional and immunologic status, and the gut microbiome profile. Structural damages inflicted by both parasites to epithelial cells in the large and small intestines could severely impair children's gut health, including the ability to absorb nutrients, resulting in stunted growth, diminished neurocognitive development, and other long-term effects. Clinically approved cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis drugs have broad antimicrobial effects that have incomprehensible impacts on growing children's gut health.

Synthesis of 7-hydroxydibenzopyran-6-ones via benzannulation of coumarins

We have successfully demonstrated a facile synthesis of a variety of 7-hydroxydibenzopyran-6-ones via a two-step protocol from 3-acylcoumarins having a latent Nazarov dienone functionality. Condensation of 3-acylcoumarins and ethyl cyanoacetate under basic (wet K₂CO₃) and microwave irradiation conditions followed by decarboethoxylative aromatization with Br₂ or DDQ furnished dibenzopyran-6-ones in high yields. The formation of ring C of the dibenzopyran-6-one motif critically depended on an active methylene compound and C7 substitution on coumarins. The Ar-Br or ArOTf substitution in dibenzopyran-6-ones was leveraged for the palladium-catalysed Suzuki coupling with diverse aryl boronic acids to increase the structural diversity. Reductive decyanation of C10 cyano dibenzopyran-6-ones furnished some of the isomers of urolithin A.

Epiploic appendagitis - a rare cause of acute lower abdominal pain

Epiploic appendagitis is a rare cause of acute to subacute lower quadrant abdominal pain. It has 2 subtypes: primary and secondary Epiploic appendagitis. Primary epiploic appendagitis is characterized by inflammation of the epiploic appendages caused by torsion or thrombosis of the draining vein of the appendage whereas secondary Epiploic appendagitis may occur in association with other inflammatory etiologies in the abdomen and pelvis. Due to its similarity to other causes of acute abdomen, patients with primary epiploic appendagitis often undergo unnecessary treatment with antibiotics and surgical intervention. We present a case of a middle-aged male who was diagnosed with primary epiploic appendagitis based on imaging studies and was successfully managed with conservative treatment.

Ultrasonographyical Study of Kidneys Length Correlation in Various Clinical Stages of Chronic Type II Diabetes

The aim of the study was to use ultrasound imaging technique to differentiate between acute and chronic kidney diseases in type 2 diabetes. The renal length of left and right kidneys was compared and a detailed documentation was made. The study was carried out in Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. Our study included adult male and female population who were known case of Diabetes Mellitus, above 18 years of age and biochemically diagnosed for nephropathy. All patients were subjected to ultrasonography evaluation of the renal parenchymal thickness and the findings were documented.

Evaluation of the P16INK4a Expression in Cervical Biopsy Specimen SBMCH

In early 1980 human papillomavirus (HPV) were the risk factor and most commonly affects younger women. Many test have developed since then and among that a biomarker test system have developed and clinically evaluated.  P16INK4a is used as an important marker for indicating neoplastic transformation for cervical dyplasia. This study was done to evaluate the P16INK4a expression in cervical biopsy in 50 cases. Two cases were identified a P16INK4a positive and remaining 48 didn’t show P16INK4a expression proving the hypothesis that p16INK4a is capable of showing the dysplasia positive cases.

Comparision of CT Colonoscopy and Conventional Colonoscopy in Evaluation of Colorectal Malignancies

CT colonoscopy is one of the recent advances in the field of Computed tomography with various post processing techniques. The aim of work is to evaluate and compare the role of CT colonoscopy and conventional colonoscopy in diagnosing and characterizing the colorectal malignancies. Subject and Methods: Our study included 50 patients with lower GI sypmtoms; 6 of them had colorectal malignancies. They ranged in age from 28 to 60 years. All patients were subjected to CT colonoscopy examination and results were compared to conventional colonoscopy and documented by histopathology in all cases. Results: The results in our study showed that CT colonoscopy has equal sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing colorectal malignancies when compared to conventional colonoscopy and further helps in delineating the locoregional extent of the lesion.

Evaluation of Giddiness with MRI

Giddiness is a non-specific symptom or feeling that includes sensations such as faintness, light headedness, vertigo and imbalance. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing the cause of giddiness in symptomatic patients. A prospective cohort study was conducted in 106 patients who presented with giddiness. MRI scans of these patients were analysed, and we concluded that MRI can successfully demonstrate the significant findings which cause giddiness.

Alkaptonuria-an atypical case: multi-modality imaging review

Alkaptonuria is a rare inborn metabolic disorder due to a mutation in the homogentisic acid oxidase enzyme (HGO) gene on chromosome 3q. As HGO is deficient in alkaptonuria patients, there is an accumulation of homogentisic acid in the blood and urine. Homogentisic acid gets deposited in the soft tissues, tendons, cartilages, large joints and intervertebral discs. Ochronosis usually affects the dorsolumbar spine and typically spares the cervical spine and sacroiliac joints. However, in this case of isolated ochronosis, we report co-existent extensive cervical spine degenerative changes and cervical vertebral fusion, which has not been described in the literature so far.

Synthesis and physico-chemical properties of a H-cardanol triazole zinc porphyrin conjugate

Although a large number of natural and non-natural metalloporphyrins are known, examples with fluorescence and fat-soluble properties are rare. We have achieved the synthesis of a fluorescent and fat-soluble zinc porphyrin incorporating four units of hydrogenated cardanol (H-cardanol). The synthesis is sustainable since the product is derived from cashew-nut shell liquid (CNSL), which is a renewable and bio-waste material. The H-cardanol triazole zinc porphyrin conjugate (HTZPC) was synthesized through applying a copper(i) catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction between a H-cardanol derived azide and a tetraarylporphyrin derived alkyne. The absorption and emission properties of the hydrocarbon solvent soluble HTZPC were evaluated using UV-vis and fluorescence emission spectra obtained in various solvents. The results were compared with related molecules like a triazole-zinc porphyrin conjugate (TZPC), zinc tetra-C(4)-methoxyphenyl porphyrin (ZP), and a H-cardanol-triazole conjugate (HTC). The results showed that HTZPC undergoes J-type aggregation in both non-polar and highly polar solvents, which is dictated by van der Waals attractive forces between H-cardanol units in polar solvents (e.g. methanol and dimethylformamide) and π–π stacking interactions between porphyrin units in non-polar solvents (hexane). Moreover, the spectra indicated that the triazole units could stabilize the zinc porphyrin via intermolecular coordinate-complex formation. We anticipate that fat-soluble HTZPC could find applications in medical fields (e.g. in the photodynamic therapy of fat tissue).

A fluorescent and fat-soluble zinc porphyrin incorporating four units of hydrogenated cardanol (H-cardanol) was synthesized, and its physico-chemical properties were characterized.

Corrosion Protection of Copper in 3% NaCl Solution by the Fabrication of Thiadiazole Monolayer

In this study, 2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (2-MT) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was formed on copper electrode surface and the resulting 2-MT SAM on copper has been characterized using surface analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurement (CA). The existence of N and S in the EDX and FT-IR analysis showed that 2-MT molecules were self-assembled on the copper through N and S by chemisorption which indicates the formation of 2-MT SAM on copper surface. Corrosion protection performance of 2-MT SAM on copper was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization studies (PDS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Analysis of both electrochemical and SEM analysis results revealed excellent corrosion protection for the copper substrate.

Immune response in the tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus on exposure to tannery effluent

The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of chronic exposure to sublethal concentrations of tannery effluent (TE) on the specific immune response and nonspecific immunity in tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus. The effluent from the tannery was collected directly from a chrome-tanning factory situated in Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, India. Apart from chromium (88.2 ppm), the effluent contained appreciable amount of calcium carbonate and sodium sulphate. Groups of fish (45-50 g) were exposed to 0.0053, 0.053 or 0.53% [0.1%, 1% or 10% LC50] of TE for 28 days. The specific immune response of fish was assessed by antibody response to heat-killed Aeromonas hydrophila by ELISA and bacterial agglutination assay. Nonspecific immune mechanisms were assessed in terms of serum lysozyme activity, production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) by peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL). The results indicate that chronic exposure of fish to 0.53% of TE, significantly suppressed antibody response, nonspecific serum lysozyme activity, and ROS and RNI production. Exposure to 0.053% (1% LC50) of TE also caused a similar suppressive effect though at a lesser degree. In conclusion, the study shows, that exposure to sublethal concentrations of TE, can lead to adverse effects on selected immune reactions in tilapia. Further, these findings may be important in terms of monitoring fish health and risk assessment during periods of fluctuating levels of pollutants in the natural and farm environments.

Effect of sex ratio on the immune system of Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters)

The social environment of fish has a crucial role to play on the immune system and hence on the overall health status. Stressors of social origin such as dominance, subordination, and fight for mate have a major impact on the immune system of fish. The present study was designed with the objective of finding the effect of sex ratio of the population on the immune system of Oreochromis mossambicus. Groups of fish were maintained for 28 days in three different sex ratios i.e., (i) all-male (ii) all-female (iii) equal male and female (mixed). The specific immune response of fish was assessed by antibody response to Aeromonas hydrophila by ELISA and bacterial agglutination assay, and to SRBC by plaque forming cell assay. Nonspecific immune mechanisms were assessed in terms of serum lysozyme activity, production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) by peripheral blood leukocytes. Disease resistance against live, virulent A. hydrophila was performed to assess the overall functional immunity. The results showed that antibody responses and numbers of antibody producing cells were increased in fish in the equal male and female sex ratio group compared to fish in monosex ratio groups. Similar enhancement was also observed in nonspecific serum lysozyme level and the ROS and RNS production. The host resistance test revealed that enhanced immunity in equal male and female sex ratio group was protective against A. hydrophila infection. The study clearly reveals positive and negative effect of sex ratio on the immune system of O. mossambicus.

Immune response and disease resistance of Oreochromis mossambicus to Aeromonas hydrophila after exposure to hexavalent chromium

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic exposure to sublethal concentrations of hexavalent chromium (K2Cr2O7) on the immune response and disease resistance of Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) to bacterial Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Fish (45 to 50 g) were exposed to 0.005, 0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg l(-1) [0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10% LC50, respectively] of hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) for 28 d. The specific immune response was assessed by antibody response to A. hydrophila by bacterial agglutination assay, and to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) by plaque forming cell (PFC) assay. In addition, nonspecific immune mechanisms were assessed by serum lysozyme activity and reactive nitrogen intermediates, the latter in terms of nitric oxide (NO) production by peripheral blood leucocytes. Overall immunity was assessed by disease resistance against live virulent A. hydrophila. The study clearly indicated that chronic exposure of fish to 0.5 and 5 mg l(-1) of chromium (VI) decreased both nonspecific and specific parameters of the immune system, which resulted in a lower disease resistance to A. hydrophila. Interestingly, 0.05 mg l(-1) of Cr (VI) enhanced disease resistance and both nonspecific and specific immune responses to A. hydrophila. Our study revealed a concentration-dependent modulation of the immune system by chromium (VI), as demonstrated by suppressive or stimulatory effects on lymphocytes, lysozyme, phagocytic killing mechanisms, and disease resistance in O. mossambicus.