A dust-obscured massive maximum-starburst galaxy at a redshift of 6.34.

Massive present-day early-type (elliptical and lenticular) galaxies probably gained the bulk of their stellar mass and heavy elements through intense, dust-enshrouded starbursts--that is, increased rates of star formation--in the most massive dark-matter haloes at early epochs. However, it remains unknown how soon after the Big Bang massive starburst progenitors exist. The measured redshift (z) distribution of dusty, massive starbursts has long been suspected to be biased low in z owing to selection effects, as confirmed by recent findings of systems with redshifts as high as ~5 (refs 2-4). Here we report the identification of a massive starburst galaxy at z = 6.34 through a submillimetre colour-selection technique. We unambiguously determined the redshift from a suite of molecular and atomic fine-structure cooling lines. These measurements reveal a hundred billion solar masses of highly excited, chemically evolved interstellar medium in this galaxy, which constitutes at least 40 per cent of the baryonic mass. A 'maximum starburst' converts the gas into stars at a rate more than 2,000 times that of the Milky Way, a rate among the highest observed at any epoch. Despite the overall downturn in cosmic star formation towards the highest redshifts, it seems that environments mature enough to form the most massive, intense starbursts existed at least as early as 880 million years after the Big Bang.

Biofilm inhibitory efficiency of phytol in combination with cefotaxime against nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii.

AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the antibiofilm potential of phytol and cefotaxime combinations (PCCs) against Acinetobacter baumannii and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of their antibiofilm potential through the transcriptomic approach. METHODS AND RESULTS: Phytol and cefotaxime combination(s) (PCC(s) [160 µg ml-1  + 8 µg ml-1 for microbial type culture collection (MTCC) strain and 160 µg ml-1  + 0.5 µg ml-1 for clinical isolate] effectively inhibited the A. baumannii biofilm formation. Additionally, light, confocal laser scanning and scanning electron microscopic analyses validated the antibiofilm potential of PCCs. Furthermore, PCCs treated A. baumannii cells showed a decreased level of hydrophobicity index compared to their respective controls. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of exopolysaccharide matrix extracted from PCCs-treated A. baumannii cells showed a visible decrease in absorbance of polysaccharides, nucleic acids and protein regions compared to the spectra of untreated controls. In the blood sensitivity assay, the PCCs-treated A. baumannii plates showed reduced a number of bacterial colonies compared to their control plates. Reduced level of catalase production was also observed in the PCCs treatment compared to their controls. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the downregulation of bfmR, bap, csuA/B, ompA, pgaA, pgaC and katE biofilm virulence genes in both the A. baumannii strains on treatment with PCCs. CONCLUSION: The obtained results of this study indicate that PCCs have potent antibiofilm activity and downregulate the biofilm-related virulence genes expression in A. baumannii. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: To the best of our knowledge, this is the pioneering study, which shows the antibiofilm effect of PCCs against A. baumannii along with their molecular mechanism. The antibiofilm effect of PCCs could be a successful strategy for eradicating infections related to A. baumannii biofilms in nosocomial settings.

Phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles as antiquorum sensing and antibiofilm agent against the nosocomial pathogen Serratia marcescens: an in vitro study.

AIM: Serratia marcescens is an important multidrug-resistant human pathogen. The pathogenicity of S. marcescens mainly depends on the quorum sensing (QS) mechanism, which regulates the virulence factors production and biofilm formation. Hence, targeting QS mechanism in S. marcescens will ultimately pave the way to combat its pathogenicity. Thus, the present study is intended to evaluate the efficacy of Vetiveria zizanioides root extract-mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a potent anti-QS and antibiofilm agent against S. marcescens. METHODS AND RESULTS: The AgNPs were synthesized using V. zizanioides aqueous root extract and the physiochemical properties of V. zizanioides-based AgNPs (VzAgNPs) were evaluated using analytical techniques such as ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and scanning and transmission electron microscopic techniques. VzAgNPs were found to attenuate the QS-dependent virulence factors, namely prodigiosin, protease, lipase, exopolysaccharide productions and biofilm formation of S. marcescens, without inhibiting its growth. Further, the transcriptomic analysis confirmed the down-regulation of QS-dependent genes, which encode for the production of virulence factors and biofilm formation. CONCLUSION: The current study confirms VzAgNPs as an ideal anti-QS and antibiofilm agent against S. marcescens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first approach that validates the anti-QS and antibiofilm potential of phytosynthesized VzAgNPs against the nosocomial pathogen, S. marcescens. As VzAgNPs exhibits potent antivirulent activities, it could be used to treat hospital-acquired S. marcescens infections.

The suppression of star formation by powerful active galactic nuclei.

The old, red stars that constitute the bulges of galaxies, and the massive black holes at their centres, are the relics of a period in cosmic history when galaxies formed stars at remarkable rates and active galactic nuclei (AGN) shone brightly as a result of accretion onto black holes. It is widely suspected, but unproved, that the tight correlation between the mass of the black hole and the mass of the stellar bulge results from the AGN quenching the surrounding star formation as it approaches its peak luminosity. X-rays trace emission from AGN unambiguously, whereas powerful star-forming galaxies are usually dust-obscured and are brightest at infrared and submillimetre wavelengths. Here we report submillimetre and X-ray observations that show that rapid star formation was common in the host galaxies of AGN when the Universe was 2-6 billion years old, but that the most vigorous star formation is not observed around black holes above an X-ray luminosity of 10(44) ergs per second. This suppression of star formation in the host galaxy of a powerful AGN is a key prediction of models in which the AGN drives an outflow, expelling the interstellar medium of its host and transforming the galaxy's properties in a brief period of cosmic time.

Submillimetre galaxies reside in dark matter haloes with masses greater than 3 × 10(11) solar masses.

The extragalactic background light at far-infrared wavelengths comes from optically faint, dusty, star-forming galaxies in the Universe with star formation rates of a few hundred solar masses per year. These faint, submillimetre galaxies are challenging to study individually because of the relatively poor spatial resolution of far-infrared telescopes. Instead, their average properties can be studied using statistics such as the angular power spectrum of the background intensity variations. A previous attempt at measuring this power spectrum resulted in the suggestion that the clustering amplitude is below the level computed with a simple ansatz based on a halo model. Here we report excess clustering over the linear prediction at arcminute angular scales in the power spectrum of brightness fluctuations at 250, 350 and 500 µm. From this excess, we find that submillimetre galaxies are located in dark matter haloes with a minimum mass, M(min), such that log(10)[M(min)/M(⊙)] = 11.5(+0.7)(-0.2) at 350 µm, where M(⊙) is the solar mass. This minimum dark matter halo mass corresponds to the most efficient mass scale for star formation in the Universe, and is lower than that predicted by semi-analytical models for galaxy formation.

Assessing the accuracy and reliability of direct height measurement for use in adult neurological patients with contractures: a comparison with height from ulna length.

BACKGROUND: It is not possible to measure the height of a patient with contractures in the normal way. On occasions, health professionals need to measure the height directly of patients with contractures because: (i) the patient is unable to report his/her height as a result of a lack of mental capacity and (ii) there is no-one available to report the height or the reported height is obviously inaccurate. Height derived from ulna length is an option but, in some individuals, it can be conspicuously inaccurate. Therefore, we have attempted to develop and validate a simple bedside method using a tape measure. METHODS: Twenty-four normal healthy adult volunteers were recruited into the study. They were positioned on a hospital bed in three different standardised positions simulating patients with typical contractures. They were measured in each position by four measurers using blanked out tape measures. The participants were then measured standing giving a 'true' height. Ulna length was also measured. RESULTS: The mean of the tape-measured heights was 2.3 cm taller than the 'true' height (95% confidence interval = 4.6-9.3). The measurement in all three positions gave an over-estimate of the height, whereas the ulna-derived height gave an under-estimate (2.2 cm). The estimated reliability between measurers (intraclass correlation coefficient) was 0.94 with a 95% confidence interval (0.91-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: This new method is giving an acceptable estimate of the height of contracted patients with a good inter-rater reliability. It comprises a useful additional tool for measuring the height of people with contractures.

Interesting Case of Cutaneous Metastases to Thoracic Skin from Anaplastic Carcinoma of Thyroid: An Unreported Entity in India.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a highly aggressive tumor with 100% mortality that constitutes 1%-2% of thyroid malignancies. Cutaneous metastases from thyroid carcinoma are extremely rare. We report a case of a 68-year-old male with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with cervical lymph node and thoracic cutaneous metastases. Following the diagnosis of anaplastic carcinoma with stage IVB after thorough investigations, he was started on chemotherapy with cisplatin and adriamycin, and also radiotherapy was given subsequently. Dermatological examination showed a single ulcer of size 3 × 2 cm, hard nodules, and plaques of varied sizes present over the anterior chest. Skin biopsy from the nodule showed pleomorphic tumor cells in strands with colloid material and neutrophilic infiltrates in the deep dermis. The present case report demonstrates that thoracic skin metastases can occur from anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with nodules and ulcers and, to our knowledge, this is the first case report of such an extremely rare condition from India.

Bilateral synchronous intravaginal testicular torsion presenting with unilateral testicular pain.

An adolescent presented with a 5 hour of history of unilateral testicular pain and examination findings in keeping with a unilateral testicular torsion. On scrotal exploration, there was evidence of bilateral testicular torsion and bilateral orchidopexy was subsequently performed. Intravaginal bilateral testicular torsion is scarcely reported in adolescents and adults. Both unilateral and bilateral testicular torsions in adolescents are commonly associated with anatomical anomalies, which were not evident in this case. Despite warming the symptomatic testis for 40 minutes, viability was indeterminate. Guidelines remain equivocal about adequate reperfusion period before considering orchiectomy. Interval sonographic follow-up is recommended to assess testicular atrophy; however, considerable variation exists in practice. This is an atypical case of bilateral synchronous testicular torsion demonstrable by an absence of classical risk-factors, alongside unilateral clinical signs and symptoms. Inconsistency in guidelines for attempted reperfusion could result in orchiectomy where testicular salvage is possible.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of parakeet (Psittacula krameri) haemoglobin.

Birds often show efficient oxygen management in order to meet the special demands of their metabolism. However, the structural studies of avian haemoglobins (Hbs) are inadequate for complete understanding of the mechanism involved. Towards this end, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies have been carried out for parakeet Hb. Parakeet Hb was crystallized as the met form in low-salt buffered conditions after extracting haemoglobin from crude blood by microcentrifugation and purifying the sample by column chromatography. Good-quality crystals were grown from 10% PEG 3350 and a crystal diffracted to about 2.8 A resolution. Preliminary diffraction data showed that the Hb crystal belonged to the monoclinic system (space group C2), with unit-cell parameters a = 110.68, b = 64.27, c = 56.40 A, beta = 109.35 degrees . Matthews volume analysis indicated that the crystals contained a half-tetramer in the asymmetric unit.

Curcumin prevents adriamycin nephrotoxicity in rats.

The present study investigated the effect of curcumin on adriamycin (ADR) nephrosis in rats. The results indicate that ADR-induced kidney injury was remarkably prevented by treatment with curcumin. Treatment with curcumin markedly protected against ADR-induced proteinuria, albuminuria, hypoalbuminaemia and hyperlipidaemia. Similarly, curcumin inhibited ADR-induced increase in urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (a marker of renal tubular injury), fibronectin and glycosaminoglycan and plasma cholesterol. Curcumin restored renal function in ADR rats, as judged by the increase in GFR. The data also demonstrated that curcumin protected against ADR-induced renal injury by suppressing oxidative stress and increasing kidney glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase activity. In like manner, curcumin abolished ADR-stimulated kidney microsomal and mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. These data suggest that administration of curcumin is a promising approach in the treatment of nephrosis caused by ADR.

Protection by taurine against adriamycin-induced proteinuria and hyperlipidemia in rats.

Taurine was used in the present study to evaluate its beneficial effects against proteinuria and hyperlipidemia associated with nephrotic syndrome. Rats made nephrotic with adriamycin had a high excretion of protein, albumin, and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase compared with nonnephrotic rats. Nephrotic rats manifested hyperlipidemia with significant elevation in all major lipoprotein fractions. Treatment with taurine significantly suppressed adriamycin-induced proteinuria, albuminuria, and urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. Treatment of rats wit taurine for 7 days before adriamycin, and daily thereafter, significantly lowered plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, lipid peroxides, and malondialdehyde associated with lipoprotein fractions. Similarly, total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, lipid peroxides, hydroperoxides, and hydroxyl radicals in the liver and kidneys of taurine-treated adriamycin rats were decreased significantly compared with adriamycin alone. Lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity and free fatty acid levels in plasma, lipoprotein lipase activity, glutathione, total thiol, and ascorbic acid in the liver and the kidneys of taurine-treated adriamycin groups were significantly elevated compared with adriamycin alone. These results suggest that taurine might be applicable as a protective agent for proteinuria and hyperlipidemia associated with nephrotic syndrome.