The structural, DC resistivity and magnetic properties of Zr and Co co-substituted Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4.

The Zr and Co co-substituted Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 have been synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion method. The XRD patterns provide single phase cubic spinel with ( F d 3 ¯ m ( O h 7 )) space group and extra peaks found in XRD patterns from x = 0.24 to x = 0.4. The experimental lattice parameter is increased from 8.3995Å to 8.4129 Å and the theoretical lattice parameter is increased from 8.3948Å to 8.4130Å with increasing dopant concentration. The substitute ions in place of ferric ions cause the significant changes in all structural parameters. The D.C resistivity is increased from 126597 Ω-cm to 684229 Ω-cm and the drift mobility is decreased from 4.9×10-36 cm2/V-s to 1.88× 10-36cm2/V-s with increasing dopant concentration. The activation energy is decreased from 0.2108 eV to 0.0905 eV with increasing doping concentration. The saturation magnetization is decreased from 71.1559 emu/gm to 28.2405 emu/gm and the net magnetic moment is decreased from 6.3556 Bhor magnetons to 2.5523 Bhor magnetons with increasing dopant concentration. The Y-K angles are increased from 20.0723̊ to 59.4274̊ with increasing dopant concentration. The anisotropy constant has increased from 100 to 351 with increasing dopant concentration. The permeability is decreased from 117 to 19.4524 with increasing dopant concentration.

Leptin inhibitors from fungal endophytes (LIFEs): Will be novel therapeutic drugs for obesity and its associated immune mediated diseases.

Treatment of obesity and its associated immune mediated diseases is challenging due to impaired function of leptin system. Thus leptin is providing an interesting target for therapeutic intervention. Leptin, an adipose tissue-derived adipokine, displays a variety of immune functions, and regulate both innate and adaptive immune responses. The increased secretion of leptin (hyperleptinemia) and production of proinflammatory cytokines has been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity-related immune diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atherosclerosis, cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, crohn's disease and multiple sclerosis. These disorders are managed through antibiotics and by cytokines replacement. However, the effectiveness of cytokines coupled to the complexity of the cytokine network leads to severe side-effects, which can still occur after careful preclinical evaluation. In addition, synthetic immunotherapeutics carries a degree of risk, is time-consuming and expensive. Hence, the complexity of existing therapy and adverse effects emphasizes the need of an alternative approach for the management of immune dysfunction associated with obesity and its related diseases. For the aforementioned diseases that are related to leptin overabundance, new drugs blocking leptin signaling need to be generated. The research on the discovery of clinically important novel compounds from natural source is expanding due to their safety and no side effect. The fungal endophytes are the microbes that colonize internal tissue of plants without causing negative effects to the host. They produce plethora of substances of potential use to modern medicinal and pharmaceutical industry. The increasing body of evidence associated with application of bioactive metabolites derived from fungal endophytes in diverse disease states merits its use as therapeutic drugs. In particular, the saponins have been extensively proved to modulate the immune system, which has raised a significant interest in their potential as immunomodulators. Thus, our hypothesis is that the saponins derived from fungal endophytes can be explored as clinical applicable leptin inhibitors for treating immune mediated diseases.

Synthesis and magnetic studies of Co-Ni-Zn ferrite nano crystals.

This paper reports the investigation on synthesis and magnetic characterization of Ni substituted Co0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 nano-particles. The nano-particles of Co(0.8-x)Ni(x)Zn(0.2)Fe2)O4 (x = 0.15, 0.20, 0.35, 0.50, 0.65) were prepared by co-precipitation method. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of single-phase face centered cubic (fcc) spinal structure. The lattice parameter decreased as Ni concentration increased from x = 0 (a = 8.388 A) to x = 0.65 (a = 8.3612 A). The morphology of the particles examined through high-resolution TEM showed a well-isolated and less agglomerated homogeneous distribution of nano-particles which suggests that co-precipitation method is beneficial for magnetic nano-materials synthesis and their characterization. The influence of Ni on magnetic behavior (saturation magnetization and 4piMs) of Co(0.8-x)Ni(x)Zn(0.2)Fe2O4 nano-materials have been evaluated and discussed.

Persistent müllerian duct syndrome in a man with transverse testicular ectopia.

A 33-year-old Pakistani man with transverse testicular ectopia underwent surgery for repair of a left inguinal hernia. At operation a uterine structure with attached vasa deferentia was found in the left inguinal area and it was removed. Transverse testicular ectopia has been reported previously in association with the persistent müllerian duct syndrome. A deficiency of activity of a müllerian inhibiting substance during gestation is believed to be responsible for this syndrome. Most patients usually are sterile. Cloning of the gene for a müllerian inhibiting substance should permit studies of the pathogenesis of the persistent müllerian duct syndrome.

Effect of liquid diphenoxylate hydrochloride and atropine sulfate (Lomotil) instillations on dynamics and function of continent cecal urinary reservoirs.

We assessed the impact of twice daily instillations of 10 ml. liquid diphenoxylate hydrochloride and atropine sulfate (Lomotil) on the dynamics and function of continent urinary reservoirs constructed from intact cecum and ascending colon. Six patients were treated for 1 to 3 weeks at 3 to 8 months postoperatively. The treatments reduced the frequency of spontaneous reservoir contractions, as well as the basal and contraction pressures of the reservoirs. The reservoir capacities were increased modestly. These alterations in reservoir dynamics were accompanied by a decrease in the cramping characteristically associated with reservoir distension and increased intervals between reservoir catheterization. Two patients who had incontinence after initially successful operations regained continence during treatment. No systemic side effects were observed, although dilution of the drug may be required to prevent reservoir irritability. Diphenoxylate hydrochloride and atropine sulfate instillations may prevent acute and possibly long-term pressure-related complications of continent urinary reservoirs constructed from intact cecum and ascending colon.

Early experience with Walsh technique of radical retropubic prostatectomy.

We analyzed the operative experience and postoperative and late complications of pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical retropubic prostatectomy in 27 consecutive cases in which the modifications of prostatectomy described by Walsh were employed, and compared the results with those of 29 cases performed in the preceding three years when the Campbell technique of prostatectomy was employed. The mean operative time, mean blood loss, and incidences of early postoperative complications and incontinence were less for patients treated with the Walsh technique than with the Campbell technique. After surgery 85 per cent of evaluable patients remained potent with the Walsh technique compared with 16 per cent of patients treated with the Campbell technique. Although other factors besides operative approach may have biased our results, we are persuaded that the innovations of radical retropubic prostatectomy detailed by Walsh constitute important advances in surgical technique, and we now use this procedure in all suitable patients electing treatment by radical prostatectomy for localized prostatic cancer.

Lymphocele formation after extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy: possible predisposing factors.

A retrospective review of 61 patients undergoing pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed to assess possible predisposing factors for lymphocele development. The procedure was done to facilitate staging of prostatic carcinoma in all of the patients. The complication occurred in 9 patients (14.8 per cent). Analysis revealed a statistically significantly higher incidence of lymphoceles in patients without drainage (p less than 0.05) and in patients whose lymph nodes had no metastatic disease (p less than 0.025). Furthermore, 9 patients (without drainage and with nodes that were free of tumor but who received mini-dose heparin therapy) as a subgroup had the highest incidence of lymphocele formation. Although these individual factors have been attributed to this complication after lymphadenectomy they may act synergistically.

Pelvic lymph node dissection in prostate cancer.

The results of pelvic lymph node dissections in 105 prostate cancer patients were analyzed to compare the clinical with the pathologic stages. Twenty-four per cent of patients clinically believed to be node-negative had positive nodal involvement with cancer.

Prostate cancer and the multiple primary malignant neoplasm syndrome.

In an attempt to evaluate the relationship of prostate cancer to the multiple primary malignant neoplasm syndrome, 626 prostate cancer cases were reviewed. Patients with one malignant tumor appear to be no more at risk of developing a prostate cancer than individuals who have never had a tumor.

Prevalence of carcinoma of the penis with special reference to India.

The frequency of carcinoma of the penis throughout the world is tabulated and compared with similar data from 32 hospitals in India. There is a wide variation in the frequency of penile carcinoma in India despite the fact that circumcision is not practiced by Hindus and is by Muslims. There must be some other etiologic factors such as poor sexual hygiene and lack of cleanliness to account for this variability in frequency. There was no association between the frequency of cervical and penile carcinomas.