Bone mineral density, vertebral fractures and trabecular bone score in primary ovarian insufficiency.

PURPOSE: Bone health in primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is under-investigated. We assessed patients with spontaneous POI for vertebral fractures (VFs) and related parameters of bone health. METHODS: 70 cases with spontaneous POI (age 32.5 ± 7.0 years) and an equal number of controls were assessed for BMD, TBS, and VFs. BMD at the lumbar-spine (L1-L4), left hip, non-dominant forearm, and TBS (iNsight software) were measured on a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) machine. VFs were assessed by Genant's classification. Serum FSH, LH, estradiol, T4, TSH, iPTH, serum 25(OH)D, total calcium, and inorganic phosphorus were measured. RESULTS: BMD at the lumbar-spine, hip and forearm was reduced by 11.5%, 11.4% and 9.1% in POI as compared to controls (P < 0.001). Degraded or partially degraded microarchitecture on TBS was observed in 66.7% of patients and 38.2% of controls (P = 0.001). 15.7% of the POI patients had VFs, compared to 4.3% of controls (P = 0.045). Age, duration of amenorrhea and duration of HRT use were the significant predictors of TBS (P < 0.01). Serum 25(OH)D was the significant determinant of VFs. TBS abnormalities were higher in patients with POI and VFs. BMD was not significantly different in patients with and without VFs. CONCLUSION: Thus, lumbar-spine osteoporosis, impaired TBS and VFs were present in 35.7%, 66.7% and 15.7% of patients with spontaneous POI in their early third decade. This indicates need for rigorous investigations for impaired bone health in these young patients and management with HRT, vitamin-D, and possible need for bisphosphonate therapy.

Fabrication and Characterization of ZnO Langmuir-Blodgett Film and Its Use in Metal-Insulator-Metal Tunnel Diode.

Metal-insulator-metal tunnel diodes have great potential for use in infrared detection and energy harvesting applications. The quantum based tunneling mechanism of electrons in MIM (metal-insulator-metal) or MIIM (metal-insulator-insulator-metal) diodes can facilitate rectification at THz frequencies. In this study, the required nanometer thin insulating layer (I) in the MIM diode structure was fabricated using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The zinc stearate LB film was deposited on Au/Cr coated quartz, FTO, and silicon substrates, and then heat treated by varying the temperature from 100 to 550 °C to obtain nanometer thin ZnO layers. The thin films were characterized by XRD, AFM, FTIR, and cyclic voltammetry methods. The final MIM structure was fabricated by depositing chromium/nickel over the ZnO on Au/Cr film. The current voltage (I-V) characteristics of the diode showed that the conduction mechanism is electron tunneling through the thin insulating layer. The sensitivity of the diodes was as high as 32 V(-1). The diode resistance was ∼80 Ω (at a bias voltage of 0.78 V), and the rectification ratio at that bias point was about 12 (for a voltage swing of ±200 mV). The diode response exhibited significant nonlinearity and high asymmetry at the bias point, very desirable diode performance parameters for IR detection applications.

Generation of stable overlaps between antiparallel filaments.

During cell division, sister chromatids are segregated by the mitotic spindle, a bipolar assembly of interdigitating antiparallel polar filaments called microtubules. Establishing a stable overlap region is essential for maintenance of bipolarity, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Using a particle-based stochastic model, we find that the interplay of motors and passive cross-linkers can robustly generate partial overlaps between antiparallel filaments. In this situation, motors reduce the overlap in a length-dependent manner, whereas passive cross-linkers increase it independently of the length. In addition to maintaining structural integrity, passive cross-linkers can thus also have a dynamic role for overlap size regulation.

Modeling effects of SGLT-2 inhibitor dapagliflozin treatment versus standard diabetes therapy on cardiovascular and microvascular outcomes.

AIMS: Dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor, has been shown to lower glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), weight, blood pressure and serum uric acid in clinical trials. Plasma lipids were also evaluated as exploratory variables. The goal of this study was to estimate the long-term cardiovascular (CV) and microvascular outcomes of dapagliflozin added to the standard of care (SOC) versus SOC using simulation methodology. METHODS: The Archimedes Model, a validated model of human physiology, diseases and healthcare systems, was used to model a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) population derived from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with HbA1c 7-10%, taking a single oral antidiabetic agent [metformin, sulfonylureas SU or thiazolidinedione (TZD)] at the beginning of the trial. A 20-year trial was simulated comparing dapagliflozin 10 mg, given in addition to SOC, with SOC alone. SOC was based on American Diabetes Association (ADA)/European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2012 guidelines and included diet, metformin, SU, TZD, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and insulin therapies, with usage levels reflective of those in NHANES. Dapagliflozin effects were derived from phase 3 clinical trial results. End points included CV and microvascular outcomes. RESULTS: Over a 20-year period, patients on dapagliflozin were projected to experience relative reductions in the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, CV death, and all-cause death of 13.8, 9.1, 9.6 and 5.0%, respectively, and relative reductions in the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), foot amputation, and diabetic retinopathy of 18.7, 13.0 and 9.8%, respectively, when compared with SOC. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of simulation results, adding dapagliflozin to currently available treatment options is projected to further decrease the CV and microvascular complications associated with T2DM.

Rainfall, household crowding, and acute respiratory infections in the tropics.

SUMMARYAcute respiratory infections (ARI) are the leading cause of death worldwide in children aged <5 years, and understanding contributing factors to their seasonality is important for targeting and implementing prevention strategies. In tropical climates, ARI typically peak during the pre-rainy and rainy seasons. One hypothesis is that rainfall leads to more time spent indoors, thus increasing exposure to other people and in turn increasing the risk of ARI. A case-crossover study design in 718 Bangladeshi children aged <5 years was used to evaluate this hypothesis. During a 3-month period with variable rainfall, rainfall was associated with ARI [odds ratio (OR) 2·97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·87-4·70]; some evidence of an increased strength of association as household crowding increased was found (≥3 people/room, OR 3·31, 95% CI 2·03-5·38), but there was a lack of association in some of the most crowded households (≥5 to <6 people/room, OR 1·55, 95% CI 0·54-4·47). These findings suggest that rainfall may be increasing exposure to crowded conditions, thus leading to an increased risk of ARI, but that additional factors not captured by this analysis may also play a role.

Cooking fuel type, household ventilation, and the risk of acute lower respiratory illness in urban Bangladeshi children: a longitudinal study.

UNLABELLED: Acute lower respiratory illnesses (ALRI) are the leading cause of death among children <5 years. Studies have found that biomass cooking fuels are an important risk factor for ALRI. However, few studies have evaluated the influence of natural household ventilation indicators on ALRI. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between cooking fuel, natural household ventilation, and ALRI. During October 17, 2004-September 30, 2005, children <5 years living in a low-income neighborhood of Dhaka, Bangladesh, were assessed weekly for ALRI and surveyed quarterly about biomass fuel use, electric fan ownership, and natural household ventilation (windows, ventilation grates, and presence of a gap between the wall and ceiling). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using generalized estimating equations. Six thousand and seventy-nine children <5 years enrolled during the study period (99% participation) experienced 1291 ALRI. In the multivariate model, ≥2 windows [OR = 0.75, 95% CI = (0.58, 0.96)], ventilation grates [OR = 0.80, 95% CI = (0.65, 0.98)], and not owning an electric fan [OR = 1.50, 95% CI = (1.21, 1.88)] were associated with ALRI; gap presence and using biomass fuels were not associated with ALRI. Structural factors that might improve household air circulation and exchange were associated with decreased ALRI risk. Improved natural ventilation might reduce ALRI among children in low-income families. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The World Health Organization has stated that controlling pneumonia is a priority for achieving the fourth Millennium Development Goal, which calls for a two-third reduction in mortality of children <5 years old compared to the 1990 baseline. Our study represents an important finding of a modifiable risk factor that might decrease the burden of respiratory illness among children living in Bangladesh and other low-income settings similar to our study site. We found that the existence of at least two windows in the child's sleeping room was associated with a 25% decreased ALRI risk. Increasing available natural ventilation within the household in similar settings has the potential to reduce childhood mortality because of acute lower respiratory illnesses.

Evaluation of depression and coping skill among HIV-positive people in Kolkata, India.

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate depressive symptoms and coping strategy among HIV-positive women and men. This cross-sectional study was done among 164 newly diagnosed HIV-positive people through a structured questionnaire. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale was used to measure depression. A 16-items coping scale, Coping with AIDS - Fleishman (CWAF) Instrument, was used to assess coping strategy. χ(2) test was used to compare proportions. Men had significantly higher mean BDI somatic score. Odds for being depressed were 3.6 times higher among men (P value .001, 95% C.I. 1.64-8.07). Analysis of the coping strategies showed that women had better coping skill. Significant correlation was observed between BDI score and emotion-focused coping score (correlation coefficient -0.258, P value .01). HIV-positive men had more depression. Gender-sensitive strategies needed to provide better care for them.

Pufferfish poisoning from Arothron stellatus: The first confirmed case in India with exact DNA sequencing-based species identification.

A puffer fish poisoning case was reported from the coastal city of Veraval in the Gujarat state of India with patient reporting symptoms of giddiness, vertigo, aphasia and heaviness of head following consumption of cooked fish. Treatment was purely symptomatic and supportive. The patient was discharged from the hospital in a stable condition after 4 days. The suspected fish species was later identified using DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) sequencing as Arothron stellatus with 100% identity.

Impact of a New Portable Air Purification Technology Device in the Pediatric Hospital Setting - A Pre-post Assessment Study.

Introduction We assessed whether portable photo-electrochemical oxidation (PECO) air purification in the pediatric hospital room setting could improve health outcomes for patients admitted with respiratory distress.  Methods We performed a prospective study evaluating the use of a portable air purifier with PECO technology. The historical control group comprised matched patients. Twenty-seven PECO-equipped portable air filtration devices were placed in the rooms. Clinical endpoints included length of stay in the hospital, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), rates of intubation, non-invasive ventilation, and nebulizer use. Results The mean length of ICU stay was 0.7 days in the pre-intervention period and decreased to 0.4 days post-intervention. The mean length of overall hospitalization reduced by 0.3 days. The rate of non-invasive ventilation use was 77% in the pre-intervention period and decreased to 23% in the post-intervention period. The rate of nebulizer use was 59% in the pre-intervention period and 41% in the post-intervention period. The rate of intubation was 57.1% in the pre-intervention period and 43% in the post-intervention period.  Conclusion  Portable PECO air purification may reduce hospital length of stay, rates of intubation, and need for non-invasive intervention and nebulizers for pediatric patients admitted with respiratory distress.

Laser-enhanced NMR spectroscopy.

Experimental studies show that optical irradiation far from any absorption bands can shift the resonances in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum without significant heating. This effect may lead to increased dispersion in NMR studies of complex molecules.

A simple twist for signal enhancement in non-linear optical microscopy.

We describe a very simple but elegant approach to two-photon fluorescence signal enhancement by intensity modulation with immediate application in two-photon laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy. This method of enhancement shows potential application in any microscopic technique that result from non-linear photon absorption and plays a pivotal role in live cell imaging.

Adding new dimensions to laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy.

We describe a novel method of optical imaging by exploiting simple ideas borrowed from pulsed optics. We show that the use of ultrafast pulsed one-photon excitation in laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy dramatically brings together several advantages offered by two widely used present day microscopic techniques, confocal and multi-photon fluorescence microscopy. The method appears as a novel tool in the context of laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy by having a 'built-in' 3D spatial resolution.

Insecticide resistance and detoxifying enzyme activity in the principal bancroftian filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus, in northeastern India.

The insecticide resistance status of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) to DDT and deltamethrin across army cantonments and neighbouring villages in northeastern India was investigated. In India, DDT is still the insecticide of choice for public health programmes. In military stations, pyrethroids, especially deltamethrins, are used for insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). Recent information on the levels of resistance to DDT and deltamethrin in mosquito populations of northeastern India is scare. Continued monitoring of insecticide resistance status, identification of the underlying mechanisms of resistance in local mosquito populations and the establishment of a baseline data bank of this information are of prime importance. Insecticide susceptibility assays were performed on wild-caught adult female Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes to the discriminating doses recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to DDT (4%) and deltamethrin (0.05%). Across all study sites, mortality as a result of DDT varied from 11.9 to 50.0%, as compared with 91.2% in the susceptible laboratory strain (S-Lab), indicating that Cx. quinquefasciatus is resistant to DDT. The species was found to be 100% susceptible to deltamethrin in all study sites except Benganajuli and Rikamari. Knock-down times (KDT) in response to deltamethrin varied significantly between study sites (P < 0.01) from 8.3 to 17.8 min for KDT(50) and 37.4 to 69.5 min for KDT(90). All populations exceeded the threshold level of alpha-esterase, beta-esterase and glutathion S-transferase (GST) established for the S-Lab susceptible strain, and all populations had 100% elevated esterase and GST activity, except Missamari and Solmara. Beta-esterase activity in Field Unit II (96.9%) was less than in any of the other populations. Benganajuli had the highest activity level for all the enzymes tested. There was a significant correlation between all enzyme activity levels and insecticide resistance phenotype by populations (P < 0.05). The results presented here provide the first report and baseline information of the insecticide resistance status of Cx. quinquefasciatus in northeastern India, and associated information about biochemical mechanisms that are essential for monitoring the development of insecticide resistance in the area.

Room temperature reversible hydrogen storage in polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers.

We report for the first time the reversible hydrogen storage behavior at room temperature in polyaniline nanofibers. The rate of hydrogen sorption during the initial run was very rapid and an extended plateau pressure of about 30 bars was obtained from the pressure-composition isotherm profiles of these polyaniline nanofibers. The reversible cycling capacity of approximately 3-4 wt% was demonstrated at room temperature and has been attributed to the unique nanofibrous microstructural and surface properties.

Swyer syndrome: presentation and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the spectrum of presentation, natural history and gynaecological outcomes in women with Swyer syndrome. DESIGN: Retrospective notes review. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre for disorders of sex development. POPULATION: A total of 29 adult women with Swyer syndrome. METHODS: Information was collected on age at diagnosis, biometric characteristics, timing of gonadectomy, histology of gonad, bone mineral density, uterine size and fertility. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age at diagnosis, risk of gonadal malignancy, bone mineral density, uterine size. RESULTS: With regard to presentation, 26/29 (90%) women in this series presented with delayed puberty, and the median age at diagnosis was 17.2 years (range 0-55 years). The median age at gonadectomy was 18 years (range 9-33 years). Histology of the gonad was available in 22 women and demonstrated streak gonads with no evidence of malignancy in 12, dysgerminoma in 7 and gonadoblastoma in 3. The youngest patient diagnosed with dysgerminoma was 10 years old. The median height of the women was 1.73 m (range 1.54-1.95 m). Twelve out of the 20 (60%) women had evidence of osteopenia on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. The uterine size and shape was assessed in eight women after completion of induction of puberty, and the uterine cross-section was found to be significantly lower than that in normal controls. Fertility was achieved with ovum donation in three women, all of whom had live births and one subsequently had a second successful pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis of Swyer syndrome is necessary in view of the risk of dysgerminoma that can develop at an early age. Adequate hormone replacement is required to maintain bone mineral density and may improve the uterine size and shape.

Removal of iron from groundwater by ash: a systematic study of a traditional method.

A traditional method for removal of iron from ground water by using ash has been systematically investigated. Ashes from five different sources, viz., banana rind, banana pseudostem, banana leaf, rice husk and bamboo has been studied. The principle applied is enhanced precipitation of iron at high pH caused by ash. The study included laboratory analysis of some relevant chemical parameters of the ashes and the efficiency of the ashes in removing iron from prefabricated water with respect to quantity of ash and corresponding increase in pH of water. The ash of banana pseudostem has been found to be most suitable for removal of iron. A low-cost and easily made iron removal system for household use has been designed and tested in the laboratory. The ash of banana pseudostem has been found to remove iron to below 0.3ppm without increasing the pH above the acceptable limit. The optimum values of the different parameters for removal of iron are 200-300mgl(-1) ash, 1.0lh(-1) flow rate and 1h of contact time with ash for groundwater having [Fe] of about 2.20ppm. The amount of ash can be increased for groundwater having higher [Fe] and can be decreased gradually during continuous use of the system. Acceptability of the method has been examined based on chemical analysis of the treated water. Increase in the essential minerals such as Ca, K has been observed in the water after treatment. The designed iron removing system is expected to be suitable for household use.

Excess syncytiotrophoblast microparticle shedding is a feature of early-onset pre-eclampsia, but not normotensive intrauterine growth restriction.

RATIONALE: Syncytiotrophoblast microparticles (STBM) are shed into the maternal circulation in higher amounts in pre-eclampsia compared to normal pregnancy and are believed to be the stimulus for the systemic inflammatory response and endothelial cell damage which characterises the maternal syndrome. The excess shedding of STBM may be caused by hypoxia as a result of poor placentation, which is often a feature of pre-eclampsia. Similar placental pathology occurs in some cases of normotensive intrauterine growth restriction (nIUGR), but in the absence of maternal disease. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the shedding of STBM in nIUGR occurs to the same extent as in pre-eclampsia. METHODS: A prospective case-control study in a tertiary referral centre of: 1) women with early-onset pre-eclampsia (EOPET < 34 week), 2) women with late-onset pre-eclampsia (LOPET > or = 34 week), 3) women with nIUGR), 4) matched normal pregnant women (NPC), and 5) non-pregnant women. An ELISA using the antitrophoblast antibody NDOG2 was used to measure STBM levels in peripheral venous plasma. Non-parametric analyses were conducted with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: STBM levels rise during normal pregnancy. EOPET was associated with increased STBM levels (EOPET (median): 41 ng/ml, n = 15) compared with matched normal pregnancy (16 ng/ml, n = 15; Wilcoxon p = 0.005). LOPET (50 ng/ml, n = 10) and nIUGR (18 ng/ml, n = 8) STBM levels did not differ from matched normal pregnancy (36 ng/ml, n = 15, and 36 ng/ml, n = 8, respectively). Background levels in non-pregnant plasma were 0.49 ng/ml, n = 10. CONCLUSIONS: Increased STBM levels were found in EOPET but not in nIUGR providing further evidence for their role in the pathogenesis of the maternal syndrome.

Assembly of bipolar microtubule structures by passive cross-linkers and molecular motors.

During cell division, sister chromatids are segregated by the mitotic spindle, a bipolar assembly of interdigitating antiparallel polar filaments called microtubules. The spindle contains the midzone, a stable region of overlapping antiparallel microtubules, that is essential for maintaining bipolarity. Although a lot is known about the molecular players involved, the mechanism underlying midzone formation and maintenance is still poorly understood. We study the interaction of polar filaments that are cross-linked by molecular motors moving directionally and by passive cross-linkers diffusing along microtubules. Using a particle-based stochastic model, we find that the interplay of motors and passive cross-linkers can generate a stable finite overlap between a pair of antiparallel polar filaments. We develop a mean-field theory to study this mechanism in detail and investigate the influence of steric interactions between motors and passive cross-linkers on the overlap dynamics. In the presence of interspecies steric interactions, passive cross-linkers mimic the behavior of molecular motors and stable finite overlaps are generated even for non-cross-linking motors. Finally, we develop a mean-field theory for a bundle of aligned polar filaments and show that they can self-organize into a spindlelike pattern. Our work suggests possible ways as to how cells can generate spindle midzones and control their extensions.