COVID 19 infection associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) which can cause significant mortality is a thrombotic microangiopathy due to deficiency of VWF cleaving protease...     

Post synthetically modified IRMOF-3 for efficient recovery and selective sensing of U(vi) from aqueous medium

A simple and efficient route to develop various novel functionalized MOF materials for rapid and excellent recovery of U(vi) from aqueous medium, along with selective sensing has been demonstrated in the present study. In this connection, a set of four distinct post synthetically modified (PSM) iso-reticular metal organic frameworks were synthesized from IRMOF-3 namely, IRMOF-PC (2-pyridine carboxaldehyde), IRMOF-GA (glutaric anhydride), IRMOF-SMA (sulfamic acid), and IRMOF-DPC (diphenylphosphonic chloride) for the recovery and sensing of U(vi) from aqueous medium. The MOFs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder XRD, BET surface area analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), NMR (¹³C, ¹H and ³¹P), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Among all MOFs, post synthetically modified IRMOF-SMA showed enhanced thermal stability of about 420 °C. The MOFs were investigated for U(vi) sorption studies using a batch technique. All the MOFs exhibit excellent sorption capacity towards U(vi) (>90%) and maximum uptake was observed at pH 6. Sorption capacity of MOFs have the following order; IRMOF-3-DPC (300 mg U g⁻¹) > IRMOF-SMA (292 mg U g⁻¹) > IRMOF-PC (289 mg U g⁻¹) > IRMOF-GA (280 mg U g⁻¹) > IRMOF-3 (273 mg U g⁻¹). IRMOF-DPC shows rapid sorption of uranium within 5 min with excellent uptake of U(vi) (>99%). The desorption of U(vi) was examined with different eluents and 0.01 M HNO₃ was found to be most effective. The fluorescence sensing studies of U(vi) via IRMOF-3 and its PSM MOFs revealed high sensitivity and selectivity towards U(vi) over other competing rare earth metal ions (La³⁺, Ce⁴⁺, Sm³⁺, Nd³⁺, Gd³⁺, and Eu³⁺), wherein IRMOF-GA displayed an impressive detection limit of 0.36 mg L⁻¹ for U(vi).

Four IRMOFs following PSM strategy were prepared. The MOFs were characterized by different techniques and were investigated for U(vi) sorption. PSM MOFs displayed impressive fluorescent sensing and selectivity of U(vi) over competing metal ions.     

Steroidogenic alterations in testes and sera of rats exposed to formulated Fenvalerate by inhalation

Fenvalerate (Fen) is a synthetic pyrethroid, which is commonly used for destroying a variety of insect pests damaging several vegetable, fruit, and cotton crops. This insecticide is also used to mitigate household insects like flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and so forth. Human beings are exposed to formulated Fen preparations mostly by inhalation during spraying in fields for crop protection, for control of household insects, and also during handling and packaging at manufacturing plants. Limited online information is available regarding toxic effects of formulated Fen exposure on mammalian reproductive system. The present study has been undertaken to investigate male reproductive toxic effects of a formulated preparation of Fen (20% EC) particularly in relation to steroidogenic alterations in testes and sera of rats exposed by nose-only inhalation for (4 hours/day and five days a week) for three months. The results indicate significant reduction in the weight of testes, epididymal sperm counts, and sperm motility, along with decrease in marker testicular enzymes for testosterone biosynthesis viz. 17-beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (17-beta-HSD) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), leading to net decrease in serum testosterone concentration in group of rats exposed to one-fifth LC50 of Fen (20% EC) by inhalation (4 hours/day, five days a week) subchronically for three months. These results for the first time indicate the role of testosterone in Fen (20% EC)-induced male reproductive toxicity of rats subchronically exposed by inhalation probably due to neuroendocrine-mediated phenomenon and hormone-disrupting property of the insecticide.     

Paediatric adrenocortical neoplasia — a study of 25 cases

We reviewed our experience of 25 children with adrenocortical tumours from January 1980 to December 1994. Their ages ranged from 7 months to 15 years; there were 16 girls and 9 boys. Truncal obesity, moon facies, hypertension, and virilisation were the most common clinical features. Establishment of the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome was accomplished by hormonal and radiological studies. Eighteen patients had adrenocortical carcinomas, but 2 of them refused operation; 7 had adrenocortical adenomas. Twenty-three patients were treated by surgery; 6 with carcinomas are still alive after periods of 6 months to 3 years. The results of treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma have been poor, but the prognosis is excellent for benign lesions.     

Prevention of type 2 diabetes in the prediabetic population

Prevention of diabetes has been tried by several groups with varying degree of success. Prediabetic population are the ideal target for the purpose. In this study, prediabetic subjects are selected from the high-risk groups, like those having obesity, family history of diabetes, past history of gestational diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia; and are included in the study when their fasting plasma glucose was found to be below 110 mg/dl and 2 hours postglucose (75g) plasma glucose remained between 110 and 200 mg/dl. After giving advice for lifestyle changes to all for a period of 3 months, those who had their blood glucose values in the impaird glucose tolerance (IGT) range were given either metformin, rosiglitazone or acarbose, the rest continued with diet and exercise only. Total follow-up period was 3 years. All groups maintained blood sugar in the euglycaemic range till the end of the 3-year period.     

Trichloroethylene induced testicular toxicity in rats exposed by inhalation

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is an organic solvent used in dry cleaning, metal degreasing, thinner for paints and varnishes, anesthetic agent, and so forth. Human beings are appreciably exposed to TCE vapours by inhalation route. The present study has been undertaken to investigate whether TCE inhalation may also bring about testicular toxic effects. Our results indicate that inhalation of TCE by male rats for 12 and 24 weeks brings about significant reduction in absolute testicular weight, and alters marker testicular enzymes activity associated with spermatogenesis and germ cell maturation, along with marked histopathological changes showing depletion of germs cells and spermatogenic arrest.     

Simultaneous expression of guinea pig UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B21 and 2B22 in COS-7 cells enhances UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B21-catalyzed morphine-6-glucuronide formation

Although UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) act as an important detoxification system for many endogenous and exogenous compounds, they are also involved in the metabolic activation of morphine to form morphine-6-glucuronide (M-6-G). The cDNAs encoding guinea pig liver UGT2B21 and UGT2B22, which are intimately involved in M-6-G formation, have been cloned and characterized. Although some evidence suggests that UGTs may function as oligomers, it is not known whether hetero-oligomer formation leads to differences in substrate specificity. In this work, evidence for a functional hetero-oligomer between UGT2B21 and UGT2B22 is provided by studies on the glucuronidation of morphine in transfected COS-7 cells. Cells transfected with UGT2B21 cDNA catalyzed mainly morphine-3-glucuronide formation although M-6-G was also formed to some extent. In contrast, cells transfected with UGT2B22 cDNA did not show any significant activity toward morphine. When UGT2B21 and UGT2B22 were expressed simultaneously in different ratios in COS-7 cells, extensive M-6-G formation was observed. This stimulation of M-6-G formation was not observed, however, when microsomes containing UGT2B21were mixed with those containing UGT2B22 in the presence of detergent. Furthermore, this effect was not very marked when human UGT1A1 and UGT2B21 were coexpressed in COS-7 cells. This is the first report suggesting that UGT hetero-oligomer formation leads to altered substrate specificity.