Laccase production by the white-rot fungus Termitomyces clypeatus

Laccase was detected in the culture filtrate of white-rot fungus Termitomyces clypeatus. The enzyme was found at the late phase of submerged growth in a medium containing glucose or cellulose as the carbon source. The present study indicates that laccase produced by T. clypeatus is an intracellular enzyme, released in the medium due to cell lysis at the end of the growing phase. Laccase produced by T. clypeatus is different from the extracellular polyphenol oxidase of T. albuminosus, also produced at the late phase of growth. This is the first report of laccase production by a Termitomyces sp.     

Porin of Shigella dysenteriae activates mouse peritoneal macrophage through Toll-like receptors 2 and 6 to induce polarized type I response

Porin of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 coexpressed Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR6 on peritoneal cavity (PerC) macrophages (MPhi) of C57BL/6 mice implicating that both the TLRs are essential as a combinatorial repertoire to recognize the protein. Besides TLRs, mRNA for MyD88 and TRAF6, and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB were enhanced that indicate their involvement in tandem in the activity of porin. The protein selectively up-regulated CD80 on the activated MPhi together with MHC class II molecule and CD40, and had no effect on CD86 expression. The porin-induced profile of MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta and RANTES showed strong bias for chemokines correlated with M1 polarization. Intracellular expression and release of TNF-alpha and IL-12 in presence of porin was found to be TLR2 and NF-kappaB dependent. Induction of TNF-alpha and IL-12 along with the chemokine profile suggests type I polarization of the MPhi that would influence Th1-type response.     

Relationship between nocturnal intraocular pressure-related peak recorded by contact lens sensor and disease progression in treated glaucomatous eyes

Purpose:The aim of this study is to study the association between Nocturnal Intraocular Pressure (IOP) related Peak recorded by a Contact Lens Sensor (CLS) and glaucoma progression in treated glaucomatous eyes.Methods:Institutional study in which forty glaucoma patients were recruited from glaucoma clinic. A total of 19 patients were labeled as progressors on current anti-glaucoma treatment despite controlled day time IOP whereas twenty one patients were clinically stable showing no progression. Worse eye of each patient was selected for placement of CLS. The timing of the highest signal (IOP related peak) was noted in 24 hour CLS graph and if it fell within the time frame of 11 pm to 5 am, it was labeled as ''nocturnal IOP related peak''.Results:Progressors were found to be significantly more prone to night spike than Non Progressors (χ² = 6.812; n = 40; P = 0.009), thus, showing a definite association between the two. Association between Nocturnal IOP related peak and various other variables like age, gender, mean daytime IOP and systemic illness was studied. A positive correlation was established between female gender and Nocturnal IOP related spike with a significantly higher proportion of females showing night spike than their male counterparts (χ² = 5.763; n = 40; P = 0.016). Other parameters did not show any significant relationship with Nocturnal IOP related spike.Conclusion:Dynamic 24 hour recording by CLS is beneficial in detecting nocturnal IOP-related peak, and thus, can potentially improve the clinical care of glaucoma patients, especially those showing progression.     

Trans-peritoneal vs. retroperitoneal robotic assisted partial nephrectomy in posterior renal tumours: need for a risk-stratified patient individualised approach. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal of Robotic Surgery - To systematically review world literature and compare peri-operative outcome including operating time (OT), estimated blood loss (EBL), warm ischemia time (WIT), length...     

Endoscopic endonasal versus transcranial approach to resection of olfactory groove meningiomas: a systematic review

Neurosurgical Review - Despite the increasing utility of the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for management of anterior skull base (ASB) pathologies, the optimal treatment strategy for...     

A nine-year review of medicolegal claims in neurosurgery

Introduction

Neurosurgery remains among the highest malpractice risk specialties. This study aimed to identify areas in neurosurgery associated with litigation, attendant causes and costs.

Methods

Retrospective analysis was conducted of 42 closed litigation cases treated by neurosurgeons at one hospital between March 2004 and March 2013. Data included clinical event, timing and reason for claim, operative course and legal outcome.

Results

Twenty-nine claims were defended out of court and twelve were settled out of court. One case required court attendance and was defended. Of the 42 claims, 28, 13 and 1 related to spinal (0.3% of caseload), cranial (0.1% of caseload) and peripheral nerve (0.07% of caseload) surgery respectively. The most common causes of claims were faulty surgical technique (43%), delayed diagnosis/misdiagnosis (17%), lack of information (14%) and delayed treatment (12%), with a likelihood of success of 39%, 29%, 17% and 20% respectively. The highest median payouts were for claims against faulty surgical technique (£230,000) and delayed diagnosis/misdiagnosis (£212,650). The mean delay between clinical event and claim was 664 days.

Conclusions

Spinal surgery carries the highest litigation risk versus cranial and peripheral nerve surgery. Claims are most commonly against faulty surgical technique and delayed diagnosis/misdiagnosis, which have the highest success rates and payouts. In spinal surgery, the most common cause of claims is faulty surgical technique. In cranial surgery, the most common cause is lack of information. Claims may occur years after the clinical event, necessitating thorough contemporaneous documentation for adequate future defence. We emphasise thorough patient consultation and meticulous surgical technique to minimise litigation in neurosurgical practice.     

Andrographolide inhibits human serum albumin fibril formations through site-specific molecular interactions

Protein misfolding and fibrillation are the fundamental traits in degenerative diseases like Alzheimer''s, Parkinsonism, and diabetes mellitus. Bioactives such as flavonoids and terpenoids from plant sources are known to express protective effects against an array of diseases including diabetes, Alzheimer''s and obesity. Andrographolide (AG), a labdane diterpenoid is prescribed widely in the Indian and Chinese health care systems for classical efficacy against a number of degenerative diseases. This work presents an in depth study on the effects of AG on protein fibrillating pathophysiology. Thioflavin T fluorescence spectroscopy and DLS results indicated concentration dependent inhibition of human serum albumin (HSA) fibrillation. The results were confirmed by electron microscopy studies. HSA fibril formations were markedly reduced in the presence of AG. Fluorescence studies and UV-Vis experiments confirmed further that AG molecularly interacts with HSA at site. In silico molecular docking studies revealed hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions with HSA in the native state. Thus AG interacts with HSA, stabilizes the native protein structure and inhibits fibrillation. The results demonstrated that the compound possesses anti-amyloidogenic properties and can be promising against some human degenerative diseases.

Andrographolide inhibited HSA protein fibrillation through site specific interactions.