Electro-chemical studies of Zn doped nickel oxide nanoparticles synthesized via solution combustion method using green and chemical fuels.

This study presents a new green solution combustion method (aloe vera gel extract as fuel) and chemical method (glucose as fuel) to synthesise Zn-doped nickel oxide nanoparticles (Zn:NiO NPs). The face centered cubic crystal structure (FCC) phase was validated by PXRD, while the produced samples' spongy, spherical, agglomerated, and porous characteristics were shown by electron microscopy. The energy band gap values of 4.21 eV and 4.09 eV, respectively, were deduced for green and chemically synthesized Zn:NiO NPs. The reversibility was demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry with a lower EO-ER value for the green-Zn:NiO electrode. The studies on electrochemical impedance confirmed strong conductivity for the NPs by demonstrating a low charge transfer resistance. The Zn:NiO NPs are easily convertible into a stable electrode material that may be used in supercapacitors. According to the findings, Zn:NiO is an economical and promising material for use in supercapacitors in the future.

Finding potential inhibitors for Main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 through virtual screening and MD simulation studies.

SARS-CoV-2 is a highly hazardous species that can infect people with Covid-19 disease, dramatically increasing mortality rates worldwide. Plenty of researches have been done to find drugs or inhibitors, with this study aiming to identify an inhibitor within the ChEMBL database using computational approaches. From the ChEMBL library, 19,43,048 compounds which are known type of small compounds and proteins were downloaded and docked with the Main protease (Mpro). After performing compound screening using Lipinski's rule, Qikprop analysis following with virtual Screening, Induced Fit Docking (IFD) and MM-GBSA analysis with the Glide and Prime modules of Schrödinger, the best complex was subjected to MD simulation with Desmond. According to the docking results, small protein 2,371,668 and compound 1,090,395 were docked with Main protease with -12.6, -12.0 kcal/mol dock score and interacted with the functional site residues His 41 and Cys 145, as well as the binding site residues Thr 26, Phe 140, Asn 142, Gly 143, Glu 166, and Gln 189. Complex structures were shown to be steadier by the MD simulation study because both the ligands heavy atoms and the protein Cα atoms' RMSD values fell within acceptable ranges. As a result, this research suggests that the molecule CHEMBL2371668 and the compound CHEMBL1090395 may inhibit the activity of Main protease, and the usefulness of these molecules will be examined further through experimental research.

Malignant Infantile Osteopetrosis with Bone Marrow Involvement.

Osteopetrosis (Marble bone disease) is a very rare congenital genetic disease of skeleton, resulting from defective bone resorption, due to functionally defective osteoclast, leading to accumulation of excessive bone mass. Malignant infantile osteopetrosis (MIO) is one of the varieties of osteopetrosis, which is fatal and is diagnosed in early infancy. Malignant infantile osteopetrosis is present with abnormal bone remodeling, hematological abnormities, features of extramedullary hematopoiesis. Radiology is the key of diagnosis. In this case, we present a 5-monthold male infant diagnosed as malignant infantile osteopetrosis, who presented with bronchopneumonia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, failure to thrive (FTT).

Identification of potential drug targets in human pathogen Bacillus cereus and insight for finding inhibitor through subtractive proteome and molecular docking studies.

Bacillus cereus is a gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium related to food poisoning in humans. Vomit and diarrhea are the symptoms of foodborne B. cereus infection caused by emetic toxins and three enterotoxins, respectively. This bacterium is broadly present in soil and foods such as vegetables, spices, milk, and meat. The antibiotics impenem, vancomycin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin are used for all susceptible strains of B. cereus. But these antibiotics cause side effects in the host due to the drug-host interaction; because the targeted proteins by the drugs are not pathogen specific proteins, they are similar to human proteins also. To overcome this problem, this study focused on identifying putative drug targets in the pathogen B. cereus and finding new drugs to inhibit the function of the pathogen. The identification of drug targets is a pipeline process, starting with the identification of targets non-homologous to human and gutmicrobiota proteins, finding essential proteins, finding other proteins that highly interact with these essential proteins that are also highly important for protein network stability, finding cytoplasmic proteins with a clear pathway and known molecular function, and finding non-druggable proteins. Through this process, two novel drug targets were identified in B. cereus. Among the various antibiotics, Gentamicin had showed good binding affinity with the identified novel targets through molecular modeling and docking studies using Prime and GLIDE module of Schrödinger. Hence, this study suggest that the identified novel drug targets may very useful in drug therapeutic field for finding inhibitors which are similar to Gentamicin and designing new formulation of drug molecules to control the function of the foodborne illness causing pathogen B. cereus.

Ethical issues surrounding childhood tuberculosis.

Each year, at least one million children become ill with tuberculosis (TB) and more than 253 000 died of TB in 2016. The ethical issues surrounding childhood TB remain underexplored, and established or proposed management strategies are scarce. In this paper, we identify ethical challenges that are raised by childhood TB. Some of them are familiar from TB in other populations but arise with increased severity in children. We discuss interconnected and mutually reinforcing difficulties clustered around the topics of susceptibility, diagnosis, reporting, service provision, treatment, psychological and social support, and research and development (R&D) neglect. We formulate suggestions on how to address these ethical issues. For developing sound research agendas and policies based on the WHO End TB Strategy, it is essential that diagnosis and reporting improve. There is a duty to care for and provide available interventions to children with TB even if they are not a major source of transmission, and therefore no major impact on public health is expected. Treatment should be accompanied by counselling, health education, psychological and material support to TB-affected children and their families. Children need to be included equitably and more systematically into the TB research agenda.

Sonographic Evaluation of Colonic Carcinoma in Comparison to Colonoscopy.

Colon cancer is one of the main causes of cancer death. Diagnosis requires the examination of the entire large bowel by means of radiological or endoscopic techniques. Though there is not a remarkable advancement in gastrointestinal (GI) tract evaluations, the modern radiological imaging methods emphasize the importance of ultrasonography (US) evaluations and stand US out as the scanning method in malignancies of the GI tract. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of cancers of the colon & it's accuracy in comparison to colonoscopy. This cross sectional analytical study included a total of 62 patients, including 38(61.29%) male and 24(38.71%) female patients who came at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital & Popular Diagnostic Center, Mymensingh from January 2013 to November 2015 & whose ultrasonography and endoscopic examinations were planned with suspicion of colon cancer. Considering the colonoscopic biopsy as a gold standard, the sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the ultrasonography were evaluated manually. All patients underwent ultrasonography and colonoscopy and results were compared with histopathologic diagnosis. Malignancy was histopathologically identified in 37(59.68%) patients. The sensitivity of ultrasound to identify colon cancer was 86.48%, its specificity was 84%, positive predictive value and negative predictive value was 88.89% & 80.77% respectively. The sensitivity of endoscopic intervention was 100%, its specificity was 96% and positive predictive value was 93.7%. Likewise, a series of analytical and clinical parameters were evaluated, in an attempt to establish associated factors of a colon cancer by means of the statistical package SPSS 13.0 for Windows. Therefore, we believe that abdominal ultrasonography which is non-invasive, easily accessible, cost-efficient method may detect a colonic mass or wall thickening consistent with a colonic carcinoma with a high degree of accuracy.

Comparison between Angiographic Findings of Coronary Artery Disease in STEMI and NSTEMI Patients of Bangladesh.

Coronary Angiogram (CAG) has been used to detect coronary artery disease in myocardial infarction (both STEMI and NSTEMI) patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the degree of coronary artery disease among STEMI and NSTEMI patients. Among acute coronary syndrome in NSTEMI we found more widespread coronary artery disease other than STEMI. Lack of documentations encouraged us to perform this study in our center. In this retrospective observational study we summarized all myocardial infarction (MI) patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) from August 2013 to August 2014 at Enam Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh and data of degree of coronary artery disease were recorded. Data of 100 consecutive MI patients who underwent CAG during that period were recorded. Among them 50 patients having STEMI as Group I (male 45, female 5) & other 50 patients sustained NSTEMI as Group II (male 38, female 12). Among NSTEMI patient group 80% were having multi-vessel disease and in STEMI patient group 80% having single vessel disease and remaining having multi-vessel disease. The degree of coronary artery disease is extensive in NSTEMI patients than in STEMI group. Coronary angiogram can visualize the degree of coronary artery involvement and is a useful screening modality to compare disease extent in MI patients.

An improved method of transcutaneous cisterna magna puncture for cerebrospinal fluid sampling in rats.

A simple, reproducible and chronic technique of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection in rats was developed by direct cisterna magna (CM) puncture utilizing stereotaxic apparatus. CSF collection apparatus was constructed using 1 mL syringe, silicone tubing, 21G disposable needle and water. Animal was placed on an elevated platform over stereotaxic apparatus base and puncture site was identified with the aid of stereotaxic co-ordinates. The volume of CSF collected varied from 100 to 180 µL with mean CSF volume of 150 µL. Neurological deficits were recorded according to the modified Bederson's scoring system 24h post CSF collection and differential cell count in CSF samples was performed. Animals continued to be normal with regular feed intake and gained body weight (∼24%) even after repeated sampling for four weeks and showed no severe neurological deficits (mean Bederson score<1 for four weeks). Neuropharmacokinetic data for Phenytoin sodium, MS 275 and Valproic acid (VPA) demonstrated CSF uptake with CSF(AUC)/plasma(AUC) ratio (K(p,CSF)) of 0.09, 0.01 and 0.33, respectively. This model exemplifies the 3R's of animal use and has been successfully implemented at Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited for lead optimization of CNS penetrating HDAC inhibitors.

Treatment of posttraumatic painful neuromas at the digit tip using neurovascular island flaps.

PURPOSE: We report the treatment of 9 patients with 9 painful neuromas at the tips of the digits using reverse pedicled island flaps containing subcutaneous nerves that were connected to the digital nerve stumps after removal of the neuromas. METHODS: There were 9 patients (7 men and 2 women) with painful cutaneous neuromas at the tips of the digits. The ages of the patients at time of surgery were 21 to 66 years (mean, 46 y). All neuromas were formed in the palmar digital nerves in the hand. Preoperative and postoperative status of the patients with neuromas were assessed and graded using a system modified from previously described grading systems for patients with neuromas. Recovery of sensation in the transplanted skin islands was assessed using the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test. RESULTS: In the preoperative assessment of patients using the grading system for neuromas, 3 patients were assessed as grade 4 (severe), 5 patients as grade 3 (moderate), and the remaining patient as grade 2 (mild). After surgery, Tinel sign disappeared completely in 6 of 9 patients. According to the grading system for neuromas, 6 patients were assessed as grade 1 (normal), and the other 3 patients were assessed as grade 2 (mild) postoperatively. Using the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test for assessing recovery of sensation of the skin islands, 3 patients recognized the 2.83 monofilament (normal), 2 patients recognized the 3.22 monofilament (loss of tactile sense), and the remaining 4 patients recognized the 3.66 monofilament applied (loss of tactile sense). CONCLUSIONS: This skin island approach provided us with good pain control and recovery of hand function after painful neuromas. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

Lymphedema: an unusual complication of sirolimus therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Lymphedema is an increasingly observed complication of sirolimus (SIR) therapy. In this report, we describe four renal recipients with SIR-induced lymphedema of varying severity. CASES REPORTS: Patient 1, a 38-year-old man developed lymphedema of the left upper limb after being exposed to SIR for 30 months (mean daily Rapamune dose, 3 mg; trough level, 10-18 ng/mL). Venography and duplex ultrasound were normal. Lymphangiography was showed delayed lymphatic drainage. SIR was replaced with Prograf with significant improvement in the lymphedema over the next 6 months. Patient 2, a 26-year-old woman, developed lymphedema of the left lower limb at 24 months after starting SIR (mean daily dose, 3 mg; trough level, 10-15 ng/mL). Lymphangiography showed delayed drainage of lymphatics in the left lower limb. The patient was shifted to Prograf and there was some improvement over the next 4 months. Patient 3, a 28-year-old man, developed lymphedema of the left upper limb at 24 months after the start of SIR (mean daily dose, 2 mg, trough level, 6-15 ng/mL). Lymphangiography showed evidence of lymphatic obstruction. SIR was changed to cyclosporine with only mild improvement in lymphedema over the next 6 months. Patient 4, a 46-year-old man, developed lymphedema of the right upper limb at 7 months after starting SIR (mean daily dose, 6 mg; trough level, 10-16 ng/mL). Lymphangiography showed complete blockage of the lymphatic channels. SIR was changed to cyclosporine and there was mild improvement in lymphedema over the next 8 to 10 months. CONCLUSION: The exact mechanism of SIR-induced lymphedema is unknown. The absence of other demonstrable etiologies and spontaneous improvement after discontinuation of SIR suggest that this drug was the responsible factor in these four patients. It occurred 7 to 30 months after transplantation. This is the fourth such report in the literature to the best of our knowledge.

Anti-diarrhoeal evaluation of Clerodendrum phlomidis Linn. leaf extract in rats.

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of leaves of Clerodendrum phlomidis Linn. (MECP) (Family: Verbenaceae) for its anti-diarrhoeal potential against several experimental models of diarrhoea in Wistar albino rats. MECP showed significant inhibitory activity against castor oil induced diarrhoea and PGE2 induced enteropooling in rats. The extract also showed a significant reduction in gastrointestinal motility in charcoal meal test in rats. The results obtained establish the efficacy and substantiated the folklore claim as an anti-diarrhoeal agent.

Temperature-dependent changes in the sugar and fatty acid composition of lipopolysaccharides from Yersinia enterocolitica strains.

Yersinia enterocolitica S and R strains change the pattern and the amount of their lipopolysaccharide-linked fatty acids with the respective growth temperature. As described also for other enterobacterial strains, saturated fatty acids are decreased, especially the amount of C14:0, when growth was done at 10 degrees C and unsaturated fatty acids, notably C16:1 (palmitoleic acid), appear, which are present in trace amounts only when bacteria are grown at 40 degrees C. In addition to these changes in the fatty acids, also the amount of O-specific sugars is temperature-dependent. 6-Deoxy-L-altrose which is the only main O-specific sugar in the LPS investigated, amounts to 30-40% (based on LPS dry weight) when grown at 10 degrees C, but only to 13-20% when growth was done at 40 degrees C. The decrease in O-specific material at 40 degrees C can at least partly be explained by the finding of a high number of unsubstituted R core stubs in polyacryl gel-electrophoresis.

Reactivity of isolated lipopolysaccharides of enterobacterial R mutants with complete or incomplete core structures with lectins.

Alkali-treated lipopolysaccharides of a range of enterobacterial R mutants with complete and incomplete core structures were investigated by agar gel and microcapillary precipitation onto their reactivity with three selected commercial lectins, namely Concanavalin A, Ricinus communis agglutinin and Wheat germ agglutinin. R lipopolysaccharides with complete R cores of the six so far established core types were differentiable from each other by their characteristic lectin reactivity pattern. One core type showed no reaction with all the three lectins. R lipopolysaccharides with incomplete core structure showed in general the reactivity pattern predictable from their individual chemical configuration. It was further shown that substitution of complete R cores by haptens (T1, T2 or ECA) or by a single repeating unit (SR mutant) did not change the reactivity pattern, although some interactions were less pronounced. It will be demonstrated that lectin precipitation can be of help for structural studies in recognizing, for example, terminal sugar units and their anomeric linkages.