Measurement of energy and directional distribution of neutron ambient dose equivalent for the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction

Double differential neutron fluence distributions were measured in the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction for proton beam energies 7, 9 and 12 MeV. Seven liquid scintillator based detectors were employed to measure neutron fluence distributions using the Time of Flight technique. Neutron ambient dose equivalents were determined from the measured fluence distribution using ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) recommended fluence to dose equivalent conversion coefficients. Neutron dose equivalents were also measured using a conventional BF3 detector based REM counter. Ambient dose equivalent measured by the REM counter is found to be in agreement with that determined from the neutron fluence spectra within their uncertainties. Angular distributions of the ambient dose equivalents were also determined from the measured fluence distributions at different angles.

Prospects of Novel and Repurposed Immunomodulatory Drugs against Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Associated with COVID-19 Disease

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is intricately linked with SARS-CoV-2-associated disease severity and mortality, especially in patients with co-morbidities. Lung tissue injury caused as a consequence of ARDS leads to fluid build-up in the alveolar sacs, which in turn affects oxygen supply from the capillaries. ARDS is a result of a hyperinflammatory, non-specific local immune response (cytokine storm), which is aggravated as the virus evades and meddles with protective anti-viral innate immune responses. Treatment and management of ARDS remain a major challenge, first, because the condition develops as the virus keeps replicating and, therefore, immunomodulatory drugs are required to be used with caution. Second, the hyperinflammatory responses observed during ARDS are quite heterogeneous and dependent on the stage of the disease and the clinical history of the patients. In this review, we present different anti-rheumatic drugs, natural compounds, monoclonal antibodies, and RNA therapeutics and discuss their application in the management of ARDS. We also discuss on the suitability of each of these drug classes at different stages of the disease. In the last section, we discuss the potential applications of advanced computational approaches in identifying reliable drug targets and in screening out credible lead compounds against ARDS.

Advances in computational frameworks in the fight against TB: The way forward

Around 1.6 million people lost their life to Tuberculosis in 2021 according to WHO estimates. Although an intensive treatment plan exists against the causal agent, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, evolution of multi-drug resistant strains of the pathogen puts a large number of global populations at risk. Vaccine which can induce long-term protection is still in the making with many candidates currently in different phases of clinical trials. The COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated the adversities by affecting early TB diagnosis and treatment. Yet, WHO remains adamant on its "End TB" strategy and aims to substantially reduce TB incidence and deaths by the year 2035. Such an ambitious goal would require a multi-sectoral approach which would greatly benefit from the latest computational advancements. To highlight the progress of these tools against TB, through this review, we summarize recent studies which have used advanced computational tools and algorithms for-early TB diagnosis, anti-mycobacterium drug discovery and in the designing of the next-generation of TB vaccines. At the end, we give an insight on other computational tools and Machine Learning approaches which have successfully been applied in biomedical research and discuss their prospects and applications against TB.

Robust anti-inflammatory activity of genistein against neutrophil elastase: a microsecond molecular dynamics simulation study

Human Neutrophil Elastase (HNE) is one of the major causes of tissue destruction in numerous chronic and inflammatory disorders and has been reported as a therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. Overexpression of this enzyme plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The focus of this study is to identify potent natural inhibitors that could target the active site of the HNE through the use of computational methods. The molecular structure of small molecules was retrieved from several natural compound databases. This was followed by structure-based virtual screening, molecular docking, ADMET property predictions and molecular dynamic simulation studies to screen potential HNE inhibitors. In total, 1881 natural compounds were extracted and subjected to molecular docking studies, and 10 compounds were found to have good interactions, exhibiting the best docking scores. Genistein showed higher binding efficacy (-10.28 Kcal/mol) to HNE in comparison to other natural compounds. The conformational stability of the docked complex of the ELANE gene (HNE) with genistein was assessed using 1-microsecond molecular dynamic simulation (MDs), which reliably revealed the unique stereochemical alteration of the complex, indicating its conformational stability and flexibility. Alterations in the enzyme structure upon complex formation were further characterized through clustering analysis and linear interaction energy (LIE) calculation. The outcomes of this research propose novel potential candidates against target HNE.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Pulmonary miliary papillary/micropapillary adenocarcinoma manifesting as carcinomatous encephalitis

The histological pattern and the associated molecular aberrations have an important bearing in the prognosis of pulmonary adenocarcinomas. Papillary and micropapillary growth patterns with mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma kinase rearrangements have an aggressive clinical course. We report one such cancer in a 49-year-old woman, where it assumed a miliary pattern in the lungs, and the patient presented with neurological symptoms related to carcinomatous encephalitis, an infrequent metastatic manifestation.

ALOBAR HOLOPROSENCEPHALY, CLEFT LIP/PALATE, URORECTAL SEPTUM MALFORMATION SEQUENCE AND CONGENITAL PERINEAL HERNIA IN A FETUS

We report on a fetus with alobar holoprosencephaly, complete cleft lip and palate, urorectal septum malformation sequence and perineal hernia. To our knowledge this appears to be a novel fetal malformation syndrome.

Effectiveness of mouthrinse formulated from ethanol extract of Terminalia chebula fruit on salivary Streptococcus mutans among 12 to 15 year old school children of Belgaum city: a randomized field trial

OBJECTIVES

Dental caries is the most prevalent oral disease. Streptococcus mutans plays a major role in the occurrence of dental caries. Many antibacterial agents have been developed against dental caries. However, they lack the qualities of an ideal agent. Thus presently, antibacterial activity of herbal agents is being extensively studied.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, ethanol extract of Terminalia chebula was prepared and mouthrinse was formulated. A total of 60 children meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into study and control group and respective mouthrinses were administered. Salivary Streptococcus mutans count was assessed at 5 and 60 minutes after rinsing and compared with baseline values. Substantivity of the rinse was assessed among 10 children. Mouthrinse was given to the children and salivary Streptococcus mutans counts were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 hours postrinsing. Mann-Whitney U test was used to assess the variance of factors like Decayed Missed Filled Teeth, plaque scores, and gingival scores. ANCOVA (Analysis of covariance) was used to determine the change in salivary Streptococcus mutans colony forming units taking baseline values as covariates.

RESULTS

It was observed that there was 44.42% reduction in salivary Streptococcus mutans colony forming units 5 minutes after rinsing as compared with baseline values and 64.14% reduction in Streptococcus mutans colony forming units at 60 minutes after rinsing as compared with baseline values. There was a reduction of 35.48% in salivary Streptococcus mutans colony forming units at 60 minutes after rinsing as compared with 5 minutes sample.

CONCLUSION

Streptococcus mutans counts were low up to 6 hours postrinsing among 80% of the children.

Severe rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata in a fetus due to maternal mixed connective tissue disorder

Maternal systemic lupus erythematosus and autoimmune diseases have been extremely rarely reported to cause rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata. We report on a fetus aborted spontaneously at 21 weeks of gestation due to complications of maternal mixed connective tissue disorder. The fetus had micrognathia, a depressed nasal bridge, flat nose, long philtrum, short columella and rhizomelia. Radiographic study showed stippling of carpal and tarsal bones, short humeri and coronal clefts in the vertebrae. Ossification centers were present at the lower end of the femora and upper end of the tibiae.

Antitussive activity of Abies webbiana Lindl. leaf extract against sulphur dioxide-induced cough reflex in mice

The methanol extract of A. webbiana Lindl was evaluated for its effect on a cough model induced by sulphur dioxide gas in mice. When administered orally it exhibited significant antitussive activity compared with the control in a dose dependent manner. The antitussive activity of the extract was compared with that of codeine phosphate, a prototype antitussive agent. The A. webbiana leaf extract (400 and 600 mg/kg) showed maximum inhibition of cough frequency by 71.69% and 78.67%, respectively, when compared with the control group and was comparable in effect to codeine phosphate.

Variable underestimates by serum free thyroxine (T4) immunoassays of free T4 concentrations in simple solutions

The immunoassays used to measure free T4 in serum frequently underestimate free T4 concentrations. These underestimates of serum free T4 are often greater than can be attributed to sample dilution. Unrecognized T4 sequestration by assay materials could cause such underestimates, but T4 sequestration during free T4 measurements has not been well studied. To study T4 sequestration, we used simple solutions containing gravimetrically determined quantities of T4 without T4 binding proteins. T4 sequestration was calculated as the differences between the actual quantities of free T4 required to obtain a specific free T4 measurement and the quantities that would, in theory, have been required, assuming zero T4 sequestration. Sequestration occurred in every serum free T4 assay studied, was often in the nanomolar range, and varied from 26-99+% of the actual amount of free T4 required to obtain free T4 measurements. We conclude that unrecognized T4 sequestration is a major confounding variable in free T4 assay performance, and that it explains the underestimates of serum free T4 concentrations by free T4 immunoassays which cannot be explained by sample dilution.

Glycemic control and its relationship to diabetic foot ulcers

Glucosylhaemoglobin (HbA1) was estimated in 60 diabetic patients, 30 with foot ulceration and 30 without foot lesions. Peripheral neuropathy and vascular disease were commonly found in the ulcer' group. The mean HbA1 level in diabetics without ulcers was 9.77 +/- 2.34, while the corresponding level in diabetics with ulcers was 14.14 +/- 3.63. The difference in values is statistically highly significant (p less than 0.001) suggesting that foot ulcers are more likely to occur in poorly controlled diabetic patients.

Serum apolipoproteins A and B, lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase activities and urinary cholesterol levels in nephrotic syndrome patients before and during steroid treatment

Serum apolipoproteins A (Apo-A) and B (Apo-B) and lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) activities and 24-hour urinary cholesterol levels were estimated in 25 nephrotic children before and during steroid treatment with 4 weeks of daily prednisolone followed by another 4 weeks of alternate-day prednisolone. The patients with untreated nephrotic syndrome (NS) showed significant decrease in serum Apo-A and LCAT activities associated with significant increase in serum Apo-B and urinary cholesterol levels compared to healthy controls (n = 25). Serum Apo-A levels correlated directly and Apo-B levels inversely with the serum albumin concentrations. After a transient elevation, the serum Apo-A level returned to control range by 8 weeks of treatment accompanied by a gradual increase in serum LCAT activity and decrease in urinary cholesterol excretion. Though, the serum Apo-B level was decreased with treatment, it was still significantly high compared to the controls.

HDL-cholesterol--a sensitive parameter of hepatic function in infective hepatitis

HDL-cholesterol was estimated along with other biochemical parameters of hepatic function in infective hepatitis. Infective hepatitis was characterized by significantly decreased levels of HDL-cholesterol. Follow up studies indicated a good correlation of changes in HDL-cholesterol to severity of disease in all the cases whereas standard liver function tests showed equivocal changes in some cases. HDL-cholesterol may serve as a sensitive indicator of hepatic function in infective hepatitis.

Serum apoproteins A and B and the lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase activities in liver cirrhosis and hepatic coma patients

Serum apoproteins A and B and LCAT activities were estimated in 80 patients, 46 with posthepatic cirrhosis and 34 with alcoholic cirrhosis. The cirrhosis patients were also divided into compensated, decompensated, and hepatic coma subgroups. Apo-A and LCAT activities were significantly decreased in both cirrhotic groups without any significant difference between posthepatitic and alcoholic cirrhotic groups, while Apo-B was decreased in hepatic coma patients only. The decompensated cirrhosis patients showed lower Apo-A levels than the compensated cirrhosis patients and hepatic coma patients showed still lower levels compared to decompensated subgroup, while no significant decrease was observed in LCAT activities between compensated and decompensated cirrhosis patients. Apo-A level was correlated more significantly with serum albumin level than the LCAT activity. The study confirms that Apo-A level is highly related to the degree of liver injury and also suggests that this decrease may be mainly due to impaired liver synthesis and that the serum levels of Apo-A and Apo-B can be utilized in the differential diagnosis of chronic liver diseases.

Diagnostic significance of estimation of serum apolipoprotein A along with alpha-fetoprotein in alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma patients

The serum apolipoprotein A (Apo A) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were evaluated in histologically verified 30 cases of alcoholic cirrhosis and 18 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The latter were also divided into subgroups depending on the presence or absence of associated cirrhosis. Serum Apo A levels were found to be significantly decreased in cirrhotics (p less than 0.001) compared to controls and non-cirrhotic HCC patients. In 22 cases of alcoholic cirrhosis (AFP less than 10 ng/ml) and 12 cases of HCC (AFP greater than 600 ng/ml), the AFP levels itself were diagnostic, but in the remaining cases, AFP levels (100-600 ng/ml) were not able to differentiate between cirrhosis and malignancy. In this later group of patients with low pathological range of AFP, serum Apo A levels found to be significantly decreased in alcoholic cirrhotic patients (p less than 0.001) compared to HCC patients. Thus, estimation of Apo A levels may be helpful to interpret the AFP values at lower pathological range due to suspected liver pathology.

A new colorimetric method for the estimation of glycosylated hemoglobin

A new colorimetric method, based on the phenol sulphuric acid reaction of carbohydrates, is described for the determination of glycosylated hemoglobin. Hemolyzates were treated with 1 mol/l oxalic acid in 2 mol/l Hcl for 4 h at 100 degrees C, the protein was precipitated with trichloroacetic acid, and the free sugars and hydroxymethyl furfural in the protein free supernatant were treated with phenol and sulphuric acid to form the color. The new method is compared to the thiobarbituric acid method and the ion-exchange chromatographic method for the estimation of glycosylated hemoglobin in normals and diabetics. The increase in glycosylated hemoglobin in diabetic patients as estimated by the phenol-sulphuric acid method was more significant (P less than 0.001) than the increase observed by the thiobarbituric acid method (P less than 0.01). The correlation between the phenol-sulphuric acid method and the column method was better (r = 0.91) than the correlation between the thiobarbituric acid method and the column method (r = 0.84). No significant correlation between fasting and postprandial blood sugar level and glycosylated hemoglobin level as determined by the two colorimetric methods was observed in diabetic patients.