Enhanced Xylanolytic enzyme production from Parthenium hysterophorus through assessment of the RSM tool and their application in saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass.

Parthenium hysterophorous, a widespread weed in India, contributes a substantial amount of lignocellulosic biomass. The key objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of producing xylanase enzyme from P. hysterophorus weed biomass using the fungus Aspergillus niger. The impact of various physiological factors was confirmed through a two-step approach: first, a one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) investigation, and subsequently, employing the RSM-based CCD method in statistical design. This research revealed that the RSM-based model led to the optimization of enzyme activity, resulting in a value of 2098.08 IU/gds for xylanase. This was achieved with an incubation time of 4.5 days, a medium pH of 6, and a cultivation temperature of 32.5 °C. Additionally, a pretreatment involving 1% NaOH and a 30-min autoclave treatment was found to alter the chemical composition of lignocellulose substrates (cellulose 43.87% and xylan 28.7%), thereby enhancing the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis. Moreover, fermentable sugars were produced by autoclave-assisted alkali pretreatment (NaOH-1.0% w/v) at rates of 219.6 ± 2.05 mg/gds-1 by utilizing the crude xylanase from A. niger and 291.3 ± 1.2 mg/gds-1 from commercial xylanase enzyme. Our study revealed that P. hysterophorus served as a viable and affordable substrate for fermentable sugar liberation, and xylanase is a rate-limiting enzyme in enzymatic saccharification.

Safety Assessment of a Nucleoside Analogue FNC (2'-deoxy-2'- ß-fluoro-4'-azidocytidine ) in Balb/c Mice: Acute Toxicity Study.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to provide an insight into the acute toxicity of a novel fluorinated nucleoside analogue (FNA), FNC (Azvudine or2'-deoxy-2'-ß-fluoro-4'-azidocytidine). FNC showed potent anti-viral and anti-cancer activities and approved drug for high-load HIV patients, despite, its acute toxicity study being lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: OECD-423 guidelines were followed during this study and the parameters were divided into four categories - behavioral parameters, physiological parameters, histopathological parameters, and supplementary tests. The behavioral parameters included feeding, body weight, belly size, organ weight and size, and mice behavior. The physiological parameters consisted of blood, liver, and kidney indicators. In histopathological parameters hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to analyse the histological changes in the mice organs after FNC exposure. In addition, supplementary tests were conducted to assess cellular viability, DNA fragmentation and cytokine levels (IL-6 and TNF-α) in response to FNC. RESULTS: In the behavioral parameters FNC induced changes in the mice-to-mice interaction and activities. Mice's body weight, belly size, organ weight, and size remained unchanged. Physiological parameters of blood showed that FNC increased the level of WBC, RBC, Hb, and neutrophils and decreased the % count of lymphocytes. Liver enzymes SGOT (AST), and ALP was increased. In the renal function test (RFT) cholesterol level was significantly decreased. Histopathological analysis of the liver, kidney, brain, heart, lungs, and spleen showed no sign of tissue damage at the highest FNC dose of 25 mg/kg b.wt. Supplementary tests for cell viability showed no change in viability footprint, through our recently developed dilution cum-trypan (DCT) assay, and Annexin/PI. No DNA damage or apoptosis was observed in DAPI or AO/EtBr studies. Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α increased in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that FNC is safe to use though higher concentration shows slight toxicity.

Role of Scheimpflug imaging for assessment of posterior lens capsule in pediatric traumatic cataract.

PURPOSE: To find the accuracy of Scheimpflug imaging for the evaluation of posterior lens capsule and to assess the incidence of pre-existing posterior capsular tear (PCT) in pediatric traumatic cataracts. METHODS: It was a prospective, non-randomized, and interventional study. Scheimpflug imaging was done preoperatively to detect pre-existing PCT in pediatric traumatic cataracts after blunt trauma. All patients underwent cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation. Intraoperatively, the posterior capsule status was noted and compared with the preoperative Scheimpflug images. RESULTS: Forty-seven eyes of 47 children having traumatic cataracts following closed-globe injury were included. There were 32 males and 15 females with a mean age of 10.91 ± 2.75 years. The mean duration of performing the Scheimpflug imaging from injury was 41.7 ± 7.78 days. Preoperative Scheimpflug imaging showed intact posterior lens capsule in 36 eyes and PCT in 11 eyes. Intraoperative, 37 eyes had an intact posterior lens capsule and 10 eyes had PCT. The Scheimpflug imaging did not detect the PCT in three eyes (false-negative), and in four eyes, PCT was detected falsely on Scheimpflug imaging (false-positive). The sensitivity and specificity of the Scheimpflug imaging were 70 and 89.18%, respectively. The accuracy of the technique was 85.11%. CONCLUSION: Scheimpflug imaging is a useful modality for the detection of PCT preoperatively in cases with doubtful posterior lens capsule integrity.

Assessment of common risk factors and validation of the Gail model for breast cancer: A hospital-based study from Western India.

OBJECTIVE: Modified Gail Model is a noninvasive, easy to implement risk estimation tool for absolute breast cancer risk. It was developed with data collected from non African American females and further modified for African-American, the Hispanic, and Native American populations. The use of this model for population outside the US and European country is not yet validated. We evaluated the prevalent risk factors and the effectiveness of the Gail model for risk assessment in our local Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was conducted on patients treated between 2008 and 2013. Six hundred and fifty patients were included in each group. Six questions were taken as per the breast cancer risk assessment tool calculator. A value of over 1.67% was taken as a high risk for breast cancer development. RESULTS: The mean age of the participant was 50 ± 21.3 years in cases and 41 ± 16.4 years in controls. Age and age at first childbirth >30 years were found to be significant and associated with increased risk of breast carcinoma, but the age at menarche, family history, previous breast biopsy, and atypical hyperplasia was no significant. The Gail model was assessed, and sensitivity was 10.30% and 96.30% specificity for our population. Positive and negative predictive values were 73.62% and 51.77%. CONCLUSION: Our study concluded that the Gail model is not an appropriate risk assessment tool for the population in its present form. For the future application of this model, we need to perform a bigger study with a higher sample size representing a maximum number of local variabilities in the Indian population.

Radiographic Assessment of Anatomy of Nasopalatine Canal for Dental Implant Placement: A Cone Beam Computed Tomographic Study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the morphology of nasopalatine canal (NPC) with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 460 subjects of both genders were subjected to CBCT with NewTom machine, and sagittal and coronal sections were used for evaluation of the shape of NPC and width of buccal cortical plate. Types of NPC were also assessed. RESULTS: Of 460 subjects, males were 210 and females were 250. The difference was nonsignificant (p = 0.1). Type III canals were mostly seen in both males and females, followed by types I and II. The mean length of NPC in males and females showed statistical significant difference (p < 0.05). Males showed significantly higher diameter of nasal opening, oral opening, and width of the buccal bone plate over the oral opening as compared with females. CONCLUSION: The exact location, morphology, and dimensions of NPC can be well visualized with CBCT. All findings were higher in males as compared with females. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The success of dental implant in maxillary anterior region may be affected by the approximation with NPC. The exact location and morphology play an important role for the correct placement of implant. Cone beam computed tomography is a useful tool providing three-dimensional images in all sections.

Epidemiology and treatment strategies of iliac vein thrombophlebitis.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of iliac vein thrombophlebitis and describe gender differences associated with the management of this pathology. METHODS: The 2010 National Inpatient Sample was retrospectively reviewed to include all inpatients with ICD-9 codes identifying iliac vein thrombophlebitis (451.81). Demographics, disposition, anticoagulation, thrombolytics, stent placement, open operative intervention, complications (deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism), and mortality rates were reported. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and Student's t-testing with P < 0.05 deemed significant. RESULTS: The incidence of iliac vein thrombophlebitis was 1/1,000,000 people. Men had an average age of 48 ± 20 years and women were significantly older at 59 ± 18 years (P = 0.02). There were no differences in treatment strategies or rates of complications between men and women including pulmonary embolism (23% for males, 16% of females) and deep vein thrombosis (29% for males and 19% for females). Length of stay between groups was not significant (11 ± 20 days for males and 7.7 ± 6 days for females). Overall mortality was 1.5%. CONCLUSION: Iliac vein thrombophlebitis is a rare disease. Females who develop iliac vein thrombophlebitis are significantly older than their male counterparts. The rates of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and interventional strategies are not different between the sexes.

Assessment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis pantothenate kinase vulnerability through target knockdown and mechanistically diverse inhibitors.

Pantothenate kinase (PanK) catalyzes the phosphorylation of pantothenate, the first committed and rate-limiting step toward coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis. In our earlier reports, we had established that the type I isoform encoded by the coaA gene is an essential pantothenate kinase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and this vital information was then exploited to screen large libraries for identification of mechanistically different classes of PanK inhibitors. The present report summarizes the synthesis and expansion efforts to understand the structure-activity relationships leading to the optimization of enzyme inhibition along with antimycobacterial activity. Additionally, we report the progression of two distinct classes of inhibitors, the triazoles, which are ATP competitors, and the biaryl acetic acids, with a mixed mode of inhibition. Cocrystallization studies provided evidence of these inhibitors binding to the enzyme. This was further substantiated with the biaryl acids having MIC against the wild-type M. tuberculosis strain and the subsequent establishment of a target link with an upshift in MIC in a strain overexpressing PanK. On the other hand, the ATP competitors had cellular activity only in a M. tuberculosis knockdown strain with reduced PanK expression levels. Additionally, in vitro and in vivo survival kinetic studies performed with a M. tuberculosis PanK (MtPanK) knockdown strain indicated that the target levels have to be significantly reduced to bring in growth inhibition. The dual approaches employed here thus established the poor vulnerability of PanK in M. tuberculosis.

Earlier response assessment in invasive aspergillosis based on the kinetics of serum Aspergillus galactomannan: proposal for a new definition.

BACKGROUND: Current criteria for assessing treatment response of invasive aspergillosis (IA) rely on nonspecific subjective parameters. We hypothesized that an Aspergillus-specific response definition based on the kinetics of serum Aspergillus galactomannan index (GMI) would provide earlier and more objective response assessment. METHODS: We compared the 6-week European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) response criteria with GMI-based response among 115 cancer patients with IA. Success according to GMI required survival with repeatedly negative GMI for ≥2 weeks. Time to response and agreement between the 2 definitions were the study endpoints. RESULTS: Success according to EORTC/MSG and GMI criteria was observed in 73 patients (63%) and 83 patients (72%), respectively. The GMI-based response was determined at a median of 21 days after treatment initiation (range, 15-41 days), 3 weeks before the EORTC/MSG time point, in 72 (87%) of 83 responders. Agreement between definitions was shown in all 32 nonresponders and in 73 of the 83 responders (91% overall), with an excellent κ correlation coefficient of 0.819. Among 10 patients with discordant response (EORTC/MSG failure, GMI success), 1 is alive without IA 3 years after diagnosis; for the other, aspergillosis could not be detected at autopsy. The presence of other life-threatening complications in the remaining 8 patients indicates that IA had resolved. CONCLUSIONS: The Aspergillus-specific GMI-based criteria compare favorably to current response definitions for IA and significantly shorten time to response assessment. These criteria rely on a simple, reproducible, objective, and Aspergillus-specific test and should serve as the primary endpoint in trials of IA.

Bacterial profile of the oropharynx in infants: an assessment of the confounding factors for colonization.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the composition of non pathogenic microflora (NPM) and pathogenic microflora (PM) and the assessment of factors affecting their colonization in the oropharynx. METHODS: Oropharyngeal swabs were obtained from 464 infants, aged 15 days to I year, with or without clinical signs and symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), for the current study.Culture was done on blood and chocolate agar, and the colonies were identified using standard microbiological procedures. RESULTS: The influence of age, presence of siblings and feeding patterns on colonization of oropharynx and the profile of NPM and PM in symptomatic and asymptomatic infants was studied. Colonization of oropharynx by NPM decreased with age whereas by PM increased with age significantly. Isolation of PM significantly increased in cases having siblings less than 18 years of age at home. Season showed a significant influence on the colonization of microflora in the oropharynx. Colonization by NPM was significantly higher in exclusively breast fed (EBF) infants, whereas by PM was higher in mixed fed (MF) infants. Symptomatic infants were higher in the MF group than in EBF group. Certain species of NPM exhibited significant inhibitory effects on colonization of PM. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of the factors influencing the oropharyngeal colonization of microflora in infants identifies the risk factors for various infections in later life.