Early Trimester Maternal Serum ß-hCG and PAPP-A Levels as Predictor of Hypertensive disorders of Pregnancy.

Introduction: Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy is a mysterious condition. Even after extensive research, it is associated with high maternal as well as perinatal mortality and morbidity. The origin of hypertension in pregnancy is thought to be lying in the placenta. ß-hCG and PAPP-A are glycoproteins produced from placenta. Therefore, these values are reported to be altered in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Aim and Objective: To determine the predictive value of early trimester serum ß-hCG and PAPP-A levels for the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective cohort study conducted at IMS and SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar. Maternal serum ß-hCG and PAPP-A levels were measured in all the singleton pregnant women at 11 + 0-13 + 6 weeks. All these women were followed up till delivery to find out the development of hypertension. The outcome was matched with their respective biochemical markers and analyzed. Results: Mean value for maternal serum ß-hCG of the study population was found to be 48.95 ng/ml with a range of 2-210 ng/ml. Hence, maternal serum ß-hCG value during 11-13 weeks of pregnancy shows no correlation with the development of HDP later in pregnancy. The mean value of maternal serum ß-hCG for women who developed HDP and those who did not develop the pathology was 48.13 ng/ml and 49.78 ng/ml, respectively (p = 0.61). Mean value of serum PAPP-A for the normotensive group was found to be 5.12 mIU/ml and 3.76 mIU/ml for women who developed HDP (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Low maternal serum PAPP-A determined at 11 + 0-13 + 6 weeks has a better predictive value for the development of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy than ß-hCG.

Recent progress in energy, environment, and electronic applications of MXene nanomaterials.

Since the discovery of graphene, two-dimensional (2D) materials have gained widespread attention, owing to their appealing properties for various technological applications. Etched from their parent MAX phases, MXene is a newly emerged 2D material that was first reported in 2011. Since then, a lot of theoretical and experimental work has been done on more than 30 MXene structures for various applications. Given this, in the present review, we have tried to cover the multidisciplinary aspects of MXene including its structures, synthesis methods, and electronic, mechanical, optoelectronic, and magnetic properties. From an application point of view, we explore MXene-based supercapacitors, gas sensors, strain sensors, biosensors, electromagnetic interference shielding, microwave absorption, memristors, and artificial synaptic devices. Also, the impact of MXene-based materials on the characteristics of respective applications is systematically explored. This review provides the current status of MXene nanomaterials for various applications and possible future developments in this field.

Serum Elemental Analysis of Type 2 Diabetes Patients Using SRXRF.

A total of 158 serum samples of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients and control subjects were analyzed using Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Fluorescence (SRXRF) technique. The microprobe XRF beam line-16 of Indus-2 synchrotron radiation facility at Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore, India, was used to identify and quantify the elements K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, and Pb. A significant decrease in the mean concentrations of K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn, and As and an increase in the concentrations of V, Fe, Co, Cu, Se, and Pb were observed in the serum samples of the patient group when compared to the control group. It is hypothesized that the observed alterations in the elemental concentrations might have led to ineffective uptake of insulin and have interfered with glucose homeostasis by either directly or indirectly causing oxidative stress.

Comprehensive Cell Surface Protein Profiling Identifies Specific Markers of Human Naive and Primed Pluripotent States.

Human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) exist in naive and primed states and provide important models to investigate the earliest stages of human development. Naive cells can be obtained through primed-to-naive resetting, but there are no reliable methods to prospectively isolate unmodified naive cells during this process. Here we report comprehensive profiling of cell surface proteins by flow cytometry in naive and primed human PSCs. Several naive-specific, but not primed-specific, proteins were also expressed by pluripotent cells in the human preimplantation embryo. The upregulation of naive-specific cell surface proteins during primed-to-naive resetting enabled the isolation and characterization of live naive cells and intermediate cell populations. This analysis revealed distinct transcriptional and X chromosome inactivation changes associated with the early and late stages of naive cell formation. Thus, identification of state-specific proteins provides a robust set of molecular markers to define the human PSC state and allows new insights into the molecular events leading to naive cell resetting.

Laboratory validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the detection of ractopamine, clenbuterol and salbutamol in bovine and swine muscle at sub-µg kg-1 regulatory limits.

Ractopamine (RAC), is a ß-adrenergic agonist increasingly used in the swine and cattle industry. This compound redirects nutrients to favour leanness rather than fat deposition, improves growth and carcass traits gaining higher economic benefit to producers. Countries around the world are split over whether to allow the use of RAC in meat production. Clenbuterol (CLB) and salbutamol (SLB) are anillinic and phenolic ß-agonists, respectively, with the same capacity of producing economic benefits for the meat sector. However, they are prohibited because of the potentially adverse reactions they can cause in consumers. The three ß-agonist compounds have been included in the Brazilian National Regulatory Survey and consequentially there is an eminent need for reliable methods capable of detecting those substances at the same time and reduce analytical costs. Therefore, an LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of residual RAC, CLB and SAL in swine and cattle muscle was developed and validated with quantification levels respecting the action levels established for Brazil which are 0.1, 0.2 and 5 µg kg-1 for RAC, CLB and SAL, respectively. Samples were quantified using RAC-d5, CLB-d9 and SLB-d6 as internal standards. The validation was performed according to European Union Decision 2002/657, which includes criteria (CCα, CCß, recovery, repeatability, reproducibility and calibration curve). The method meets the Brazilian regulatory requirement that establishes criteria and procedures for the determination of parameters such as CCα, CCß, precision and recovery. CCα values were 0.02, 0.21 and 5.42 µg kg-1 for RAC, CLB and SAL, respectively, in bovine and swine muscle samples; CCß values were 0.03, 0.22 and 5.8 µg kg-1 for RAC, CLB and SAL, respectively, in bovine and swine muscle samples. Average recoveries fortified with 0.05-7.5 µg kg-1 of the studied ß-agonist leads around 95%. The method was demonstrated to be suitable for the determination of RAC, CLB and SLB in swine and cattle muscle samples.

Extra Mammary Paget's Disease: A Rare Case Report.

Extramammary Paget's disease is a marginated plaque resembling Paget's disease but occurring in anogenital area, axilla or most commonly on the vulva. A 62-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with extremely pruritic plaque on the perineal skin which progressed gradually over 3 years and did not respond to any topical/systemic steroids, antibiotics, and antifungals. Examination revealed 7 × 8 cm. hypertrophic, verrucous plaque with erosions, and crusts at places. There was no evidence of visceral malignancy. Biopsy showed Paget's cells which were positive for Periodic Acid Schiff and alcian blue stain. Surgical excision was done considering the premalignant potential.

Trace elemental distribution in the scalp hair of bipolars using PIXE technique.

Trace metals play a significant role in neurological disorders. There is very limited information available on the role of macro and trace elements in bipolar disorders. The objective of this investigation was to identification, quantification of essential trace elements in the scalp hair samples of the patients and compare with those of normal subjects. We made a hypothesis about the role played by essential trace metals whose concentrations are significantly different to those of normals in the disease process. The analysis was carried out in the scalp hair samples of 26 male and 26 female patients suffering from bipolar disorder (BD) by Particle Induced X-ray Emission Technique (PIXE). The concentration of Cu (p < 0.002) was found to be higher in the hair samples of male bipolar disorder patients while the concentrations of Mn (p < 0.001), Fe (p < 0.005), Zn (p < 0.0001) and Se (p < 0.005) were found to be lower than those in normal subjects. The concentration of Cu (p < 0.0001) was higher in the hair samples of female bipolar patients but depressed levels of Fe (p < 0.005), Ni (p < 0.05), Zn (p < 0.00001) and Se (p < 0.05) were observed compared to controls. Cu/Zn ratio was found to be higher in the hair samples of male and female patients compared with normals. While the imbalance of certain trace elements leads to generation of more free radicals, the imbalance of some other trace elements causes changes in dopamine (neurotransmitter) activity. It is essential to monitor before and periodically during treatment the levels of essential trace elements for effective treatment of bipolar disorder.

Downregulation of miRNA-200c links breast cancer stem cells with normal stem cells.

Human breast tumors contain a breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) population with properties reminiscent of normal stem cells. We found 37 microRNAs that were differentially expressed between human BCSCs and nontumorigenic cancer cells. Three clusters, miR-200c-141, miR-200b-200a-429, and miR-183-96-182 were downregulated in human BCSCs, normal human and murine mammary stem/progenitor cells, and embryonal carcinoma cells. Expression of BMI1, a known regulator of stem cell self-renewal, was modulated by miR-200c. miR-200c inhibited the clonal expansion of breast cancer cells and suppressed the growth of embryonal carcinoma cells in vitro. Most importantly, miR-200c strongly suppressed the ability of normal mammary stem cells to form mammary ducts and tumor formation driven by human BCSCs in vivo. The coordinated downregulation of three microRNA clusters and the similar functional regulation of clonal expansion by miR-200c provide a molecular link that connects BCSCs with normal stem cells.

Estimation of trace elements in some anti-diabetic medicinal plants using PIXE technique.

Trace elemental analysis was carried out in various parts of some anti-diabetic medicinal plants using PIXE technique. A 3MeV proton beam was used to excite the samples. The elements Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb and Sr were identified and their concentrations were estimated. The results of the present study provide justification for the usage of these medicinal plants in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) since they are found to contain appreciable amounts of the elements K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Cu, and Zn, which are responsible for potentiating insulin action. Our results show that the analyzed medicinal plants can be considered as potential sources for providing a reasonable amount of the required elements other than diet to the patients of DM. Moreover, these results can be used to set new standards for prescribing the dosage of the herbal drugs prepared from these plant materials.

Use of health care services in two rural communities in Tanzania.

This study was undertaken to investigate the pattern of utilization of medical and dental health care services in rural Tanzania. Two hundred adults, 91 men and 109 women aged 20 or over, were interviewed. Nearly all subjects reported using modern dental and medical health care services. Home remedy was the only indigenous method of treatment used for dental problems while for medical problems a traditional healer was the most commonly used indigenous alternative. The use of both indigenous and modern health care services was significantly lower for dental than for medical problems (P < 0.05). It seems that the pattern of utilization of health care services differs for medical and dental problems. This should be taken into account when planning comprehensive health care services for rural African societies.

PIP: In September 1988 a dentist interviewed 91 men and 109 women aged 20 years and older living in 2 villages in Ilala, Tanzania, to study their pattern of utilization of dental and medical care services. Most adults had used modern dental and medical care services. Most adults had used modern dental and medical care services (96% and 98%, respectively). 84% of adults who used modern dental care services used a dentist, 23% a medical practitioner, and 1% a pharmacy. The only traditional method of treating dental problems was home remedy, which was used by men more often than women (30% vs. 18%; p .05). Use of analgesics likely was included among the home remedies. Adults probably did not use traditional healers for dental problems because they cannot alleviate the acute episodic dental pain. Dentists at hospitals using local anesthesia tend to do tooth extraction, the most common dental treatment in Tanzania. Adults were more likely to use both modern and traditional medical care services for medical problems than dental problems (p .05). They tended to use a traditional healer more often for medical problems than home remedies (61% vs. 34%; p .05). The farther people lived from the nearest modern medical health care unit, the greater the likelihood that they used traditional medical care services (92% for those living = or 5 km away vs. 61% for 5 km; p .05). Older adults were more likely to use both traditional dental and medical services (odds ratio [OR] = 3.85 and 2.65, respectively). Men tended to use traditional dental services more often than did women (OR = 3.93). These findings show that village-level modern dental health care has not been accorded a high priority. Existing medical staff at village-level health dispensaries should take on the responsibility for dental health.

Tooth cleaning methods and their effectiveness among adults in rural Tanzania.

This study was undertaken to investigate how various population characteristics affect the choice of different tooth cleaning methods and to estimate their role in preventing occurrence of plaque, calculus and gingivitis among rural adults in Tanzania. Two hundred adults aged 20 years and over were interviewed and clinically examined for plaque, calculus and gingival bleeding. A high proportion (97.5%) of the subjects reported that they clean their teeth every day. Among them, 69.4% used only indigenous tooth cleaning methods, 16.3% only factory made toothbrushes and 14.3% both. Twigs (Chewing sticks) were the most commonly used indigenous tooth cleaning method, followed by charcoal. Together with age, educational and occupational status and tribal origin significantly affected the choice of tooth cleaning method. Men had more often visible plaque than women (OR = 2.84). However, other sociodemographic factors and the method of cleaning teeth were not significantly associated with the occurrence of plaque, calculus or gingival bleeding.

Caries prevalence in the deciduous dentition of a Tanzanian urban and rural child population in relation to levels of fluoride in drinking water in 1984, 1986 and 1988.

A mixed-longitudinal study to determine the prevalence of caries in the deciduous dentition of a Tanzanian child population was carried out in Morogoro Region between 1984 and 1988. Since 1978 shallow wells have been constructed in the study areas which contained water in the range of the assumed optimal fluoride level in tropical countries (0.5-1.0 ppm). Three areas were distinguished, urban, rural and villages in rural areas with an average fluoride concentration of 0.5 ppm or more in all drinking water sources present. There were no fluoridated toothpaste for sale nor were organised oral health programmes implemented in the study areas. The following background parameters were studied; age, locality, socioeconomic status and sex. School children aged 7- to 9-year (= 694), 7- to 11-year (n = 652) adn 7- to 13-year (n = 555) were examined in 1984, 1986 and 1988 respectively. For all three years of investigation, children living in villages with naturally fluoridated water were found to have significantly lower mean number of dentinal lesions than those living in urban and/or rural areas. There were no restorations found. Over the three years of investigation the mean dft*-scores were low and varied between 1.67 (urban area in 1984) and 0.79 (naturally fluoridated rural areas in 1984). No SES and sex effect on the dft-condition were found. It is recommended that water samples be collected from all drinking water sources in all regions of Tanzania and to map the results of the fluoride analyses for use in prioritization setting in planning oral health services at national and regional level.