Molecular Docking and In Vitro Inhibitory Effect of Polyaniline (PANI)/ZnO Nanocomposite on the Growth of Struvite Crystal: a Step Towards Control of UTI.

Nowadays, nanotechnology is gaining interest on diagnostics for several chronic diseases. In the present study, the chemical oxidative method of aniline in acid medium with ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) as an oxidant was employed to develop polyaniline (PANI)-based nanocomposite overflowing/doping on ZnO. The chemical properties, morphology, and structure of the polymer and nanocomposite were investigated using FTIR, XRD, and SEM. The characteristic FTIR peaks of PANI were reported to shift to a higher or lower wave number in PANI-doped ZnO composites due to the formation of H-bonding. Different amounts of ZnO nanoparticles were used to test this influence on the strength of the generated materials. The ability of the PANI-doped ZnO nanocomposite to inhibit struvite crystal growth was determined. The size of struvite crystals was condensed from 2.9 to 1.4 cm at a concentration of 5% PANI-doped ZnO nanoparticles, and the inhibition efficiency of synthesized PANI-doped ZnO against kidney stone (struvite) was confirmed by molecular docking analyzes. The in vitro as well as in silico study revealed the potential applications of polyaniline/ZnO nanocomposite in kidney diseases.

Vitamin D status in Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu, India.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has multifarious roles in maintenance of health and prevention of disease. The present study was undertaken to assess the vitamin D status of a rural adult south Indian population and to identify its associations with socioeconomic status and cultural practices. METHODS: Between June 2015 and July 2016, 424 healthy adults residing in Kattankulathur block in Tamil Nadu, India, provided venous blood samples and answered questions by personal interview. 25-hydroxy vitamin D was estimated by ELISA. RESULTS: Fifty nine (13.9%) of the 424 participants had 25OHD levels below 12 ng/mL (vitamin D deficient) and 175 (41.3%) had 25OHD levels between 12 to 20 ng/mL (vitamin D insufficiency). In univariate analysis, demographic factors associated with vitamin D status included education, occupation, socioeconomic class, and birthplace; lifestyle factors included sun exposure time, skin surface exposed to sunlight, use of sunscreen, awareness of vitamin D, and consumption of fish; and hygiene related factors included source of drinking water, availability of tap water at home, and closed toilet at home. In ordinal logistic regression, the following variables were found to be independently associated with vitamin D sufficiency: Duration of daily sun exposure below 30 min (Odds ratio 0.31, 95% confidence intervals 0.14-0.71, P = 0.006), sun exposure 30-60 min (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.30-0.80, P = 0.004), male gender (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.30-3.09, P = 0.002), higher level of education (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.69-0.94, P = 0.005), non-consumption of fatty fish (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.24-0.85, P = 0.035) and presence of closed toilet system at home (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.37-0.93). CONCLUSION: VDD and VDI are highly prevalent in this rural Indian community. The study identifies socioeconomic and behavior patterns that negatively impact vitamin D sufficiency, thus providing a basis for targeted intervention.

Abnormal amyloid ß42 expression and increased oxidative stress in plasma of CKD patients with cognitive dysfunction: A small scale case control study comparison with Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive dysfunction has been increasingly recognized in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Senile plaques are important pathophysiological characteristic of cognitive dysfunction. The major component of plaques is the amyloid ß (Aß) peptide released from proteolytic cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Plasma Aß has been a focus of the growing literature on blood based biomarkers for cognitive dysfunction. Oxidative stress is prevalent in CKD and it plays an important role in cognitive dysfunction. Increased oxidative stress leads to cause cleavage of APP and Aß production. The aim of this study is to assess the antioxidant status and Aß42 levels in plasma of CKD patients with cognitive dysfunction compared to CKD without cognitive dysfunction. METHODS: A total of 60 subjects divided into 30 CKD without cognitive dysfunction and 30 CKD with cognitive dysfunction based on neuropsychological assessment tests. To compare antioxidant status and Aß42 levels in plasma, the following groups such as healthy subjects (n = 30), normocytic normochromic anemia (n = 30) and Alzheimer's disease (AD, n = 10) patients were also maintained. Plasma Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were determined by spectrophotometrically. Aß level was determined by immunoblotting method. The parameters were statistically compared with healthy, normocytic normochromic anemia and AD subjects. RESULTS: Like AD subjects, significantly increased Aß and LPO level while decreased SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH levels were observed in plasma of CKD patients with cognitive dysfunction when compared to healthy, CKD without cognitive dysfunction and normocytic normochromic anemic subjects. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that elevated plasma oxidative stress and Aß were seen in CKD patients with cognitive dysfunction may be attributed to pathological changes within the brain.

Antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties of diindolylmethane and lupeol against N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine induced bladder carcinogenesis in experimental rats.

INTRODUCTION: Chemoprevention may involve perturbation of a variety of steps in tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory potential effects of diindolylmethane (DIM) and lupeol on experimental bladder carcinogenesis. METHODS: Sixty healthy male Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into six groups, with 10 rats in each group. Group I: control; group II: N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN; 150 mg/gavage/twice a week) for 8 weeks, and then they were given 100 ppm concentrations of dimethylarsenic acid (DMA) in the drinking water for 28 weeks; group III: BBN + DMA + DIM (5 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)/day) treatment was started after BBN treatment, and it was orally administered for 28 weeks); group IV: BBN + DMA + lupeol (50 mg/kg b.w./day) treatment was started after BBN treatment, and it was orally administered for 28 weeks); and groups V and VI: DIM and lupeol treatment alone for 36 weeks. Bladder tissues were collected after 36th week study protocol for further analysis. RESULTS: Our results revealed that DIM and lupeol treatment showed inhibition of tumor growth in the bladder by histopathological confirmations as well as significantly (p < 0.001) increased the expression of phosphotensin (PTEN) and significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the expression of tumor necrosis factor α, nuclear factor κß (p65) were quantified using Western blot analysis. DIM and lupeol treatment significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the levels of Cox-2 in bladder tissue samples and NMP 22 in urine samples were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. CONCLUSION: Preventive DIM and lupeol administration act as potent Cox-2 inhibitors, which activates the tumor suppressor protein PTEN against experimental bladder carcinogenesis by antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties.

Upper airway dimensions and sleep efficiency--three-dimensional imaging analysis and assessment of the nasopharyngeal appliance.

BACKGROUND: Reduction of upper airway (UA) dimensions during sleep is contemplated to cause reduced sleep efficiency (SE) but a definitive association is not affirmed. Efficacy of nasopharyngeal appliance (NPA) in management of UA resistance syndrome (UARS) has not been compared with mandibular repositioning splint (MRS). This study intended to assess relation of UA dimensions to SE and effectiveness of NPA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Research had two phases: Case-control study to determine association between UA and SE; randomized control trial (with independent concurrent trial groups and double-blind design) to analyze treatment outcome with NPA. Subjects were categorized to three groups of 20 in each: A control group of healthy subjects (Group A); two "Randomly Assigned" sample groups of subjects with reduced SE (Groups B and C). Preliminary questionnaire for sleep analysis, Final data collection sheet (first and second case sheets) were recorded, cephalometric variables analyzed, and diagnostic overnight polysomnography was done to match and confirm selection criteria. Three-dimensional computed tomography was done to analyze airway dimensions before and after appliance placement. ANOVA and post-hoc tests were used for statistical analysis of results. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced UA dimension during sleep is associated with reduced SE; NPA gives better improvement for UARS than MRS.

Occurrence of Perchlorate in Various Water Sources in South India.

Iodine is necessary for synthesis of thyroxine within the thyroid gland. Iodine deficiency leads to hypothyroidism and goitre. Sometimes, even when sufficient iodine is present in food and water, goitre occurs. This could be due to some other competing ions in the ingested food and water, which prevent incorporation of iodine into the thyroid gland. Perchlorate is one such ion and has thirty times more affinity to thyroid, than iodine. Perchlorate is discharged into the environment by fireworks and explosives industries. Hence, the perchlorate levels would be higher in and around such industries. This study was done to determine the perchlorate exposure to humans in their habitat. In this study, perchlorate levels in different water sources in localities with and without such industries were ascertained. The estimation was done by two methods (i) Thionine ion pair spectrophotometry and (ii) ion exchange chromatography with conductivity detection methods. In the results, perchlorate level was significantly high in different water sources of industrialized areas, when compared to non-industrial areas. These high levels could be the explanation for the high prevalence of goitre in areas with sufficient iodine availability.

Natural radioactivity content in soil and indoor air of Chellanam.

Contribution of terrestrial radiation due to the presence of naturally occurring radionuclides in soil and air constitutes a significant component of the background radiation exposure to the population. The concentrations of natural radionuclides in the soil and indoor air of Chellanam were investigated with an aim of evaluating the environmental radioactivity level and radiation hazard to the population. Chellanam is in the suburbs of Cochin, with the Arabian Sea in the west and the Cochin backwaters in the east. Chellanam is situated at ∼25 km from the sites of these factories. The data obtained serve as a reference in documenting changes to the environmental radioactivity due to technical activities. Soil samples were collected from 30 locations of the study area. The activity concentrations of (232)Th, (238)U and (40)K in the samples were analysed using gamma spectrometry. The gamma dose rates were calculated using conversion factors recommended by UNSCEAR [United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. UNSCEAR (2000)]. The ambient radiation exposure rates measured in the area ranged from 74 to 195 nGy h(-1) with a mean value of 131 nGy h(-1). The significant radionuclides being (232)Th, (238)U and (40)K, their activities were used to arrive at the absorbed gamma dose rate with a mean value of 131 nGy h(-1) and the radium equivalent activity with a mean value of 162 Bq kg(-1). The radon progeny levels varied from 0.21 to 1.4 mWL with a mean value of 0.6 mWL. The thoron progeny varied from 0.34 to 2.9 mWL with a mean value of 0.85 mWL. The ratio between thoron and radon progenies varied from 1.4 to 2.3 with a mean of 1.6. The details of the study, analysis and results are discussed.

Maduromycosis of the brain. Case report.

A rare case of a gas-containing brain abscess due to verified maduromycosis is described. Blackish material over the abscess cavity revealed the fungal elements. The pus from the abscess contained Streptococcus hemolyticus and Klebsiella organisms.