Amine functionalised graphene embedded polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PVA-chitosan hydrogel composites.

A novel amine-functionalized graphene oxide (AFG) doped polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/chitosan (PVA-Ch) composite film was developed using an eco-synthesis approach, eliminating the need for halogenated compounds. The resulting AFG-doped PVA/Chitosan (PVA-Ch/AFG) polymer film exhibited promising properties for controlled delivery and biosensing applications. The investigation included assessing the swelling behaviour, dissolution percent, gel fraction, and mechanical properties of the polymer film. The swelling characteristics of PVA-Ch and PVA-Ch/AFG were found to be pH and temperature-dependent across various pH ranges (3, 5, 7, and 9). Interestingly, PVA-Ch/AFG demonstrated a stable swelling pattern at pH 5 and 7, unaffected by changes in chitosan concentration, indicating enhanced stability compared to PVA-Ch. The study also explored the use of PVA-Ch/AFG in a drug delivery system, revealing controlled release of the model antibiotic amphicillin, emphasizing its potential in medical applications. Furthermore, the eco-friendly synthesis route underscored the safety of PVA-Ch/AFG for use in food and medical applications. Biocompatibility assessments, including biodegradability studies and cytotoxicity tests on fibroblasts (3T3 cells), confirmed the safety profile of PVA-Ch/AFG. In conclusion, the study suggests that PVA-Ch/AFG holds promise for bio-sensing applications, offering a flexible and colorimetric platform capable of encapsulating, adsorbing, and desorbing biomolecules such as drugs and sensing compounds.

Monitored natural attenuation of a long-term petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites: a case study.

This study evaluated the potential of monitored natural attenuation (MNA) as a remedial option for groundwater at a long-term petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated site in Australia. Source characterization revealed that total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) as the major contaminant of concern in the smear zone and groundwater. Multiple lines of evidence involving the geochemical parameters, microbiological analysis, data modelling and compound-specific stable carbon isotope analysis all demonstrated natural attenuation of hydrocarbons occurring in the groundwater via intrinsic biodegradation. Groundwater monitoring data by Mann-Kendall trend analysis using properly designed and installed groundwater monitoring wells shows the plume is stable and neither expanding nor shrinking. The reason for stable plume is due to the presence of both active source and natural attenuation on the edge of the plume. Assuming no retardation and no degradation the contaminated plume would have travelled a distance of 1,096 m (best case) to 11,496 m (worst case) in 30 years. However, the plume was extended only up to about 170 m from its source. The results of these investigations provide strong scientific evidence for natural attenuation of TPH in this contaminated aquifer. Therefore, MNA can be applied as a defensible management option for this site following significant reduction of TPH in the source zone.

Rhabdomyolysis with myoglobin-induced acute kidney injury: A case series of four cases.

Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially life-threatening clinical syndrome characterized by the breakdown of skeletal muscle cells and release of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and myoglobin into the plasma and interstitial space. Rhabdomyolysis can occur due to a variety of causes and acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of its most dreaded complications occurring in 33%-50% patients. The main pathophysiology of renal injury is due to vasoconstriction, intraluminal casts, tubular obstruction, and direct myoglobin toxicity. As the symptoms are nonspecific, a high level of suspicion is required in the mind of the treating physician. Early diagnosis and prompt management with fluid resuscitation, initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT), and elimination of causative agents can help prevent complications. We hereby report four interesting cases of this clinical syndrome with emphasis on the causative agents.

Measurement of Scientific Productivity in R&D Sector: Changing paradigm.

Scientific Productivity is a demand of policy makers for a judicious utilization of massive R&D budget allocated and utilized. A huge mass of intellectual assets is employed, which after investing manpower, infrastructure and lab consumables demand for a major outcome which contributes towards building nation's economy. Scientific productivity was only measured through publications or patents. Patents, earmarked as a strong parameter for innovation generation, where, Word Intellectual Property Organisation generated a data on applications for the top 20 offices for patents, where Australia, Brazil and Canada occupied top 3 positions. India ranked 9th with the total patent applications rising from 39762 (2010) to 42854 (2014) i.e. 15%, whereas, it contributes around 2% Patents (innovative productivity) on global scale. Many studies have come forward interestingly within scientific and academic domains in the form of measurement of scientific performance, however, development of productivity indicators and calculation of Scientific Productivity (SP) as a holistic evaluation system is a significant demand. SP, a herculean task is envisaged for productivity analysis and would submit significant factors towards fabricating an effective measurement engine in a holistic manner viable for an individual and organization, being supplementary to each other. This review projects the significance of performance measurement system in R&D through identification and standardization of key parameters. It also includes emphasis on inclusion of standardized parameters, effective for performance measurement which is applicable for scientists, technical staff as well as lab as a facility. This review aims at providing an insight to the evaluators, policy makers, and high level scientific panels to stimulate the scientific intellects on identified indicators so that their work proceeds to generate productive outcome contributing to the economic growth.

Ultrasound-induced enhancement of ACh, AChE and GABA in fetal brain tissue of mouse.

Pregnant mice were exposed to continuous-wave (CW) ultrasound of 875 kHz frequency at 1 W/cm2 for 300 and 400 s, spread over five days, starting from the sixth day of pregnancy. The neurotransmitters, acetylcholine (ACh) and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), and the associated enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels, were estimated in the exposed fetal brains. Enhanced levels, significant at p < 0.001, were observed in the brains excised on day 10, day 15 and day 20 of gestation compared to sham-exposed and cage-control brains.

Transmission of health information on leprosy from children to their families: another approach to health education.

A controlled study was carried out in the North Arcot District of Tamil Nadu, South India to determine whether health information given to schoolchildren would influence the knowledge and attitudes of their families concerning leprosy. A total of 41 children and almost all of their household members participated in the study. The study, conducted by questionnaire, involved a pre-test of knowledge and attitude about leprosy of seventh standard students and their families. After one group of children received health education about leprosy and the other received information about tuberculosis, an identical post-test questionnaire was administered to all participants. Although significant improvement in knowledge about leprosy was detected in the leprosy educated group of children compared with controls, no transmission of information on leprosy was detected in the family members of either group. The attitudes of the children who had been educated about leprosy may have been adversely affected by the health education session. The reasons for our failure to detect significant transfer of information about leprosy in this setting are discussed, as well as the need for additional research in this area.

Thermodynamics of interaction of caffeic acid and quinic acid with multisubunit proteins.

Helianthinin is a multisubunit protein from Sunflower seeds. Caffeic acid (CA) and quinic acid (QA) are intrinsic ligands present in sunflower seeds. The mechanism of interaction of these ligands with multisubunit proteins is limited. The present study enables one to understand the mechanism of the interaction of these ligands with the protein helianthinin. From this study, it is shown that CA has two classes of binding sites on helianthinin. The high-affinity class of sites total six from 60+/-10 for both high-affinity and low-affinity sites. Tryptophan, tyrosine and lysine residues of the protein are mainly involved in the interaction with CA. The temperature dependence of the binding in the range 10-45 degrees C can be clearly described by an enthalpy-entropy compensation effect at the low-affinity class of sites, while it is described by positive DeltaC(p)(o) at the high-affinity class of sites. This positive DeltaC(p)(o) has a contribution to the protein stability. The binding strength of CA also has a positive cooperativity at higher protein concentration. QA has two classes of binding sites on the protein based on the strength of the interaction. The interaction of QA with the protein is predominantly described by positive DeltaC(p)(o) for both classes of affinity. This suggests predominance of ionic/hydrogen bonding in the interaction process. Differential scanning calorimetric measurements reveal that the binding of both CA and QA induces destabilisation of the subunit-subunit interaction. Human methaemoglobin (mHb) has two binding sites on the molecule for CA. Both CA and QA decrease the stability of mHb, as indicated by decreased T(m). This destabilisation is also accompanied by dissociation to the monomers with concomitant conformational changes.

Enzymatic studies in foetal brain and liver of mouse following in utero exposure to ultrasound.

Lactate, malate and succinate dehydrogenases (LDH, MDH and SDH) were estimated in the foetal brain and liver following in utero exposure of mice to a continuous wave of unfocussed ultrasound. Enzymes in both tissues showed a significant increase (P greater than 0.001), indicating high energy demand due to depletion of oxygen. The increase was recorded even on the twentieth day of pregnancy.

Ultrasound induced damages and time bound recovery in mouse liver.

Therapeutic ultrasound at 875 kHz at 10 and 15 W/cm2 intensity induced extensive damages in the liver of mouse. Total exposure of 5 min was spread over 5 days. Aqueous medium was avoided by coupling the transducer directly to the skin surface. Mild to extensive damages were noted. Complete distortion of hepatocellular architecture was noted in 15 W irradiated mice. However, there was almost complete recovery by 10th day following the last exposure.

Changes in Na and K ions in mouse liver following in vivo exposure to ultrasound.

Mouse liver was exposed in vivo to a continuous and unfocussed ultrasound of 875 KHz at 5, 10 or 15 W/cm2 for 300 sec spread over five days and excised on day 0, 1, 5 and 10 for studying the changes in Na+ and K+ reserves and Na-K-ATPase activity. At 5 and 10 W intensities the change in ionic concentrations and Na-K-ATPase activity were almost in linear. At 15 W intensity the loss of both the ions and suppression of Na-K-ATPase indicated the damage of hepatic tissue caused by high intensity ultrasound. By day 10, all the animals of three exposures showed a normal ionic concentration with an optimum Na-K-ATPase activity in liver indicating the recovery process. The results indicate that ultrasound induces permeability changes in a glandular tissue exposed in vivo.

The need for a drug abuse documentation center in India.

The problems of alcoholism and drug addiction are major concerns in India. Alcohol and drugs were used in the past to obtain relief from pain and misery and to attain a state of forgetfulness. India is presently facing the problem of increased trafficking in drugs; heroin and hashish are supplied to the west through the subcontinent. Addiction has become a major problem in metropolitan centers. The Ministry of Welfare is responsible for drug abuse prevention programs and the rehabilitation of addicts. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is concerned with drug treatment. A deaddiction center, established at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, became operational in 1988; it is responsible for health manpower training, research, and documentation. India has witnessed an exponential growth in the literature on drug abuse; it is no longer possible for a single library to acquire all of the international literature. There is a clear need to establish a drug abuse information center in India. This paper describes the aims, objectives, and planning for such a center and recommends the establishment of a national center in New Delhi with regional centers in other geographic areas.

Some biochemical changes in mouse after in-vivo irradiation of pancreas with ultrasound.

875 KHz continuous wave of ultrasound at 2.5 W/Cm2 intensity revealed certain biochemical and enzymological changes in mouse pancreas and liver following the irradiation of pancreas in-vivo for a total of 300 seconds spread over five days. The sacrifice of the animals was carried out on day 0, day 1, day 5 and day 10. Blood glucose was reduced significantly with concomitant increase in liver glycogen. Glucose-6-phosphatase in liver was decreased significantly while glycogen phosphorylase showed marginal variations. Increased calcium pool in pancreas along with Ca2+ activated ATPase was observed. These alterations were prevalent in all the days of sacrifice and also for more than 10 days after the last exposure. The results are suggestive of ultrasound could stimulate the release of pancreatic secretions.

Toxic impact of organophosphorus insecticides on acetylcholinesterase activity in the silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

The effect of widely used commercial-grade organophosphorus insecticides, namely, fenitrothion and ethion, on acetylcholinesterase activity and acetylcholine levels in brain, fat body, and silk gland of Bombyx mori on Days 1, 3, and 5 and food intake of the fifth instar were studied. Acetylcholinesterase activity was found to be inhibited, followed by a concomitant increase in acetylcholine levels in the target tissues. These changes suggest an acceleration in energy metabolism of nerve cells, leading to death of the insects. Food consumption during the fifth instar underwent a significant decrease at lethal doses and an insignificant increase at sublethal doses of fenitrothion and ethion. The overall changes observed in acetylcholinestease, acetylcholine, and food intake due to fenitrothion and ethion were, insecticidewise, in the order fenitrothion