Effect of L(+)-tartrate on some biochemical and enzymatic parameters in normal and glycollate treated rats

Some biochemical and enzymatic constituents were determined in the small intestinal tract tissues of normal and sodium glycollate treated adult male rats. Alterations were observed with respect to certain lipids and carbohydrate fractions in the glycollate fed rats. DNA content was also elevated in this group. The functions of the cell membrane is likely to be affected as reflected in the levels of transport ATPases and orthophospho-hydrolases. The activities of the two marker enzymes in the intestinal brush border, namely alkaline phosphatase and leucylnaphthylamidase were reduced in the glycollate administered group. Administration of L(+)-tartrate, which is a mild laxative and has a regulatory influence on oxalate metabolism, lowered the activities of Na+, K(+)- and Ca(2+)-ATPases. There was a distinct lowering in the level of acid phosphatase in the tartrate treated rats.     

Direct calibration of a reference standard against the air kerma strength primary standard, at 192Ir HDR energy

The primary standard of low air kerma rate sources or beams, maintained at the Radiological Standards Laboratory (RSL) of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), is a 60 cm3 spherical graphite ionization chamber. A 192Ir HDR source was standardized at the hospital site in units of air kerma strength (AKS) using this primary standard. A 400 cm3 bakelite chamber, functioning as a reference standard at the RSL for a long period, at low air kerma rates (compared to external beam dose rates), was calibrated against the primary standard. It was seen that the primary standard and the reference standard, both being of low Z, showed roughly the same scatter response and yielded the same calibration factor for the 400 cm3 reference chamber, with or without room scatter. However, any likelihood of change in the reference chamber calibration factor would necessitate the re-transport of the primary standard to the hospital site for re-calibration. Frequent transport of the primary standard can affect the long-term stability of the primary standard, due to its movement or other extraneous causes. The calibration of the reference standard against the primary standard at the RSL, for an industrial type 192Ir source maintained at the laboratory, showed excellent agreement with the hospital calibration, making it possible to check the reference chamber calibration at RSL itself. Further calibration procedures have been developed to offer traceable calibration of the hospital well ionization chambers.     

Protein profiling in unlocking the basis of varicocele-associated infertility

Varicocele is one of the major causes of male infertility and has a negative impact on spermatogenesis. The conventional semen analysis does not reveal the underlying subcellular mechanisms associated with defects in spermatozoa. Proteomics and bioinformatics analysis can be used to identify the molecular aetiologies associated with poor semen quality in varicocele patients. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been identified as the main factor affecting normal physiological functions of spermatozoa. This article discusses the proteomic studies of spermatozoa and seminal plasma in varicocele patients. Proteomics can identify potential spermatozoa and seminal plasma biomarkers in varicocele-mediated male infertility. In future, these protein biomarkers can be useful in the development of noninvasive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for varicocele patients.     

Synthetic Pyrethroid effect on blood plasma biomarker enzymes and histological changes in Catla catla

Alpha‐cypermethrin is an isoform of cypermethrin; it is an active pyrethroid used extensively to control a wide range of pests in agriculture and animal breeding. In this study four groups of six fish were examined. The first group served as a control in fresh water alone, with no pyrethroid. The second, third and fourth groups were exposed to alpha‐cypermethrin for 4, 8 and 96 h respectively. At the end of the each exposure period, the fish were sacrificed, and the required muscle tissues were collected for histological examination. The blood was drawn with heparinized needles and processed for serum enzymatic studies. Serum enzymes such as aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), amylase, acid phosphatase (ACP) and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were measured at 4, 8 and 96 h. AST enzyme activity was significantly increased at 4 h, whereas ALT and amylase enzyme activities were significantly reduced at all the time points. ACP enzyme activity was significantly reduced at 4 and 8 h, whereas GGT enzyme activity was significantly increased at all the time points. Hepatocyte cytoplasmic vacuolisation and degeneration, rupture of blood vessels, and necrosis was found at all time points. Congestion of blood vessels, bulging, distortion of filaments, erosion and disintegration of blood corpuscles and hyperplasia of epithelium were found in treated gills at 4, 8 and 96 h. Breakdown of muscle fibres, vacuolation and accumulation of lipids and melanin in white muscle were observed in treated fish muscle at 4, 8 and 96 h.     

Early developmental care interventions of preterm very low birth weight infants

The preterm very low birth weight infants are at high risk of developing neurodevelopmental delay despite little or no medical complications at the time of birth. The care and interventions of such infants have an impact on the pre-existing risk. The Developmental Care Interventions (DCI) are the range of treatment strategies aiming to alleviate the risk thereby improving neuro-developmental outcomes. The objective of this review is to appraise the range of such interventions for preterm very low birth weight infants reported in the literature. This review will help clinicians to adopt developmental intervention strategy to improve the neuro-developmental outcomes of their NICU graduates.     

Cardiac isoform of alpha-2 macroglobulin as a novel diagnostic marker for cardiac diseases.

BACKGROUND: Earlier we showed cardiac isoform of alpha-2 macroglobulin (CA2M) to be an early marker of cardiac hypertrophy. DESIGN: In this study, we tried to explore the possibility of using this protein as a marker for diagnosis of cardiac diseases. METHODS: A total of 593 samples were analyzed for the presence of CA2M using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Samples include various cardiac diseases (230), non-cardiac ailments (263) and controls (100). CONCLUSION: Levels of CA2M in cardiac diseases were significantly higher than other sample groups but moderately elevated in leprosy. This protein could be considered for diagnosis of cardiac diseases as a serum marker.     

Electrochemical performance of nano-sized LiFePO4-embedded 3D-cubic ordered mesoporous carbon and nitrogenous carbon composites

Herein, we report a single-step synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical performance of nano-sized LiFePO₄ (LFP)-embedded 3D-cubic mesoporous carbon (CSI-809) and nitrogenous carbon (MNC-859) composites. Furthermore, in order to investigate the effects of both CSI-809 and MNC-859 on the electrochemical characteristics of LFP, a systematic study was performed on the morphology and microstructure of the composites, viz., LFP/CSI-809 and LFP/MNC-859, using XRD, FE-SEM, FT-Raman, and BET surface area analyses. Among these composites, LFP/MNC-859 exhibited better electrochemical performance with higher specific capacity and rate capability as compared to those of LFP/CSI-809. In addition, even after 100 cycles, LFP/MNC-859 retained 97% of its initial discharge capacity at 1C rate. The enhanced electrochemical performance of the nano-sized LFP-embedded MNC-859 can be attributed to the conductive nitrogenous carbon and mesoporosity, which facilitate electrolyte diffusion, and improved conductivity of the advanced LFP-nitrogenous porous carbon matrix.

Nano-sized LiFePO₄-embedded nitrogenous ordered mesoporous carbon composite cathode facilitate electronic conductivity and significantly enhances Li-ion diffusion and retains 97% of the initial discharge capacity at 1C rate even after 100 cycles.