Superficial femoral artery occlusion: nitinol stents achieve better flow and reduce the need for medications than balloon angioplasty alone

BACKGROUND: Nitinol slotted tube stents are of great potential benefit in superficial femoral artery (SFA) interventions due to their elastic properties. However, a paucity of data exists for their efficacy in total SFA occlusions. METHODS: Using the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Peripheral Database, we identified 40 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous revascularization for chronically occluded SFA and addressed the outcome stratifying for stent use. We evaluated the reduction in the pressure gradient across the lesion and the need for medication following revascularization. RESULTS: Of the 40 patients, twenty-six underwent balloon angioplasty alone and 14 received nitinol slotted tube stents. Patients were well matched for age and cardiovascular risk factors. Similarly, there were no differences in baseline ankle brachial index (ABI) or claudication class between the groups. Compared to angioplasty alone, stenting was associated with a greater reduction in translesional pressure gradient (72 mmHg versus 32 mmHg; p = 0.002). In addition, patients treated with stents were less likely to require post-procedure adjunctive medical treatment (7.1% versus 42.6%; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In SFA occlusion, stenting results in greater reduction in translesional pressure gradient and reduced need for adjunctive medical treatment.     

Investigation of an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in Rourkela City (Orissa) during 1989.

An outbreak of Japanese encephalitis (JE) was reported from Rourkela city for the first time in September-November 1989. 41 cases and 15 deaths occurred with a case fatality rate of 36.6 per cent. Most of the cases (66 per cent) were in the age group of 5-19 years. There was no case under 5 years. Female-male ratio of cases was 1:1.7. Serological examination of convalescent cases showed JE specific IgM indicating strong evidence of recent JE infection. Large number of pigs were seen in the affected areas.     

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with destructive thyrotoxicosis in a patient with preexisting multinodular goiter.

Presentation of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with thyrotoxicosis is extremely rare and its occurrence in a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis has not been reported previously. We describe an elderly lady with Wegener's granulomatosis who developed a rapidly growing anaplastic thyroid carcinoma in a preexisting multinodular goiter and discuss the mechanism of thyrotoxicosis in this patient.     

Hydrogen storage in Li,Na and Ca decorated and defective borophene: a first principles study

Recently synthesized two-dimensional (2D) borophene possesses unique structural, mechanical, electrical and optical properties. Herein, we present a comprehensive study of H₂ storage in alkali metal decorated and defect containing 2D borophene using density functional theory calculations. While the adsorption of H₂ over pristine borophene was found to be weak with a binding energy of −0.045 eV per H₂, metal decoration and point defects enhanced the adsorption strength significantly. Interestingly, the magnitudes of binding energy for a single H₂ molecule over Li, Na and Ca decorated borophene were found to increase up to −0.36, −0.34, and −0.12 eV per H₂, respectively. On the other hand, while the binding energy of one H₂ molecule over the borophene substrate containing a single vacancy (SV) was only −0.063 eV per H₂, similar to that of phosphorene, the binding energy increased to an enormous −0.69 eV per H₂ over borophene containing a double vacancy (DV). To gain further insight into the H₂ adsorption process and identify sources of charge transfer, differential charge densities and projected density of states were calculated. Significant charge accumulation and depletion caused strong polarization of the H₂ molecules. Finally, Na, Li and Ca decorated borophene yielded the gravimetric densities 9.0%, 6.8%, and 7.6%, respectively. The gravimetric density of the borophene containing a DV was found to be the highest, a staggering 9.2%, owing to increased interactions between DV borophene and the H₂ molecules. These results suggest that borophene can be an effective substrate for H₂ storage by carefully engineering it with metal decoration and point defects.

Herein, we present a comprehensive study of H₂ storage in alkali metal decorated and defect containing 2D borophene using density functional theory calculations..     

Role of reactant concentration and identity of added cation in controlling emission from post-synthetically modified terbium incorporated zinc sulfide nanoparticles: an avenue for the detection of lead(ii) cations

This work reports the photophysical properties of 1-thioglycerol capped hydrophilic terbium cation incorporated (doped) zinc sulfide [Zn(Tb)S] nanoparticles, which have been post-synthetically modified using Pb²⁺ [Zn(Tb)S/Pb] under ambient conditions with [Zn(Tb)S] : [Pb²⁺] = 1 : 10⁻⁵–1 : 10, essentially providing a scenario with low to heavy co-doping and ultimately the possibility of forming a material of different chemical identity. The effects of selected concentrations of [Zn(Tb)S] : [Mⁿ⁺] = 1 : 1 and 1 : 10⁻² have also been evaluated for the post-synthetic addition of Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺. The broad zinc sulfide nanoparticle and sharp Tb³⁺ emission have different dependence on the relative reactant concentration, with cation identity playing a significant role. The underlying photophysical processes have been rationalized based on the interplay among the (i) cation exchange, (ii) modification of the structural properties of the nanoparticles without necessarily exchanging the cations and (iii) emission enhancement of terbium dopants. In cases where Tb³⁺ emission is apparent, all the nanoparticles studied demonstrate an optical antenna effect, thus accessing a lower Tb³⁺ concentration regime compared to in bulk environments. The results presented provide an avenue for the detection of heavy metal ions in general and Pb²⁺ in particular, with a limit of detection that is at least in the range of sub-ppm, using either the broad ZnS or sharp Tb³⁺ emission, respectively. This strategy provides an avenue to combine (i) the extremely sensitive and easily accessible analytical technique of photoluminescence spectroscopy, (ii) post-synthetic modification reactions in semiconductor nanoparticles that can be performed with less experimental demand, (iii) time-gated measurement related to the longer luminescence lifetime of terbium cations and (iv) the simultaneous use of broad ZnS nanoparticle and sharp Tb³⁺ emission from the same assembly, helping eliminate false positive results.

Reactant concentration and the identity of the added cation control the emission in post-synthetically modified terbium incorporated zinc sulfide nanoparticles.     

Evaluation of chemopreventive potentials of ethanolic extract of Ruta graveolens against A375 skin melanoma cells in vitro and induced skin cancer in mice in vivo

OBJECTIVE: Chemopreventive approach with natural products, particularly plants and plant-derived ones, is receiving increasing attention for their effective role against cancer without any palpable side effects. In this study, efficacy of ethanolic extract of Ruta graveolens(RG) on skin melanoma cells(A375) in vitro and on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene(DMBA)-induced skin cancer in vivo has been tested in Swiss albino mice.METHODS: Studies on cell viability, apoptosis and autophagy induction were conducted in vitro. To check apoptosis, assays like alteration in mitochondrial membrane potential, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide assay and immunoblot were performed. Fluorescence microscopic and immunoblot assays were performed to confirm autophagy induction. The effects of RG were determined by evaluating body weight, tumor incidence, tumor volume and tumor burden in mice. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant status was assessed. The role of some relevant signaling proteins was also analyzed.RESULTS: RG caused death of A375 cells through induction of caspase 3-mediated apoptosis and Beclin-1-associated autophagy. Moreover, RG administration(75 mg/kg body weight) which showed no acute or chronic toxicity, showed significant reduction in the skin tumor burden of DMBA-painted mice. RG also demonstrated potent anti-lipid peroxidative and antioxidant functions during the course of skin cancer induction by DMBA.CONCLUSION: Chemopreventive potential of RG was demonstrated from overall results of this study, indicating its possible use in therapeutic formulation of an effective drug to treat skin cancer.