Maternal lean body mass may be the major determinant of birth weight: A study from India

This study explored the relationship of maternal body composition parameters to the birth weight of the offspring. Maternal anthropometric parameters (weight, height) and body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry were measured in 76 women from low-income group during 12-21 days postpartum. The mean+/-s.d. height, weight of the mothers and birth weight of the newborns were 151.5+/-5.29 cm, 46.7+/-6.04 and 2.84+/-0.358 kg, respectively. When the relationship of maternal anthropometric and body composition parameters to the infants' birth weight was studied, maternal lean body mass was found to be the most important determinant of birth weight (R2 (%) = 21.3) (P < 0.001). This study highlights the importance of increasing lean body mass in young women for better pregnancy outcome.     

The leech airway or pharyngeal bulb gasway

Beverley Charles Leech (1898 to 1960) patented the Leech airway or "Pharyngeal Bulb Gasway" in 1937. The Leech airway formed a seal with the pharyngeal tissues, resulting in a closed system during cyclopropane anaesthesia. Two prototypes and four commercially available versions of the airway have been identified.     

Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) in patients receiving tamsulosin or doxazosin—a UK-based comparison of incidence and complication rates

Background

The association between intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) and tamsulosin has been well-described. The rate of IFIS in association with other α-1 antagonists needs further clarification. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of IFIS and associated cataract surgery complications in patients taking tamsulosin or doxazosin.

Methods

Patients receiving tamsulosin or doxazosin, and an equivalent number of controls, were identified using the electronic patient record for cataract surgery performed over 2 years. The presence of IFIS and intraoperative complications were ascertained. Modifications of surgical technique in the form of preoperative 1 % atropine, intraoperative diluted phenylephrine, iris hooks, or highly viscous viscoelastic materials were recorded.

Results

Of the 2,785 cataract operations performed in 2,028 patients, 52 cases (1.9 %) were on tamsulosin and 109 were on doxazosin (3.9 %). In the doxazosin group (excluding three cases with incomplete data), significantly more eyes (17 of 106 eyes, 16 %) showed at least one IFIS characteristic than controls, six eyes (6 %) required adjustment of surgical technique, and intraoperative complications occurred in two eyes (1.9 %). In the tamsulosin group, significantly more eyes (25 of 52 eyes, 48 %) demonstrated at least one IFIS feature than control or doxazosin eyes; 18 eyes (35 %) needed adjustment of surgical technique, and seven (13.5 %) suffered intraoperative complications.

Conclusion

Incidence of IFIS was significantly higher in tamsulosin and doxazosin patients. The presence of IFIS was associated with a significantly higher complication rate. We would advise that all patients receiving α1 antagonists (not only those receiving tamsulosin) should be identified preoperatively, receive appropriate modifications in preparation, and have alternative techniques and a senior surgeon available at the time of surgery.     

Synthesis of new oxadiazole derivatives as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial agents

In search of pharmalogically active molecules in the class of oxadiazoles, the present article deals with the synthesis of 5-(5′-fluoro-2′-methoxybiphenyl-3-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-one 2 from its hydrazide analog 1. The compound 2 was regioselectively N-alkylated with alkyl halides and produced the compounds 3a–f. Compound 3f was further functionalized with substituted benzenesulfonyl chlorides to give compounds 3g–j. The synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental and spectral analysis. Newly synthesized compounds were tested for their in vivo anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and in vitro antimicrobial activities. The compounds 3a–c were found to have promising anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Compounds 3b, 3f, and 3g showed significant antibacterial and antifungal activities.     

Computational and thermodynamic analyses of the phospholipase A2 inhibition by erucic acid and linoleic acid

Fatty acids have gained therapeutic attention because of their nutritional and health implications. The potentialities of different fatty acids as PLA₂ binders have been analysed using molecular docking studies. Among the 46 fatty acids selected for docking studies, erucic acid and linoleic acid gave the highest glide scores. The earlier reported palmitic acid gave only a lower value, being the third in the order of high glide scores. The isothermal titration calorimetric analysis of these fatty acids was also done. The conclusions and inferences from the present study indirectly validate the rigorous use of medicated oils rich in erucic, linoleic and palmitic acids for the treatment of rheumatic symptoms in the traditional medical system of India, Ayurveda.     

Major outer membrane proteins from many Campylobacter species cross-react with cholera toxin

We have previously shown that Campylobacter jejuni strains do not produce a functional cholera toxin-like toxin (CTLT) detectable in a Chinese hamster ovary cell assay. Instead, the 53-kDa major outer membrane protein (OMP) of C. jejuni, PorA, reacts with cholera toxin (CT) antibody on immunoblots. Here, we have extended this observation to other species of Campylobacter, including C. coli, C. lari, C. fetus, C. hyointestinalis, and C. upsaliensis, the common 53-kDa OMP of which reacted with CT antibody in immunoblotting assays. There were additional reactive bands for C. fetus. As with C. jejuni, this finding may lead to the erroneous conclusion that these additional species produce a functional CTLT. However, this common cross-reactive OMP can be explored as a vaccine candidate to prevent campylobacteriosis.     

Synthesis and bio-activity evaluation of tetraphenyl(phenylamino) methylene bisphosphonates as antioxidant agents and as potent inhibitors of osteoclasts in vitro

A new series of tetraphenyl bisphosphonates have been elegantly synthesized by one-pot method and were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR, mass spectra and evaluated for their in vitro antibone resorptive activity by inhibiting growth of osteoclasts. Two bisphosphonates 3g and 3f showed marked inhibition ratio (8 μM and 10 μM) and emerged as lead compounds. All compounds were tested for their antioxidant (DPPH scavenging, reducing power and inhibition of lipid peroxidation). They exhibited potent in vitro antioxidant activity dose-dependently.