Survival Rate in Cancer Cervix Patients in a Regional Cancer Centre of South India: A Retrospective Analysis.

Context: Carcinoma Cervix is one of the leading prevalent cancers in India especially in rural population and causes a significant mortality. WHO has launched many projects for prevention, screening and treatment plans. Even after many projects, Cervical Cancer persists as a heavy burden public health problem in rural India. Aims: To calculate survival of cancer cervix patients in a rural population-based RCC and to discuss the factors affecting it. Methods and Material: A hospital-based gathering of retrospective data of the patients diagnosed with carcinoma cervix over 5 years from January 2013 to December 2017 (single institution analysis). We included 751 patient's data from our cancer registry for analysis. Data related to demographics, treatment and follow up records were taken and statistical analysis done. Results: The survival rates were 64.0%, 50.0%, 36.9% and 17.5% for Stage I, Stage II, Stage III and Stage IV, respectively. The best survival outcomes were for those treated with only surgery. Involvement of nodes had poor survival than those with no involvement. Various patient-related factors like Religion, Education and Marital status are found to be non-significant factors even-though they have survival differences. STAGE of the disease emerged as a significant prognostic factor. Conclusion: Our study concluded that higher stage and nodal involvement had poor outcomes and also lower survival compared to Western and Indian literature. We should also address all the socio-economic factors that affects survival. Randomized prospective studies are needed to evaluate the effect of socio-economic factors on survival.

Invasive cerebral aspergillosis in non-neutropenic patients: A case series from Western India.

PURPOSE: Invasive cerebral aspergillosis (ICA) is a rare but fatal infection affecting neutropenic immunocompromised patients. Recently cases have been reported in non-neutropenic settings also. We hereby present a series of ICA cases in non-neutropenic patients diagnosed at our tertiary care centre in Western India between March to October 2021. METHODS: All patients with clinico-radiological suspicion of CNS infections were analysed. Data regarding Clinico-radiological features, diagnosis, treatment and outcome were collected. After ruling out bacterial, viral and mycobacterial causes, appropriate samples were sent for KOH (potassium hydroxide) wet mount, fungal culture, histopathology and serum/CSF galactomannan. RESULTS: A total of four patients were diagnosed with ICA with a mean age of 43.5 years. Three patients had significant comorbidities; Diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease and COVID-19 pneumonia treated with dexamethasone, respectively. One patient had no known predisposing factor. Radiologically, one patient presented with a frontal brain abscess and two patients had multiple subcortical hyperintensities. Three patients were diagnosed based on CSF galactomannan (Platelia™ Aspergillus antigen, Bio-Rad, France) with OD >1 and one patient had high serum galactomannan (OD >2). CSF culture grew Aspergillus species in two patients. All patients were treated with Voriconazole. One patient recovered, and the remaining three succumbed due to delayed presentation and extensive cerebral involvement. CONCLUSION: Even in non-neutropenic patients, a high index of suspicion is warranted for cerebral aspergillosis. CSF galactomannan can be considered a reliable marker for diagnosing ICA in non-neutropenic settings. Early diagnosis allows timely antifungal therapy, which could be a key to improving the outcomes.

Facile hydrothermal synthesis of manganese sulfide nanoelectrocatalyst for high sensitive detection of Bisphenol A in food and eco-samples.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a renowned plasticizer, and a key component of various plastics, resins, and food packaging materials. However, BPA have been identified as an endocrine disruption compound and cause severe consequences such as infertility, diabetic, obesity, carcinoma, and possess high risk of exposure in aquatic ecosystem. To this, we crafted an ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor based on the manganese sulfide nanoparticles (MnS NPs) catalyzed electrochemical oxidation of BPA, and its eventual application in rapid screening of BPA contamination. The physiochemical characteristics and electrocatalytic performance of the MnS nanocatalyst have been well studied and utilized in the fabrication of MnS/GCE based BPA sensor. The fabricated BPA sensor has shown a broad dynamic range (20 nM-2.15 mM), lower detection limits (6.52 nM) and promising towards rapid screening of BPA contaminations in food and environmental samples under mimicked real-world conditions with excellent accuracy and precision.

Rapid One-Pot Synthesis of Polydopamine Encapsulated Carbon Anchored with Au Nanoparticles: Versatile Electrocatalysts for Chloramphenicol and Folic Acid Sensors.

Designing and engineering nanocomposites with tailored physiochemical properties through teaming distinct components is a straightforward strategy to yield multifunctional materials. Here, we describe a rapid, economical, and green one-pot microwave synthetic procedure for the preparation of ternary nanocomposites carbon/polydopamine/Au nanoparticles (C/PDA/AuNPs; C = carbon nanotubes (CNTs), reduced graphene oxide (rGO)). No harsh reaction conditions were used in the method, as are used in conventional hydrothermal or high-temperature methods. The PDA unit acts as a non-covalent functionalizing agent for carbon, through π stacking interactions, and also as a stabilizing agent for the formation of AuNPs. The CNTs/PDA/AuNPs modified electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity to oxidize chloramphenicol and the resulting sensor exhibited a low detection limit (36 nM), wide linear range (0.1-534 µM), good selectivity (against 5-fold excess levels of interferences), appreciable reproducibility (3.47%), good stability (94.7%), and practicality (recoveries 95.0%-98.4%). Likewise, rGO/PDA/AuNPs was used to fabricate a sensitive folic acid sensor, which exhibits excellent analytical parameters, including wide linear range (0.1-905 µM) and low detection limit (25 nM). The described synthetic route includes fast reaction time (5 min) and a readily available household microwave heating device, which has the potential to significantly contribute to the current state of the field.

Ratiometric electrochemical molecular switch for sensing hypochlorous acid: Applicable in food analysis and real-time in-situ monitoring.

A ratiometric electrochemical molecular sensing platform for real-time quantification of extracellular hypochlorous acid (HClO) production has been developed based on a latent electrochemical probe aminoferrocene thiocarbamate (AFTC 3). The substrate AFTC consist of a masked redox reporter amino ferrocene (AF 4) linked with a dimethylthiocarbamate trigger via hydroxyl benzyl alcohol. The conceptual idea behind the probe design is based on a specific chemical interaction between HClO and dimethylthiocarbamate, which allows only HClO to unmask the probe to releases AF. The scheme was manipulated to establish a highly selective (in presence of various reactive oxygen species, anions and other biological interfering species) and sensitive (detection limit 75 nM) sensing platform not only in lab samples but also in real samples (food samples, and live cells). Real-time in situ quantification platform was developed to profile HClO productions in macrophages, and it did so with great consistency.

Electrochemical substrate for active profiling of cellular surface leucine aminopeptidase activity and drug resistance in cancer cells.

Leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) is an essential proteolytic enzyme and potential biomarker for liver malignancy. Overexpression of LAP is directly linked with some fatal physiological and pathological disorders. In this regard, we have designed an activity based electrochemical substrate leucine-benzyl ferrocene carbamate (Leu-FC) for selective profiling of LAP activity in live cells. In practice, LAP instantaneously hydrolyze the Leu residue of the substrate Leu-FC to eliminate the unmasked electrochemical reporter amino ferrocene via predefined self-immolative cascade. The electrochemical signal is distinctly specific for LAP and free of other electroactive biological interference. The substrate Leu-FC empowered sensor displayed broad dynamic range with admirable detection limits. On top of this, the probe Leu-FC was employed in real-time active profiling of cellular LAP activity in HepG2 cells and effect of LAP inhibitor. In extent, the substrate Leu-FC can effectively monitor cisplatin induced overexpression of LAP activity in HepG2 cells in presence and absence of bestatin. The sensor showcased an excellent reliability towards monitoring cellular LAP activity in HepG2 cells. Unlike the traditional antibody-based immunoassays, our approach is capable of monitoring in-situ activity of LAP in live cells.

Histopathological assessment of prognostic factors in pancreatic resection specimens using a standardised protocol.

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma involving the pancreas shows differences in prognostic parameters including resection margin status depending on subtype. AIM: To assess the reported incidence of each type and the rate of R1 resection using detailed histopathological examination protocol. METHODS: All pancreaticoduodenectomies between June 2011 and June 2013 at our institute were analysed. These were classified according to the site of origin, R1 status, size, stage at resection, lymph node status and the rate of lymphovascular and perineural invasion. RESULTS: 58 adenocarcinomas included 23 ductal, 16 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) related, 8 duodenal, 7 ampullary and 4 distal common bile duct (CBD) tumours. The CBD, pancreatic ductal and IPMN-related adenocarcinomas had the highest rates of R1 resection, at 75%, 69.5 and 62.5%, with the posterior and SMV margins most frequently involved. Ampullary adenocarcinoma had lower rates of R1 resection (14%) as well as perineural invasion (0%). CONCLUSION: Ampullary adenocarcinomas had a lower rate of R1 resection and perineural invasion, both of which are parameters associated with a poorer outcome. This correlates with literature indicating ampullary tumours have a better prognosis. Our study also highlights the high rate of detection of microscopic margin involvement when a detailed histopathological examination protocol is employed.

Simplistic synthesis of ultrafine CoMnO3 nanosheets: An excellent electrocatalyst for highly sensitive detection of toxic 4-nitrophenol in environmental water samples.

Design and fabrication of cost effective analytical tools to monitor toxic organic emissions in eco system is of a great necessity. Nitrophenols are a class of widespread toxic organic pollutant lead to serious adverse effects in biosphere on its consumption. This article reports a high sensitive, cost effective, robust electrochemical sensor for 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in environmental water samples. A novel sheet like CoMnO3 (CMO Ns) nanocatalyst was synthesized via oxalic acid assisted co-precipitation technique and employed as electrocatalyst for the high sensitive detection of 4-NP. The physiochemical properties of CMO Ns are studied in detail via XRD, FTIR, TEM, TGA, and XPS. TEM results reviled the protocol is an excellent way for synthesis of a uniformly distributed CMO Ns with lathery surface. Evident to the surface and other physiochemical studies the CMO Ns based sensor holds superior electrocatalytic activity towards 4-NP detection with excellent sensitivity (2.458 µA µM-1 cm-2) coupled with nanomolar detection (10 nm) limits. Moreover, the constructed sensor holds reliable long-term durability, good reproducibility, and excellent working stability. The practical applicability of the developed sensor was evaluated by determination of 4-NP in samples acquired from water resources with RSD ± 3.3%.

Ultrasonic energy-assisted preparation of ß-cyclodextrin-carbon nanofiber composite: Application for electrochemical sensing of nitrofurantoin.

A simple ultrasonic energy assisted synthesis of ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) supported carbon nanofiber composite (CNF) and its potential application in electrochemical sensing of antibiotic nitrofurantoin (NFT) is reported. The elemental composition and surface morphology of the ß-CD/CNF composite was validated through Field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The uniform enfolding of hydrophilic ß-CD over CNF enhance the aqueous dispersion and offer abundant active surface to the ß-CD/CNF composite. Further, the electrocatalytic efficacy of the ß-CD/CNF composite is utilized to fabricate an electrochemical sensor for the high sensitive quantitative detection of NFT. Under optimized analytical conditions, the sensor displays a broad working range of 0.004-308 µM and calculated detection limit of 1.8 nM, respectively. In addition, the sensor showcased a good selectivity, storage, and working stability, with amiable reproducibility. The point-of-care applicability of the sensor was demonstrated with NFT spiked human blood serum and urine sample with reliable analytical performance. The simple, cost-effective NFT sensor based on ß-CD/CNF offered outstanding analytical performance in real-world samples with higher reliability.

Facile Solvothermal Preparation of Mn2CuO4 Microspheres: Excellent Electrocatalyst for Real-Time Detection of H2O2 Released from Live Cells.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an eminent biomarker in pathogenesis; a selective, highly sensitive real-time detection of H2O2 released from live cells has drawn a significant research interest in bioanalytical chemistry. Binary transition-metal oxides (BTMOs) displayed a recognizable benefit in enhancing the sensitivity of H2O2 detection; although the reported BTMO-based H2O2 sensor's detection limit is still insufficient, it is not appropriate for in situ profiling of trace amounts of cellular H2O2. In this paper, we describe an efficient, reliable electrochemical biosensor based on Mn2CuO4 (MCO) microspheres to assay cellular H2O2. The Mn2CuO4 microspheres were prepared through a superficial solvothermal method. It is obvious from impedance studies, introduction of manganese into copper oxide lattice significantly improved the ionic conductivity, which is beneficial for the electrochemical sensing process. Thanks to the distinct microsphere structure and excellent synergy, MCO-modified electrode exhibited excellent nonenzymatic electrochemical behavior toward H2O2 sensing. The MCO-modified electrode delivered a broad working range (36 nM to 9.3 mM) and an appreciable detection limit (13 nM), with high selectivity toward H2O2. To prove its practicality, the developed sensor was applied in the detection of cellular H2O2 released by RAW 264.7 cells in presence of CHAPS. These results label the possible appliance of the sensor in clinical analysis and pathophysiology. Thus, BTMOs are evolving as a promising candidate in designing catalytic matrices for biosensor applications.

Electrochemical Molecular Switch for the Selective Profiling of Cysteine in Live Cells and Whole Blood and for the Quantification of Aminoacylase-1.

A first-of-a-kind latent electrochemical redox probe, ferrocene carbamate phenyl acrylate (FCPA), was developed for the selective detection of cysteine (Cys) and aminoacylase (ACY-1). The electrochemical signal generated by this probe was shown to be highly specific to Cys and insensitive to other amino acids and biological redox reactants. The FCPA-incorporated electrochemical sensor exhibited a broad dynamic range of 0.25-100 µM toward Cys. This probe also proficiently monitored the ACY-1-catalyzed biochemical transformation of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) into Cys, and this proficiency was used to develop an electrochemical assay for quantifying active ACY-1, which it did so in a dynamic range of 10-200 pM (0.1-2 mU/cm3) with a detection limit of 1 pM (0.01 mU/cm3). Furthermore, the probe was utilized in real-time tracking and quantification of cellular Cys production, specifically in Escherichia coli W3110, along with a whole blood assay to determine levels of Cys and spiked ACY-1 in blood with a reliable analytical performance.

Effects of Tinospora cordifolia supplementation on semen quality and hormonal profile in rams.

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of dietary supplementation of Tinospora cordifolia on physico-morphological, biochemical, antioxidant profiles and serum testosterone concentration in Muzzafarnagari rams. Twelve rams were randomly divided into two groups, control (n=6) and supplemental (n=6) group. The control group was fed with a diet satisfying NRC recommendations whereas the supplemental group was fed with T. cordifolia at the rate of 1g/kg body weight for 6 months. The semen samples were collected 60 days post-feeding. The result revealed that T. cordifolia supplementation did not have a significant effect on physico-morphological, biochemical attributes of semen and serum testosterone concentrations in rams. The concentration of cholesterol, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were, however, increased (P<0.05) in seminal plasma. It was concluded that the possible protective effects of T. cordifolia supplementation were enhancing antioxidant enzymes and cholesterol concentrations in semen which may be protected the spermatozoa during cryopreservation and thus enhancing fertility in farm animals.

Evaluation of accuracy of direct transfer snapon impression coping closed tray impression technique and direct transfer open tray impression technique: an in vitro study.

Accuracy of the implant impression technique is one of the key factor determining the strain free fit of the prosthesis fabricated which influences the treatment success. Two implant impression techniques namely the closed tray technique with transfer coping and open tray technique were evaluated for accuracy with stone casts obtained from them. Casts were evaluated using a custom constructed bar on strain gage (SYSCOM) and abutment coordinates using Coordinate Measuring Machine (TESA micro-HITE). The statistical analysis with one way ANOVA and Mann-Whitney tests show that the casts obtained with open tray technique were accurate than the casts of closed tray technique (significance P < 0.001). Direct transfer impression technique with less number of components ensures the high accuracy of transfer of implant positions from master cast to the laboratory cast compared to the indirect transfer impression technique.

Custom-made ocular prosthesis.

An ocular defect may affect a patient psychologically. An ocular prosthesis is given to uplift the patient psychologically and improve the confidence. Ocular prosthesis can be custom made or a stock shell. To improve the comfort and matching of the prosthesis with that of the adjacent natural eye an custom made ocular prosthesis is preferred. Different techniques are available to fabricate a custom ocular prosthesis, here we have used paper iris disk technique.

Pharmaco-prosthodontics revisited.

Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. The two main aspects of concern are the effects of drugs on biological systems and the effect of biological systems on efficacy and metabolism of drugs. Prosthodontics is that specialty of dentistry which deals with patients of all ages, hence making it more important to know about the local and systemic effects of drugs and their side effects. The aim of this article is to provide necessary information about the drugs to make a more knowledgeable assessment when prescribing any drug to the patients. Pharmacology in prosthodontics is a field which needs further research and studies as it is one of the most neglected fields and is often underestimated by clinicians.

The relative influence of phosphorylation and methylation on responsiveness of peptides to MALDI and ESI mass spectrometry.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of post-translational protein modifications by mass spectrometry is often hampered by changes in the ionization/detection efficiencies caused by amino acid modifications. This paper reports a comprehensive study of the influence of phosphorylation and methylation on the responsiveness of peptides to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry. Using well-characterized synthetic peptide mixtures consisting of modified peptides and their unmodified analogs, relative ionization/detection efficiencies of phosphorylated, monomethylated, and dimethylated peptides were determined. Our results clearly confirm that the ion yields are generally lower and the signal intensities are reduced with phosphopeptides than with their nonphosphorylated analogs and that this has to be taken into account in MALDI and ESI mass spectrometry. However, the average reduction of ion yield caused by phosphorylation is more pronounced with MALDI than with ESI. The unpredictable impact of phosphorylation does not depend on the hydrophobicity and net charge of the peptide, indicating that reliable quantification of phosphorylation by mass spectrometry requires the use of internal standards. In contrast to phosphorylation, mono- and dimethylated peptides frequently exhibit increased signal intensities in MALDI mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Despite minor matrix-dependent variability, MALDI methods are well suited for the sensitive detection of dimethylated arginine and lysine peptides. Mono- and dimethylation of the arginine guanidino group did not significantly influence the ionization efficiency of peptides in ESI-MS.