Antifeedant Activity of Ursolic Acid Isolated from Duboisia Myoporoides

Ursolic acid isolated from the leaves and stems of Duboisia myoporoides (Solanaceae) was bioassayed by leaf disc method for feeding deterrence using Spilosoma obliqua and Spodoptera litura as test insects. This compound was proved to be a potent antifeedant under laboratory conditions. Azadirachtin was used as standard. Ursolic acid produced 90.12% and 91.96% inhibition at 5000 ppm concentration, respectively, against S. obliqua and S. litura .     

Interface enriched highly interlaced layered MoS2/NiS2 nanocomposites for the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye

In the past few decades, air and water pollution by organic dyes has become a serious concern due to their high toxicity. Removal of these organic dyes from polluted water bodies is a serious environmental concern and the development of new advanced photocatalytic materials for decomposing organic dyes can be a good solution. In this work, layered molybdenum disulfide/nickel disulfide (MoS₂/NiS₂) nanocomposites with various NiS₂ content was synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method using citric acid as a reducing agent. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows the hexagonal and cubical crystal structure of MoS₂ and NiS₂, respectively. Morphological analysis confirms the formation of MoS₂/NiS₂ nanosheets. The elemental composition of the samples was carried out by XPS, which shows a significant interaction between NiS₂ and MoS₂. The photocatalytic performance of MoS₂/NiS₂ nanocomposites was studied by the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). Ni-4 sample shows higher photocatalytic activity with a maximum degradation of 90.61% under visible light irradiation for 32 min.

The photocatalytic performance of MoS₂/NiS₂ nanocomposites was studied by the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). Ni-4 sample shows higher photocatalytic activity with a maximum degradation of 90.61% under visible light irradiation for 32 min.     

Second primary cancers in non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Family history and survival

Second primary cancers (SPCs) account for an increasing proportion of all cancer diagnoses and family history of cancer may be a risk factor for SPCs. Using the Swedish Family-Cancer Database on non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), we assessed the influence of family history on risk of SPCs and of SPCs on survival. NHL patients were identified from the years 1958 to 2015 and generalized Poisson models were used to calculate relative risks (RRs) for SPCs and familial SPCs. Among 14,393 NHL patients, a total of 1,866 (13.0%) were diagnosed with SPC. Familial risk of nine particular cancers was associated with risks of these cancers as SPCs, with twofold to fivefold increase in RRs. At the end of a 25-year follow-up period, the survival probability for persons with SPC was only 20% of that for patients without SPC; the hazard ratio for SPC was 1.59 (95% CI: 1.46–1.72). Survival could be predicted by the prognostic groups based on first cancers and HRs increase systematically with worse prognosis yielding a trend of p = 4.6 × 10⁻⁵. SPCs had deleterious consequences for survival in NHL patients. Family history was associated with increasing numbers of SPCs. Prevention of SPCs and their early detection is an important target in the overall strategy to improve survival in NHL patients. Counseling for avoidance of risk factors and targeted screening based on family history are feasible steps in risk reduction.     

Ductal paucity and Warkany syndrome in a patient with congenital extrahepatic portocaval shunt

An eleven-year-old clinically dysmorphic and devel-opmentally retarded male child presenting with com-plaints of 5 episodes of recurrent cholestatic jaundice since 3 years of age was evaluated. Imaging revealed features consistent with congenital extrahepatic porto-caval shunt(Abernethy type 1b), multiple regenerative liver nodules and intrahepatic biliary radical dilatation. The presence of ductal paucity and trisomy 8 were con-firmed on liver biopsy and karyotyping. The explanation for unusual and previously unreported features in the present case has been proposed.     

Histopathological features and accuracy for diagnosing biliary atresia by prelaparotomy liver biopsy in developing countries

Background and Aim:  A major challenge in neonatal cholestasis (NC) is to differentiate biliary atresia (BA) from other non-atretic causes. In developing countries there are considerable problems of late referral of NC cases and performing surgery without prelaparotomy liver biopsy that contributes to a high proportion of negative laparotomy and increased morbidity. We evaluated the hepatic histopathology for presence of features that correlate best with the diagnosis of BA and assessed the accuracy of percutaneous liver biopsy.
Methods:  Fifty-five cases of NC that fulfilled the selection criteria and had liver biopsy available were analyzed. Among the 49 adequate liver biopsies, 28 cases were diagnosed as BA, 15 neonatal hepatitis (NH) and 6 were due to other causes. Validity of percutaneous liver biopsy diagnoses was compared with confirmed cases by laparotomy findings and 1-year follow up. Twelve histological parameters of confirmed cases of BA and NH were evaluated by logistic regression analyses.
Results:  Ductular proliferation ( P  = 0.0002), bile duct and ductular bile plugs ( P  = 0.009), and portal fibrosis ( P  = 0.002) were the best indicators of BA and among them ductular proliferation was the most important in distinguishing BA from NH. Ductal plate malformation was observed in 17.9% cases of BA. Sensitivity and specificity of percutaneous liver biopsy for diagnosing BA was 88.2% each.
Conclusion:  Percutaneous liver biopsy is highly accurate (88.2%) in diagnosing BA. In developing countries. This investigation should be done to decrease the frequency of negative laparotomy and to achieve cost–benefit with reduced morbidity.     

Use of endoscopic stents to treat anastomotic complications after bariatric surgery

BACKGROUND: Complications after bariatric surgery often require longterm parenteral nutrition to achieve healing. Recently, endoscopic treatments have become available that provide healing while allowing for oral nutrition. The purpose of this study was to present outcomes of the largest series to date treating staple line complications after bariatric surgery with endoscopic covered stents. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective evaluation was performed of all patients treated for staple line complications after bariatric surgery at a single tertiary care bariatric center. Acute postoperative leaks, chronic gastrocutaneous fistulas, and anastomotic strictures refractory to endoscopic dilation after both gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy were included. RESULTS: From January 2006 to June 2007, 19 patients (11 with acute leaks, 2 with chronic fistulas, and 6 with strictures) were treated with a total of 34 endoscopic silicone covered stents (23 polyester, 11 metal). Mean followup was 3.6 months. Immediate symptomatic improvement occurred in 90% (91% of acute leaks, 100% of fistulas, and 84% of strictures). Oral feeding was started in 79% of patients immediately after stenting. Resolution of leak or stricture after stent treatment occurred in 16 of 19 patients (84%). Healing of leak, fistula, and stricture occurred at means of 33 days, 46 days, and 7 days, respectively. Three patients (1 with leak, 1 with fistula, and 1 with stricture) had unsuccessful stent treatment. Migration of the stent occurred in 58% of 34 stents placed. Most migration was minimal, but three stents were removed surgically after distal small bowel migration. There was no mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of anastomotic complications after bariatric surgery with endoscopic covered stents allows rapid healing while simultaneously allowing for oral nutrition. The primary morbidity is stent migration.     

Zinc and copper supplementation are not cost-effective interventions in the treatment of acute diarrhea

BackgroundDiarrhea is one of the principal causes of morbidity and mortality among children in the developing world. Cumulative costs of treating diarrhea would be high and would further increase if zinc was used as an adjunct to treatment of acute diarrhea.ObjectiveTo determine the impact of zinc supplementation on the mean predicted costs of treating acute diarrhea and the incremental cost-effectiveness (CE) as compared with placebo, from the provider's (government) and patient's perspective.Study Design and SettingIn a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 808 children aged 6–59 months with acute diarrhea were individually randomized to placebo (Pl), zinc (Zn) only, and zinc and copper (Zn + Cu) together with standard treatment of acute diarrhea. The actual resource utilization and cost data were collected for all participants. The incremental CE ratio and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were assessed.ResultsThe relative CE for treating acute diarrhea was 1.5 (95% CI: 1.50, 1.52) times more when supplemented with zinc and 1.7 (95% CI: 1.69, 1.71) times more when supplemented with Zn + Cu with no additional beneficial effect.ConclusionThis study showed that zinc or zinc with copper supplementation were not cost-effective in the treatment of acute diarrhea in this study population.