Inhibition of biofilm formation, quorum sensing and virulence factor production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 by selected LasR inhibitors

The quorum sensing network of Pseudomonas aeruginosa mediates the regulation of genes controlling biofilm formation and virulence factors. The rise of drug resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections has made quorum sensing-regulated biofilm formation in clinical settings a major issue. In the present study, LasR inhibitors identified in our previous study were evaluated for their antibiofilm and antiquorum sensing activities against P. aeruginosa PAO1. The compounds selected were (3-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]-1-(2-fluorophenyl)urea) (C1), (3-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-[(3-methylquinoxalin-2-yl)methylsulfanyl]quinazolin-4-one) (C2) and (2-({4-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]pyrimidin-2-yl}sulfanyl)-N-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)acetamide) (C3). The minimum inhibitory concentrations of C1 and C2 were 1000 μM, whereas that of C3 was 500 μM. At sub-MICs, the compounds showed potent antibiofilm activity without affecting the growth of P. aeruginosa PAO1. Electron microscopy confirmed the disruption of biofilm by the selected compounds. The antiquorum sensing activity of the compounds was revealed by the inhibition of violacein in Chromobacterium violaceum and the inhibition of swimming and swarming motilities in P. aeruginosa PAO1. Furthermore, the compounds also attenuated the production of quorum sensing-mediated virulence factors. The qRT-PCR revealed the downregulation of quorum sensing regulatory genes, namely lasI, lasR, rhlI, rhlR, lasB, pqsA and pqsR. The selected compounds also exhibited lower cytotoxicity against peripheral blood lymphocytes. Thus, this study could pave a way to explore these compounds for the development of therapeutic agent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm-related infections.

Listeria monocytogenes an Emerging Pathogen: a Comprehensive Overview on Listeriosis, Virulence Determinants, Detection, and Anti-Listerial Interventions

Listeria monocytogenes, the third most deleterious zoonotic pathogen, is a major causative agent of animal and human listeriosis, an infection related to the consumption of contaminated food products. Even though, this pathogen has been responsible for the outbreaks of foodborne infections in the early 1980s, the major outbreaks have been reported during the past two decades. Listeriosis infection in the host is a rare but life-threatening disease with major public health and economic implications. Extensive reports on listeriosis outbreaks are associated with milk and milk products, meat and meat products, and fresh produce. This bacterium can adapt to any environmental and stress conditions, making it a prime causative agent for major foodborne diseases. The pathogen could survive an antibiotic treatment and persist in the host cell, thereby escaping the standard diagnostic practices. The current review strives to provide concise information on the epidemiology, serotypes, and pathogenesis of the L. monocytogenes to decipher the knowledge on the endurance of the pathogen inside the host and food products as a vehicle for Listeria contaminations. In addition, various detection methods for Listeria species from food samples and frontline regimens of L. monocytogenes treatment have also been discussed.

Effect of fourth hourly oropharyngeal suctioning on ventilator-associated events in patients requiring mechanical ventilation in intensive care units of a tertiary care center in South India: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a necessary life-saving measure for critically ill patients. Ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are potentially avoidable complications associated with MV that can double the rate of death. Oral care and oropharyngeal suctioning, although neglected procedures, play a vital role in the prevention of VAE.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the intensive care units to compare the effect of fourth hourly oropharyngeal suctioning with the standard oral care protocol on VAE among patients on MV. One hundred twenty mechanically ventilated patients who were freshly intubated and expected to be on ventilator support for the next 72 hours were randomly allocated to the control or intervention groups. The intervention was fourth hourly oropharyngeal suctioning along with the standard oral care procedure. The control group received standard oral care (i.e., thrice a day) and on-demand oral suctioning. On the 3rd and 7th days following the intervention, endotracheal aspirates were sent to rule out ventilator-associated pneumonia.

RESULTS

Both groups were homogenous at baseline with respect to their clinical characteristics. The intervention group had fewer VAEs (56.7%) than the control group (78.3%) which was significant at P<0.01. A significant reduction in the status of "positive culture" on ET aspirate also been observed following the 3rd day of the intervention (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

One of the most basic preventive strategies is providing oral care. Oropharyngeal suctioning is also an important component of oral care that prevents microaspiration. Hence, fourth-hourly oropharyngeal suctioning with standard oral care significantly reduces the incidence of VAE.

Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients with and Without Venous Thromboembolism: a Case Control Study

Recent studies report an association between thyroid dysfunction and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Considering the high prevalence of thyroid diseases in India, identification of thyroid dysfunction as a risk factor for VTE will have implications in management. The aim of study was to determine if thyroid dysfunction could be considered as risk factor for unprovoked VTE. The study was conducted on 102 patients with unprovoked VTE and 102 age and gender matched controls in a tertiary care centre. Clinical profile and thyroid function tests (Free T3, Free T4, TSH) including antibody profile (Anti TPO and Anti TG) were compared between two groups. Thyroid disease was identified in 34 cases and 14 controls (33.1% vs. 13.7%, P = 0.001) Out of 34 cases with thyroid dysfunction, 17 had subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) while 6 out of 14 controls had SCH. Both thyroid dysfunction and SCH were found to be associated with unprovoked VTE, as compared with controls; [Odds ratio (OR) = 3.14, 95% CI 1.56-6.33, P = 0.001] and (OR = 3.71; 95% CI 1.4-9.9; P = 0.01) respectively. Thyroid dysfunction was significantly higher among patients with unprovoked VTE. Thyroid dysfunction, SCH were associated with unprovoked VTE.

Evaluating the Frequency and Characteristics of Unexpected Ovarian Malignancy in Postmenopausal Women Who Have Undergone Laparoscopic Surgery for Adnexal Masses - A Review of Five Years

Aim The aim of this study was to estimate the frequent existence of unexpected ovarian malignant lesions after laparoscopic surgery for an apparent benign adnexal mass and assess its clinical and ultrasound characteristics in postmenopausal women. Methods We re-examined the hospital records of 96 cases of postmenopausal women who underwent laparoscopic surgery for benign adnexal mass over five years. The age of the patient, parity, ultrasound findings, tumor markers level, intraoperative findings, and histopathological report were collected. Pearson's Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis, and a p-value of <0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results Of a total of 96, benign adnexal mass was in 93 (96.83%), an unexpected ovarian malignancy was observed in two (2.08%) cases, and one (1.04%) had a borderline ovarian tumor. Tumor marker CA-125 was done for all those cases of adnexal mass in postmenopausal women, and not a single case was found to have above 35 IU/ml, defined as the cut-off value for CA-125. Statistically significant differences were observed between the benign and malignant groups in relation to symptoms (p<0.05), ultrasound score (p=0.001), and bilaterality (p=0.013) of the tumor mass. Conclusion In postmenopausal women, the critical concern for laparoscopic surgery of benign adnexal mass is unexpected malignancy. So it is essential to select patients carefully for laparoscopic surgery. If a benign-looking adnexal mass turned out to be malignant on the histopathological report, we should try to post the patient for subsequent staging laparotomy as soon as possible.

Identification of inhibitors for Agr quorum sensing system of Staphylococcus aureus by machine learning, pharmacophore modeling, and molecular dynamics approaches

CONTEXT

Staphylococcus aureus is a highly pathogenic organism that is the most common cause of postoperative complications as well as severe infections like bacteremia and infective endocarditis. By mediating the formation of biofilms and the expression of virulent genes, the quorum sensing (QS) mechanism is a major contributor to the development of these diseases. By hindering its QS network, an innovative approach to avoiding this bacterial infection is taken. Targeting the AgrA of the Agr system serves as beneficial in holding the top position in the QS system cascade.

METHODS

Using known AgrA inhibitors, the machine learning algorithms (artificial neural network, naïve Bayes, random forest, and support vector machine) and pharmacophore model were developed. The potential lead compounds were screened against the Zinc and COCONUT databases using the best pharmacophore hypothesis. The hits were then subjected second screening process using the best machine learning model. The predicted active compounds were then reranked based on the docking score. The stability of AgrA-lead compounds was studied using molecular dynamics approaches, and an ADME profile was also carried out. Five lead compounds, namely, CNP02386963,4,5-trihydroxy-2-[({7,13,14-trihydroxy-3,10-dioxo-2,9-dioxatetracyclo[6.6.2.04,16.011,15]hexadeca-1(14),4,6,8(16),11(15),12-hexaen-6-yl}oxy)methyl]benzoic acid, CNP0129274 4-(dimethylamino)-1,5,6,10,12,12a-hexahydroxy-6-methyl-3,11-dioxo-3,4,4a,5,5a,6,11,12a-octahydrotetracene-2-carboxamide, CNP0242717 3-Hydroxyasebotin, CNP0361624 3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[(2,4,5,6,7-pentahydroxy-1-oxooctan-3-yl)oxy]oxane-2-carboxylic acid, and CNP0285058 2-{[4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-[(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxy]oxan-2-yl]oxy}-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetonitrile were obtained using the two-step virtual screening process. The molecular dynamics study revealed that the CNP0238696 was found to be stable in the binding pocket of AgrA. ADME profiles show that this compound has two Lipinski violations and low bioavailability. Further studies should be performed to assess the anti-biofilm activity of the lead compound in vitro.

Quality of life assessment in women with spontaneous premature insufficiency: A comparative cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Premature ovarian insufficiency is cessation of ovarian function prior to 40 years of age. It is known to have varied short and long-term implications on the health of the women. The quality of life is affected in various domanins. The objective of this study is to evaluate QOL of women with POI and the factors associated with it, using WHO QOL-BREF scale.

METHODS

This is a cross sectional comparative study. Women with premature ovarian insufficiency with normal karyotype were included before initiation of hormone replacement therapy as cases and age matched women without any menstrual irregularity, infertility or any chronic illness were included as controls. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. The pre-validated Tamil version of the WHOQOL-BREF (26 items, 4 domains) was filled through face-to-face interview. The score of each domain was transformed into 0-100 as per the guideline provided by WHOQOL-BREF. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 19.

RESULTS

A total of 100 (50 women with POI and 50 control women) completed the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The mean age of the women who participated in the study was 29.6 ± 6.5 years. Among the cases, 72% were nulliparous. There was statistically significant difference in the median scores of overall QOL, physical, psychological and social domains between the two groups. Univariate analysis showed that nulliparity and infertility were the factors responsible for poor QOL, however, these were not independently associated with poor QOL after applying bivariate linear regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

The scores of overall QOL, physical, psychological and social domains were poorer in women with POI as compared to healthy controls.

Combined machine learning and pharmacophore based virtual screening approaches to screen for antibiofilm inhibitors targeting LasR of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a virulent pathogen affects patients with cystic fibrosis and nosocomial infections. Quorum sensing (QS) mechanism plays a crucial role in causing these ailments by mediating biofilm formation and expressing virulent genes. A novel approach to circumvent this bacterial infection is by hindering its QS network. Targeting LasR of las system serves beneficial as it holds the top position in QS system cascade. Here, we have integrated machine learning, pharmacophore based virtual screening, molecular docking and simulation studies to look for new leads as inhibitors for LasR. Support vector machine (SVM) learning algorithm was used to generate QSAR models from 66 antagonist dataset. The top three models resulted in correlation coefficient (R²) values of 0.67, 0.86, and 0.91, respectively. The correlation coefficient (R²_test) values on external test set were found to be 0.62, 0.57, and 0.55, respectively. A four-point pharmacophore model was developed. The pharmacophore hypothesis AAAD_1 was used to screen for potential leads against MolPort database in ZincPharmer. The leads which showed predicted pIC50 value of >8.00 by SVM models were subjected to docking analysis that reranked the compounds based on docking scores. Four top leads namely ZINC3851967 N-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-5-tert-butyl-6-chloropyrazine-2-carboxamide, ZINC4024175 4-Amino-1-[(2R,3S,4S,5S)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]-2-oxopyrimidine-5-carbonitrile, ZINC2125703 N-[(5-Methoxy-4,7-dimethyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)acetyl]-beta-alanine, and ZINC3851966 N-[3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]5-tert-butylpyrazine-2-carboxamide were selected. These compounds were checked for its stability by performing a molecular dynamics simulation for a period of 100 ns. The ADME properties of the leads were also determined. Hence, the compounds identified in this study can be used as possible leads for developing a novel inhibitor for LasR.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Endometrial carcinoma in asymptomatic post-menopausal women with a thickened endometrium and its influencing factors - A cross-sectional study

Background:

A thickened endometrium upon trans-vaginal ultrasound in asymptomatic post-menopausal women always poses a clinical dilemma.

Objectives:

To investigate the frequency of endometrial malignancies by histopathological examination and identify the associated factors influencing the thickened endometrium in asymptomatic post-menopausal women.

Methods:

In trans-vaginal ultrasonography, we enrolled 72 asymptomatic post-menopausal women with a thickened endometrium (>5 mm). Dilatation and curettage were performed for all cases, and the specimen was sent for histopathological examination. According to the data distribution, all the continuous variables were stated as mean ± standard deviation/median (inter-quartile range), categorical variables were expressed in frequency, and percentage will be compared using the Chi-square test/Fisher exact test.

Results:

In our study, most of the women were multipara. The age of post-menopausal women ranged from 46 to 68 years, and the mean duration of menopause was 8.10. The most common histological findings were benign in 72.22% of the cases. We identified pre-malignant and malignant lesions of the endometrium in 18.05% and 9.72% of the cases, respectively. To predict the condition of the lesion, we noticed no definite cut-off value of endometrial thickness to indicate the state of the lesion. We observed that none of the patient’s characteristics showed a significant difference with a thickened endometrium.

Conclusion:

We observed an increased frequency of endometrial pathology irrespective of the presence or absence of risk factors. The result of this study is justified enough for the need of further evaluation of a thickened endometrium in asymptomatic post-menopausal women.

Effect of Blood Pressure Reduction on Intraocular Pressure and Ophthalmic Artery Blood Flow Velocity in Hypertension

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of reducing blood pressure (BP) by atenolol and amlodipine on (1) intraocular pressure (IOP) and (2) ophthalmic artery blood flow (OAF) velocity in new hypertensives. Methods: A prospective, observational cohort study conducted at a tertiary care center in India after IRB approval. New hypertensives treated with atenolol 25 mg or amlodipine 5 mg were divided into 2 groups of 30 patients each. BP, IOP by Goldmann applanation tonometry and OAF velocity by transcranial doppler sonography was performed before medication and post medication on day 1, 7, and 30. Results: There was a significant decrease in IOP with both drugs; the effect was greater with atenolol. Atenolol: premedication IOP - 16.06 ± 2.13 mmHg and day 30-12.46 ± 1.94 (22.4%) [P < 0.001], amlodipine: premedication IOP-15.13 ± 2.55 mmHg and day 30- 13.06 ± 2.14 (13.68%) [P < 0.001]. A decrease of 0.5 mmHg in IOP with every 10 mmHg (95% CI: 0.121-0.826, P value = 0.01) decrease in systolic BP was noted after oral atenolol. The OAF peak systolic velocity and mean flow velocity were equally reduced with both drugs (P < 0.001). The end-diastolic velocity, reduced only with atenolol (P = 0.049) but returned to baseline with amlodipine at 1 month. Conclusions: BP reduction by atenolol and amlodipine led to decreases in IOP and OAF velocity, greater with atenolol. The IOP decrease was likely due to reduced blood flow. A slight decrease in the diastolic flow of the ophthalmic artery was noted with atenolol.

High-Throughput Virtual Screening for a New Class of Antagonist Targeting LasR of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic human pathogen, causes fatal effects in patients with cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised individuals and leads to around 1000 deaths annually. The quorum sensing mechanism of P. aeruginosa plays a major role in promoting biofilm formation and expression of virulent genes. Hence, quorum sensing inhibition is a promising novel approach to treat these bacterial infections as these organisms show a wide range of antibiotic resistance. Among the interconnected quorum sensing network of P. aeruginosa, targeting the las system is of increased interest as its principal receptor protein LasR is the earliest activated gene. It is also shown to be involved in the regulation of other virulence-associated genes. In this study, we have applied high-throughput virtual screening, an in silico computational method to identify a new class of LasR inhibitors that could serve as potent antagonists to treat P. aeruginosa-associated infections. Three-tire structure-based virtual screening was performed on the Schrödinger small molecule database, which resulted in 12 top hit compounds with docking scores lesser than -11.0 kcal/mol. Three of these best-scored compounds CACPD2011a-0001928786 (C1), CACPD2011a-0001927437 (C2), and CACPD2011a-0000896051 (C3) were further analyzed. The binding free energies of these compounds in complex with the target protein LasR (3IX4) were evaluated, and the pharmacokinetic properties were determined. The stability of the docked complexes was assessed by running a molecular dynamics simulation for 100 ns. Molecular dynamics simulation analysis revealed that all three compounds were found to be in stable contact with the protein over the entire simulation period. The antagonistic effect of these compounds was validated using the LasR reporter gene assay in the presence of acyl homoserine lactone. Significant reduction in the β-galactosidase enzyme activity was achieved at 100 nM concentration for all three compounds pursued. Hence, the present study provides strong evidence that these three compounds could serve as quorum sensing inhibitors of P. aeruginosa LasR protein and can be a probable candidate to treat Pseudomonas-associated infections.

Comparison of Fingertip vs Palm Site Sampling on Pain Perception, and Variation in Capillary Blood Glucose Level among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Glycaemic status of the patient is often monitored using capillary blood glucose test which is fairly accurate. Traditional finger stick sampling is done to obtain sample, which can be painful and may be a barrier for repeated testing. The current study was conducted to compare fingertip and palm site sampling on pain perception, and variation in capillary blood glucose level. Methods: This study was conducted among 284 diabetic patients, who were selected by convenience sampling method. The data was collected by measuring capillary blood glucose levels from fingertip and palm site of the left hand at an interval of 10 minutes using a standard glucometer. The level of pain perceptions was measured with a numerical rating pain scale. Data analysis was accomplished using descriptive analysis, Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal- Wallis test. Results: The level of pain perception at the palm site (2) was lesser than fingertip (3) which was significant at P < 0.001. 223 (78.52%) of the participants experienced more pain at fingertip than palm site, the difference in the measured capillary blood glucose level between fingertip [mean (SD): 226.65 (87.86)] and palm site [mean (SD): 225.65(92.13)] was minimum. The agreement of palm site was 90.7% in single measurement and 95.1% in average measurement. Conclusion: The present study concludes that, majority of the participants experienced less pain perception at the palm site sampling (alternate site sampling) than fingertip sampling with very minimal variation in the blood glucose level.

Metal doped calcium silicate biomaterial for skin tissue regeneration in vitro

This study spots light on combined Wound healing process conjoining blood coagulation, inflammation reduction, proliferation and remodeling of the cells. The objective is to overcome the drawbacks of conventional clinically applied wound dressings such as poor rigidity, porosity, mechanical potency and bactericidal activity. As nosocomial infection is a very common condition at the wound site, bio-adhesive materials with intrinsic antibacterial properties are used in clinical applications. Considering the provenability of Wollastonite [Calcium silicate (CaSiO3)] to regenerate the soft tissues by inducing vascularization and regeneration of fibroblast cells And the antibacterial potentiality of zinc in clinical applications, the present study focuses on synthesis of Zn-Ws particles and evaluation of its antimicrobial and wound healing potentialities towards skin tissue engineering applications. The compositional characterization by EDAS and FT-IR spectral analysis have substantiated the presence of major elements and corresponding band stretching associated with the synthesized particles whereas the particles morphology by SEM images have shown the size of the Ws and Zn-Ws to be 370 nm and 530 nm respectively. From the in vitro studies, skin regenerative potential of Zn-Ws was determined on promoting fibroblast cell (NIH3T3) proliferation by providing better adhesiveness, biocompatibility and cytocompatibility. The antibacterial property of Zn-Ws evaluation by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and zone of inhibition (ZOI) methods against clinical isolates of Gram +Ve and Gram -Ve bacterial strains have confirmed that the addition of Zn has diminished the bacterial growth and also helped in degrading the bacterial biofilms. Thus it is summed up that the process of wound healing is expected to occur with reduced risk of post-injury infections by the presence of zinc-doping on wollastonite for skin tissue application.

Effect of dietary synbiotic supplementation on performance parameters in turkey poults administered a mixed Eimeria species inoculation I

This study examined the effects a synbiotic feed additive (PoultryStar meUS) on performance and intestinal health parameters in turkey poults administered a mixed Eimeria inoculation. The synbiotic feed additive consisted of Lactobacillus reuteri, Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium animalis, Pediococcus acidilactici and a fructo-oligosaccharide prebiotic. Dietary treatments began on day of hatch, and poults were placed on a normal starter, starter containing Clinacox, or starter containing PoultryStar until the conclusion of the experiment on day 42. In addition, on day of hatch, all poults, with exception of the negative control, were orally inoculated with Salmonella enterica Enteritidis. On day 16, poults in inoculated treatment groups received an oral dose of Eimeria adenoides and Eimeria meleagrimitis oocysts resulting in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. BW were measured at weekly intervals after challenge, and fecal samples were collected from all pens during day 21 to day 33 to monitor fecal shedding and calculate oocyst per gram of feces. Five day after Eimeria inoculation, inoculated PoultryStar-fed (I-PS) and inoculated Clinacox-fed (I-CL) poults, on average, weighed and gained significantly more weight (P < 0.05) than inoculated controls (I-CON) and were similar to uninoculated treatments. Between day 21 and day 28, I-PS and I-CL poults showed a 23% improvement (P < 0.001) in percent change in BW gained relative to I-CON, and overall weight gain as a percentage was similar to the uninoculated control. Overall incidence of macroscopic intestinal lesions on day 21 and day 28 was low, but I-PS and I-CL poults were generally less positive than I-CON, and no oocysts were detected in the feces of any group except I-CON which cycled as expected. From this study, it can be concluded that incorporating PoultryStar into the diet of poults reared to 6 wk ameliorates and prevents aspects of performance loss and negative impacts on gut health seen with mixed Eimeria inoculation.

Postpartum urinary retention in women undergoing instrumental delivery: A cross-sectional analytical study

INTRODUCTION

Women undergoing instrumental delivery are known to be at higher risk of urinary retention, which can lead to long-term complications such as voiding dysfunction. Nulliparous women undergo a pronounced and sudden change in the perineum due to stretching during delivery, which may add to the perineal trauma from an episiotomy, increasing the risk of urinary retention. We aim to study the incidence and risk factors associated with postpartum urinary retention in women undergoing instrumental delivery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Pregnant women who had an instrumental delivery after 37 weeks of gestation at JIPMER, Puducherry, India, between January 2017 and June 2017 were included in the study. Postpartum urinary retention was defined as the inability to void spontaneously or ultrasonographic documentation of post-void residual volume of >150 mL, 6 hours after delivery. Demographic factors, clinical profile and follow-up of these patients were noted. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the risk factors associated with urinary retention and was presented as adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Postpartum urinary retention was noted in 124 (20.6%) women undergoing instrumental delivery. Overt and covert urinary retention occurred in 2.3% and 18.3%, respectively. After adjusting for other risk factors, nulliparity (adjusted OR = 4.05, 95% CI 2.02-8.12 compared with multiparity) and prolonged second stage (OR = 3.96, 95% CI 1.53-10.25) compared with suspected fetal compromise as an indication for instrumental delivery was associated with increased risk of postpartum urinary retention. Interaction was noted between parity and episiotomy on the occurrence of postpartum urinary retention (P = .010). Among nulliparous women, those with episiotomy (adjusted OR = 6.10, 95% CI 2.65-14.04) have higher odds of developing postpartum urinary retention compared with those without episiotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately one of five (20.6%) women undergoing instrumental delivery developed postpartum urinary retention. Among women undergoing instrumental delivery, episiotomy increased the chances of developing postpartum retention in nulliparous but not multiparous women. Prolonged second stage as an indication for instrumental delivery also increased the chances of retention. Future studies are needed to define the cutoff for diagnosis and to evaluate the long-term effects of covert postpartum urinary retention, as well to study the effect of episiotomy on development of postpartum urinary retention in women undergoing instrumental delivery.

Comparative proteomic analysis uncovers potential biomarkers involved in the anticancer effect of Scutellarein in human gastric cancer cells

Scutellarein (SCU), a flavone that belongs to the flavonoid family and abundantly present in Scutellaria baicalensis a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, has been reported to exhibit anticancer effects in several cancer cell lines including gastric cancer (GC). Although our previous study documented the mechanisms of Scutellarein‑induced cytotoxic effects, the literature shows that the proteomic changes that are associated with the cellular response to SCU have been poorly understood. To avoid adverse side‑effects and significant toxicity of chemotherapy in patients who react poorly, biomarkers anticipating therapeutic responses are imperative. In the present study, we utilized a comparative proteomic analysis to identify proteins associated with Scutellarein (SCU)‑induced cell death in GC cells (AGS and SNU484), by integrating two‑dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‑DE), mass spectrometry (MS), and bioinformatics to analyze the proteins. Proteomic analysis between SCU‑treated and DMSO (control) samples successfully identified 41 (AGS) and 31 (SNU484) proteins by MALDI‑TOF/MS analysis and protein database search. Comparative proteomics analysis between AGS and SNU484 cells treated with SCU revealed a total of 7 protein identities commonly expressed and western blot analysis validated a subset of identified critical proteins, which were consistent with those of the 2‑DE outcome. Molecular docking studies also confirmed the binding affinity of SCU towards these critical proteins. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5‑bisphosphate 3‑kinase catalytic subunit β isoform (PIK3CB) protein expression was accompanied by a distinct group of cellular functions, including cell growth, and proliferation. Cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A), is one of the oncogenic molecules that have been shown to promote tumor growth and resistance to apoptosis and senescence‑inducing therapies. In the present study, both PIK3CB and CIP2A proteins were downregulated in SCU‑treated cells, which boosts our previous results of SCU to induce apoptosis and inhibits GC cell growth by regulating these critical proteins. The comparative proteomic analysis has yielded candidate biomarkers of response to SCU treatment in GC cell models and further validation of these biomarkers will help the future clinical development of SCU as a novel therapeutic drug.

Bioconjugated gold nanoparticles as an efficient colorimetric sensor for cancer diagnostics

The chances of curing and reducing the adverse effect of cancer partly lie in early detection. Colorimetric sensor-based technique show promising results since the target is detected with high sensitivity but without the use of advanced/costly techniques through a simple visual color change. In most cases, gold nanoparticles (Au Nps) functionalized with biomolecules complementary to target analyte are used for colorimetric detection. The interaction of functionalized Au Nps with target analytes induce aggregation or dispersion where the color of the solution changes from red to blue or blue to red respectively, which can be visualized by the naked eyes. Such a facile technique has a high commercial viability and therefore, understanding its concept is essential. Here, some of the reported studies are discussed technically for better understanding about the invitro colorimetric detection of cancer.

Evaluation of anti-urolithiatic potential of ethyl acetate extract of Pedalium murex L. on struvite crystal (kidney stone)

Pedalium murex (L.) is a traditional herb, commonly used for the treatment of kidney stone related problems. Struvite stone can swiftly grow and become 'staghorn calculi' in kidney and its associated areas, which is the most aching urological disorder. The present study investigated the anti-urolithiasis activities of ethyl acetate extract of P. murex L. (EAEP) against struvite crystal. The antibacterial activity of EAEP examined against several urease producing bacteria. It showed the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (>125). On the other hand, total mass, volume, number, growth rate and dissolution rate of synthesised struvite crystals were observed at different concentrations 0.5%, 0.75%, 1% of EAEP and without EAEP. In which, EAEP addition showed appreciably reduced struvite crystal. Alternatively, MgO (300 mg of EAEP/kg/body weight) induced urolithiasis of Wistar albino rat at the rate of 1 ml for 28 days. Various biochemical parameters in serum, urine and histological analysis of kidney were taken for evaluation. Significant results (p < 0.05) were observed in 1% EAEP (300 mg) treated group than cystone treated group. From the histological study, reduced renal damage and glomerular development were observed. Our experiment, P. murex L. enhances the reducing activity on struvite crystal and prevents the crystal formation both in-vitro and in-vivo. It can be suggesting that P. murex L. and its phyto-components could be used as remedy for the management of kidney stone by dissolving the struvite stone in kidney.

Current trends in etiology, prognosis and therapeutic aspects of Parkinson's disease: a review

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a movement disorder, mainly affecting population consisting of the aged. PD occurs chiefly due to progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in nigrostriatal pathway. Largely, PD patients suffer from non-motor symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disorders, that needs further investigation and addressing during PD research. Depression in PD is a predominant and complex symptom, and its pathology exists extrinsic to the nigrostriatal system. This disease can  ultimately be managed by a combination of regular physiotherapy and proper medication. Taking together the present scenario of PD, including the nature of disease, characteristics, treatment, diagnosis of the patients with PD, these outcomes were reviewed to be explored along with many speech-based solutions to PD in this study. This neurodegenerative disorder needs advancement in  research and development which  can help patients with PD to lead a normal life.

Phytochemical residue profiles in rice grains fumigated with essential oils for the control of rice weevil

In the present study, we investigated the fumigant potential of five edible essential oils (EOs) against Sitophilus oryzae and their phytochemical residues in treated grains. Among the tested EOs, peppermint oil proved significantly effective (P ≤ 0.05) on S.oryzae at 400 μl/L air concentration, inducing 83 and 100% mortalities in with-food and without-food conditions respectively over 72 h exposure. In addition, it was also observed that the binary mixtures of peppermint + lemon oil (1:1 ratio) produced an equivalent effect to that of peppermint oil alone treatments. The phytochemical residue analysis by GC-MS revealed the presence of six compounds upon 72 h exposure to EOs. Further, the analysis of physico-chemical properties of the compounds indicated a positive correlation between polar surface area (PSA) and its residual nature. The residue levels of eugenol were significantly elevated corresponding to its high PSA value (29) in clove and cinnamon oils. On the other hand, the compounds with zero PSA value imparted very less or no (D-Limonene, caryophyllene, pinene and terpinolene) residues in treated grains. With respect to the most active peppermint oil, L-menthone, menthyl acetate and eucalyptol residues were at 67, 41 and 23% levels respectively. The outcome of the present study indicate the peppermint oil as a potent fumigant against S. oryzae, and although the residues of phytochemicals in treated grains is higher; they belong to the generally recognised as safe (GRAS) status leaving no harmful effect.

A systems biology and proteomics-based approach identifies SRC and VEGFA as biomarkers in risk factor mediated coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death worldwide. The burden of CHD increases with risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Several studies have demonstrated the association of these classical risk factors with CHD. However, the mechanisms of these associations remain largely unclear due to the complexity of disease pathophysiology and the lack of an integrative approach that fails to provide a definite understanding of molecular linkage. To overcome these problems, we propose a novel systems biology approach that relates causative genes, interactomes and pathways to elucidate the risk factors mediating the molecular mechanisms and biomarkers for feasible diagnosis. The literature was mined to retrieve the causative genes of each risk factor and CHD to construct protein interactomes. The interactomes were examined to identify 298 common molecular signatures. The common signatures were mapped to the tissue network to synthesize a sub-network consisting of 82 proteins. Further, the dissection of the sub-network provides functional modules representing a diverse range of molecular functions, including the AKT/p13k, MAPK and wnt pathways. Also, the prioritization of functional modules identifies SRC, VEGFA and HIF1A as potential candidate markers. Further, we validate these candidates with the existing markers CRP, NOS3 and VCAM1 in the serum of 63 individuals, 33 with CHD and 30 controls, using ELISA. SRC, VEGFA, H1F1A, CRP and NOS3 were significantly altered in patients compared to controls. These results support the utility of these candidate markers for the diagnosis of CHD. Overall, our molecular observations indicate the influence of risk factors in the pathophysiology of CHD and identify serum markers for diagnosis.

Simulation of a Diesel Engine with Variable Geometry Turbocharger and Parametric Study of Variable Vane Position on Engine Performance

Modelling of a turbocharger is of interest to the engine designer as the work developed by the turbine can be used to drive a compressor coupled to it. This positively influences charge air density and engine power to weight ratio. Variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) additionally has a controllable nozzle ring which is normally electro-pneumatically actuated. This additional degree of freedom offers efficient matching of the effective turbine area for a wide range of engine mass flow rates. Closing of the nozzle ring (vanes tangential to rotor) result in more turbine work and deliver higher boost pressure but it also increases the back pressure on the engine induced by reduced turbine effective area. This adversely affects the net engine torque as the pumping work required increases. Hence, the optimum vane position for a given engine operating point is to be found through simulations or experimentation. A thermodynamic simulation model of a 2.2l 4 cylinder diesel engine was developed for investigation of different control strategies. Model features map based performance prediction of the VGT. Performance of the engine was simulated for steady state operation and validated with experimentation. The results of the parametric study of VGT’s vane position on the engine performance are discussed.

Geometric Scaling of Plates Subjected to Mine Blast

<p>In the design of AFVs, study of structures subjected to land mine blast is important. Generally, blast related experimental studies are very time consuming and costly. A simple first cut alternative is finite element modelling and analysis. Here, modelling of mine and simulating the blast effect involves large number of mesh elements, which makes the model computationally intensive and time consuming. Hence, instead of using full scale model for analysis, a suitable scaled down model would reduce analysis time and leads to a faster DOE studies. A proper scaling mechanism is to be evolved in order to get accurate results. Discusses about the scaling of plate subjected to mine blast using dimensional analysis approach. The out-of-plane surface deformation, including velocity fields during the blast loading are compared between the scaled and unscaled plate.</p>

Development and Demonstration of Control Strategies for a Common Rail Direct Injection Armoured Fighting Vehicle Engine

<p class="Abstract">The development of a controller which can be used for engines used in armoured fighting vehicles is discussed. This involved choosing a state of the art reference common rail automotive Diesel engine and setting-up of a transient engine testing facility. The dynamometer through special real-time software was controlled to vary the engine speed and throttle position. The reference engine was first tested with its stock ECU and its bounds of operation were identified. Several software modules were developed in-house in stages and evaluated on special test benches before being integrated and tested on the reference engine. Complete engine control software was thus developed in Simulink and flashed on to an open engine controller which was then interfaced with the engine. The developed control software includes strategies for closed loop control of fuel rail pressure, boost pressure, idle speed, coolant temperature based engine de-rating, control of fuel injection timing, duration and number of injections per cycle based on engine speed and driver input. The developed control algorithms also facilitated online calibration of engine maps and manual over-ride and control of engine parameters whenever required. The software was further tuned under transient conditions on the actual engine for close control of various parameters including rail pressure, idling speed and boost pressure. Finally, the developed control strategies were successfully demonstrated and validated on the reference engine being loaded on customised transient cycles on the transient engine testing facility with inputs based on military driving conditions. The developed controller can be scaled up for armoured fighting vehicle engines.</p>

Current trends in etiology, prognosis and therapeutic aspects of Parkinson's disease: a review

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a movement disorder, mainly affecting population consisting of the aged. PD occurs chiefly due to progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in nigrostriatal pathway. Largely, PD patients suffer from non-motor symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disorders, that needs further investigation and addressing during PD research. Depression in PD is a predominant and complex symptom, and its pathology exists extrinsic to the nigrostriatal system. This disease can  ultimately be managed by a combination of regular physiotherapy and proper medication. Taking together the present scenario of PD, including the nature of disease, characteristics, treatment, diagnosis of the patients with PD, these outcomes were reviewed to be explored along with many speech-based solutions to PD in this study. This neurodegenerative disorder needs advancement in  research and development which  can help patients with PD to lead a normal life.

Optimization of SSF parameters for natural red pigment production from Penicillium purpurogenum using cassava waste by central composite design

Pencillium purpurogenum 8904.12, a red pigment producer, was isolated from soil screened and selected based on the pigment production. The pigment production by P.purpurogenum was optimizedby using factorial design and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in SSF. Cassava waste is a low cost and nutrient rich substrate used in this study as a substrate. RSM based central composite design was employed to obtain best combination of substrate concentration, inoculum volume, incubation time, initial moisture and initial pH. By the point prediction tool of Design-Expert 8.0, the optimum values of the factors for maximum red pigment production were determined. Under the optimized conditions (substrate concentration 10 g, inoculum volume 5 ml, 15 days incubation time, 50 % initial moisture and initial pH of 6), the red pigment yield was 28.33 colour value units / g of dry fermented substrate which agreed closely with the predicted yield. The model showed that the value of R2 (0.9936) was high and pvalue of interaction of variance was <0.0001. Hence the model can be said to be of highly significant. A significant Increase in red pigment production was achieved using RSM. Thus, utilization of cassava waste for red pigment production in this study could provide the most effective use of cassava resource, and lead to technology of development for its further utilization and value addition.

CardioGenBase: A Literature Based Multi-Omics Database for Major Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Both, genetic and epigenetic factors are involved in the enumeration of various cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, a vast amount of multi-omics data are accumulated in the field of cardiovascular research, yet the understanding of key mechanistic aspects of CVDs remain uncovered. Hence, a comprehensive online resource tool is required to comprehend previous research findings and to draw novel methodology for understanding disease pathophysiology. Here, we have developed a literature-based database, CardioGenBase, collecting gene-disease association from Pubmed and MEDLINE. The database covers major cardiovascular diseases such as cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertensive heart disease, inflammatory heart disease, ischemic heart disease and rheumatic heart disease. It contains ~1,500 cardiovascular disease genes from ~2,4000 research articles. For each gene, literature evidence, ontology, pathways, single nucleotide polymorphism, protein-protein interaction network, normal gene expression, protein expressions in various body fluids and tissues are provided. In addition, tools like gene-disease association finder and gene expression finder are made available for the users with figures, tables, maps and venn diagram to fit their needs. To our knowledge, CardioGenBase is the only database to provide gene-disease association for above mentioned major cardiovascular diseases in a single portal. CardioGenBase is a vital online resource to support genome-wide analysis, genetic, epigenetic and pharmacological studies.

In vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of carotenoid pigment extracted from Sporobolomyces sp. isolated from natural source

The aim of the present study was to isolate and study about the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of carotenoid pigment. Sporobolomyces sp. isolated from the phyllosphere surface of rice plant has found to produce carotenoid pigment. The present investigation was carried out for antioxidant assays viz., DPPH, iron reducing and metal chelating activity. A steady increase in the antioxidant activities was observed in the carotenoid pigment with raising the pigment concentration. In the present study, the maximum antioxidation characteristics of carotenoid by DPPH, iron reducing and metal chelating assays (75.04 %, 1.88 % and 59.32 %) were achieved by pigmentation of Sporobolomyces sp. at the concentration of 100 μg ml-1. The antibacterial activity was studied on several organisms like Enterococcus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Among the six pathogens, the pigment was found to be more effective against E. coli (2.9 cm) and S. aureus (2.6 cm). This study revealed that yeast carotenoid pigment was a potential source for its use in food and pharmaceutical applications.

Studies on Polyaniline/Silver Molybdate Nanocomposites

Silver molybdate nanoparticles were successfully prepared by the hydrothermal process. Polyaniline–silver molybdate nanocomposites were prepared by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization technique. Silver molybdate nanoparticles and the polymer samples were characterized by conductivity studies, Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), UV-visible spectra, photoluminescence spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The electrical conductivity of PANI- Cl - increases when doped with silver molybdate nanoparticles and follows the percolation threshold.

Community-based physical activity intervention using principles of social marketing: a demonstration project in Southern India

BACKGROUND

We aimed to study the development and implementation of promotion of physical activity in a rural community by applying the principles of social marketing and to determine participation behaviour in a physical activity programme in a community setting.

METHODS

The intervention targeted 485 people, 20-49 years of age, residents of Periakattupalayam and Rangareddipalayam villages, Tamil Nadu. This community-based participatory research was based on the principles of 'social marketing'. Health education by one-to-one counselling, written materials and community events were used to popularize moderate intensity physical activity (brisk walking for 30 minutes on 4 days/week). We formed 30 walking groups under four coordinators, in a home-based setting with professional supervision and guidance. A log of physical activity sessions for the 10-week intervention period was maintained in the form of group attendance record. Village leaders, self-help groups and youth clubs were involved in promoting physical activity.

RESULTS

Of the 485 subjects, 265 people (54.6%) engaged in brisk walking >4 days a week, while 156 subjects (32.2%) performed walking on 1-4 days per week during the intervention. The drop-out rate was 13.2% (64 subjects). Age, occupation and educational status were important determinants of participation and adherence to the physical activity programme.

CONCLUSION

Application of social marketing techniques in an intervention to promote physical activity was successful in a rural Indian community. Studying the determinants of adoption of a physical activity programme and addressing the barriers to behaviour change are essential for designing relevant policies and effective programmes.

A maxillary lateral incisor with four root canals

AIM

To describe the successful non-surgical endodontic management of a permanent maxillary lateral incisor tooth with four root canals.

SUMMARY

Aberrant morphology of root canals can occur in any tooth, including maxillary lateral incisors. In the presented case, clinical examination and radiographs clearly depicted the presence of four root canals in a right maxillary lateral incisor. The differential diagnosis included fusion, gemination, dens invaginatus or a combination of these. The report emphasises the need for attention during root canal treatment of maxillary lateral incisors.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

• Clinicians should be aware of the variable root canal anatomy in maxillary lateral incisor teeth. • Careful examination of radiographs and the internal anatomy of teeth are essential prerequisites for successful root canal treatment. • Four root canals in maxillary lateral incisors is a possibility.

Immune Augmentation of Single Contact Hepatitis B Vaccine by Using PLGA Microspheres as an Adjuvant

The present study was aimed to replace the alum type adjuvant for hepatitis B vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine was encapsulated in poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres by solvent evaporation technique. The formulated microspheres were characterized in terms of morphology, particle size analysis, in vitro release study and in vivo immune response in male Wistar rats. The FT IR spectrum illustrates the characteristics bands of poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres and hepatitis B vaccine at 1750 cm(-1) and 1650 cm(-1), respectively. The hepatitis B vaccine loaded poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres were able to release antigens till day 42. Significant enhancement of specific antibodies to HBsAg was produced till day 90 after a single administration of HBsAg encapsulated poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres. However, the conventional alum adsorbed hepatitis B vaccine was not found to produce any significant specific antibody levels till day 90 after a single dose. The results showed that poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres show potential as an adjuvant for hepatitis B vaccine.

catena-Poly[[(18-crown-6-κ6O)potassium]-μ-chlorido-[(1H-benzotriazol-1-ol-κN3)chloridoplatinum(II)]-μ-(benzotriazol-1-olato-κ2N3:O)]

In the structure of the title compound, [KPt(C₆H₄N₃O)Cl₂(C₆H₅N₃O)(C₁₂H₂₄O₆)], the Pt^II atom is in a distorted square-planar geometry. The crystal structure is consolidated by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The measured crystal was a non-merohedral twin with four components.

Tetra-μ-chlorido-bis-(18-crown-6)platinum(II)dipotassium(I)

In the title compound, [K(2)PtCl(4)(C(12)H(24)O(6))(2)], the Pt(II) ion is located on an inversion centre and is coordinated by four Cl atoms, forming a square-planar geometry. The K(I) ion is coordinated by six O atoms of the crown ether and two bridging Cl atoms. The K(I) ion is displaced by 0.756 (2) Å from the mean plane of the six O atoms of the crown ether. The mol-ecules are connected by weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming an infinite two-dimensional network parallel to the (10) plane. Intra- and inter-molecular C-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds are also observed.

catena-Poly[[aqua-sodium(I)]-μ-[2,2'-(disulfanedi-yl)bis-(pyridine N-oxide)]-μ-(pyridine-2-thiol-ato 1-oxide)]

There are two monomeric units in the asymmetric unit of the polymeric title compound, [Na(C(5)H(4)NOS)(C(10)H(8)N(2)O(2)S(2))(H(2)O)](n). The Na(I) ions are six coordinated by four O atoms, one S atom and one water mol-ecule, forming a slightly distorted octa-hedral geometry. An intra-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bond stabilizes the conformation of the mol-ecule. The crystal packing is consolidated by inter-molecular O-H⋯O, O-H⋯N and O-H⋯S hydrogen bonds, π-π inter-actions [with centroid-centroid distances of 3.587 (2) Å] together with weak C-H⋯π inter-actions. The mol-ecules are linked into polymeric chains along the b-axis direction.

Evaluation of sub-microsecond recovery resonators for in vivo electron paramagnetic resonance imaging

Time-domain (TD) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) imaging at 300MHz for in vivo applications requires resonators with recovery times less than 1 micros after pulsed excitation to reliably capture the rapidly decaying free induction decay (FID). In this study, we tested the suitability of the Litz foil coil resonator (LCR), commonly used in MRI, for in vivo EPR/EPRI applications in the TD mode and compared with parallel coil resonator (PCR). In TD mode, the sensitivity of LCR was lower than that of the PCR. However, in continuous wave (CW) mode, the LCR showed better sensitivity. The RF homogeneity was similar in both the resonators. The axis of the RF magnetic field is transverse to the cylindrical axis of the LCR, making the resonator and the magnet co-axial. Therefore, the loading of animals, and placing of the anesthesia nose cone and temperature monitors was more convenient in the LCR compared to the PCR whose axis is perpendicular to the magnet axis.