Antidiabetic potential and high synergistic antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesised with Musa Paradisiaca tepal extract

This work investigates the Musa Paradisiaca plant and its tepal extracts. The research findings show that the tepal extracts of M. Paradisiaca contain high phytochemical activity. Hence we can conclude that these plants have a number of beneficial properties. Phytochemical analysis concludes that the plant is rich in flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, terpenoids, and phytosterol. In the current work, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have revealed the antioxidant properties of M. Paradisiaca. The results show that the methanolic extracts of these tepals exhibit antioxidant potential and are also sources of natural antioxidant compounds, though comparatively, AgNPs have shown the best antioxidant activity. This work investigates the link between the ethnopharmacological statements and the bioactive constituents found in M. Paradisiaca toward all probable markers for cervical cancer via in vivo studies and molecular docking, to form a pharmacophore setting for the active target. However, most of the mechanisms of action of herbal medicines are not in total agreement, and the information collected from their traditional remedies over the years must not be neglected. Hence, it is sensible to investigate the options available in herbal medicine for cancer progression. Biosynthesised AgNPs are principally spherical and nanosized. It was also found that tepalmediated AgNPs exhibit excellent antimicrobial efficacy against tested human pathogens. This green method can be used as a better alternative source than the chemical fabrication of nanomaterials and the biosynthesised nanoparticles can be used in antibacterial medicines. The methanolictepal extract of M. Paradisiaca with AgNPs displayed proficient antidiabetic properties in the diabetes rat model and so could have a possible development for medical use in the future.

Challenges, experiences, and postoperative outcomes in setting up first successful lung transplant unit in India

Background

Lung transplantation (LT) has emerged as a definitive cure for a plethora of end-stage lung diseases (ESLDs). With improvements in immune-suppression protocols, the posttransplantation survival rates have gone up.

Aim

The study reported the initial experience of the India's single largest lung transplant program on clinicopathological profile, procedures, challenges encountered, and outcomes.

Settings and Design

A retrospective analysis was done from data available at three centers of Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant, Gleneagles Global Hospitals across Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.

Materials and Methods

A total of 132 patients underwent lung (single or bilateral) or combined heart and lung transplant between April 2017 and March 2020. All the participants had 30 days' follow-up. Postoperative complications, graft rejection, and 30-day mortality were reported. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed.

Statistical Analysis Used

Kaplan-Meier survival and binary logistic regression was performed.

Results

Interstitial lung diseases, 65.91%, were the most common diagnosis. Bilateral LT (81.3%) was the most common type of LT performed. Grade III primary graft dysfunction was observed in 16 (12.1%). Distal airway stenosis (21.97%) was the most common complication followed by anastomotic stenosis (14.30%). Gram-negative bacterial sepsis (52%) was the leading cause of death. Cumulative probability of survival at 1 month was 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80-0.92), and at 1 year, it was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.72-0.86).

Conclusion

This study establishes the fact that despite multiple challenges, LT is a viable option for selected patients with ESLDs in India and should encourage early referrals to a transplant center.

Competition between photosynthesis and reproduction is constrained by leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in ferns

Diversity in plant life histories is primarily that found in the rate and duration of photosynthetic (vegetative) and reproductive growth. However, direct evidence for an anticipated trade-off between photosynthesis and reproduction is lacking in any plant lineage. Ferns allocate leaf space and resources to both photosynthesis and reproduction, potentially leading to competition for leaf resources between stomatal pores and reproductive spores. We hypothesized that a trade-off between stomatal density (StD; a proxy for photosynthetic capacity) and sporangial density (SpD; a measure of fertility) has evolved in monomorphic ferns due to the common space, time and resource constraints imposed by a highly conserved and globally low leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in ferns, where any increase in LMA indicated greater construction cost and longer leaf lifespan. We measured LMA, StD and SpD in 40 fern species in India that represented both monomorphic and dimorphic conditions from both terrestrial and epiphytic habits. Both StD and SpD showed a 50-fold range in monomorphic species whereas LMA was more conserved (six-fold range). LMA of terrestrial ferns was significantly lower than that of epiphytic ferns. Linear regression between LMA and StD was significantly positive in dimorphic terrestrial ferns (showing the lowest LMA among all ferns) and significantly negative in monomorphic epiphytic ferns (showing the highest LMA among all ferns). Dimorphic terrestrial ferns were highly fecund on their fertile leaves and showed a significantly higher StD to LMA ratio on their sterile leaves compared to monomorphic terrestrial ferns. Dimorphic ferns seem to maximize both StD and SpD by physical separation of photosynthesis and reproduction, and their characteristically low LMA (shorter leaf lifespan = smaller time window) potentially selects for high StD and high fertility. The regression between StD and SpD in monomorphic ferns was significantly linear and positive, although comparisons among closely related species (within families) showed negative correlations when both StD and SpD were high, captured also by a significant quadratic regression between StD and SpD in monomorphic ferns. Monomorphic terrestrial species bearing more spores per stomata showed relatively low LMA whereas those producing fewer spores per stomata possessed leaves with relatively high LMA. Monomorphic epiphytes produced as many spores as terrestrial species but showed significantly low StD for their high LMA. We discuss the evolutionary reasons behind these trends and conclude that monomorphic terrestrial ferns with high LMA (long leaf lifespan) tend to prioritize photosynthesis over reproduction, while monomorphic epiphytes (always high LMA) are significantly more fertile for lower photosynthesis. The role of LMA in framing the rules of competition between stomata and sporangia in monomorphic ferns provides a template for how photosynthesis may directly or indirectly influence reproductive strategies (and vice versa) in all land plants.

Perioperative intravenous contrast administration and the incidence of acute kidney injury after major gastrointestinal surgery: prospective, multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the impact of preoperative exposure to intravenous contrast for CT and the risk of developing postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery.

METHODS

This prospective, multicentre cohort study included adults undergoing gastrointestinal resection, stoma reversal or liver resection. Both elective and emergency procedures were included. Preoperative exposure to intravenous contrast was defined as exposure to contrast administered for the purposes of CT up to 7 days before surgery. The primary endpoint was the rate of AKI within 7 days. Propensity score-matched models were adjusted for patient, disease and operative variables. In a sensitivity analysis, a propensity score-matched model explored the association between preoperative exposure to contrast and AKI in the first 48 h after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 5378 patients were included across 173 centres. Overall, 1249 patients (23·2 per cent) received intravenous contrast. The overall rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery was 13·4 per cent (718 of 5378). In the propensity score-matched model, preoperative exposure to contrast was not associated with AKI within 7 days (odds ratio (OR) 0·95, 95 per cent c.i. 0·73 to 1·21; P = 0·669). The sensitivity analysis showed no association between preoperative contrast administration and AKI within 48 h after operation (OR 1·09, 0·84 to 1·41; P = 0·498).

CONCLUSION

There was no association between preoperative intravenous contrast administered for CT up to 7 days before surgery and postoperative AKI. Risk of contrast-induced nephropathy should not be used as a reason to avoid contrast-enhanced CT.

Synthesis, vibrational spectra, DFT calculations, Hirshfeld surface analysis and molecular docking study of 3-chloro-3-methyl-2,6-diphenylpiperidin-4-one

A newly synthesized molecular complex 3-chloro-3-methyl-2,6-diphenylpiperidin-4-one [CMDP] crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1. The piperidin-4-one ring exhibits a distorted chair conformation with the puckering parameters Q = 0.559 (3) Å, θ = 173.3 (3°) and φ = 180 (2°). The methyl substituent on the third position of the piperidine ring takes up a syn-periplanar positioning although the chloro substituent takes up an anti-clinical positioning with dihedral angle: Cl1-C2-C1-O1 = 113.3 (2°) due to the repulsion from an adjacent oxygen atom. The optimized molecular geometry and fundamental vibrational frequencies of the CMDP compounds are interpreted with the help of normal coordinate force field calculations based on DFT method B3LYP/6-31+G (d,p) level basis set. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap of the molecule is 5.4194 eV. The hardness value (η) of the CMDP molecule is 2.7097 eV. Hirshfeld surface analysis and fingerprint plots are supportive for determining the molecular shape and visually analyzing the intermolecular interactions in the crystal structure. The Hirshfeld surfaces like d_i,d_e,d_norm, shape index and curvedness of C₁₈H₁₈NOCl were pictured and discussed. The various levels of electronic transitions have been predicted by Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) calculations and compared with the recorded absorption spectrum. Molecular docking study was performed and reported for the synthesized compound against 4ey7 protein.

Country Report: The Report of Transplant Activity and Outcome During the First 12 Months at the First National Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Center in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a developing country with a population of 21 million. Nation Cancer Institute (NCI) is the largest tertiary cancer centre with universal health coverage. Absence of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) was a major deficiency as most patients cannot afford transplant abroad. In 2013-14, NCI decided to establish the first National HSCT center in collaboration with St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney. Eventually, the first Autologous HSCT was established at NCI in December 2016. Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in very good partial remission or better remission, and patients with relapsed Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), who were less than 65 years with good performance status were selected. Stem cells were mobilized with cyclophosphamide and G-CSF and the products were cryopreserved. Melphalan was the conditioning regime for MM while BEAM was used for HL and NHL. Twenty autologous transplants were performed in the first year. Mean age was 47 years (range: 17-62) and male to female ratio was 3: 2. There were 17 MM and one each of NHL, HL and POEMS syndrome patients. Median CD34＋ stem cells collected was 12.72×106/kg (range: 3-31) and median infused cell dose was 4.07×106/kg (range: 2-7.4). Median engraftment day was 13 (range: 11-19) and median hospitalization was 16 days (range: 14-20). All developed febrile neutropenia and GradeⅢ thrombocytopenia. Zero transplant-related mortality was observed with acceptable morbidity. At the median follow-up of 47 weeks, the overall survival was 100% with all the patients still in remission.

TiO₂ Decorated Graphene as a Fluorescent Chemosensor for the Detection of Silver Ions

In this report, a new design is proposed for the detection of silver ions using Graphene Oxide-Titanium oxide (GO/TiO₂) composite. The GO was synthesized by modified Hummers method and the composite is synthesized by chemical reflux method. The surface morphology of the composite was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and it is clearly observed that TiO₂ spheres are adsorbed on the surface of GO in a disordered manner. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) results confirm the presence of TiO₂ on GO. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra show the reduced recombination of charge carriers in the (GO/TiO₂) composite. The resulting composite selectively detects silver ions over other potentially competing metal ions with no notable interference monitored by fluorescence.

A study on the impact of fire crackers on airborne microflora during diwali

Diwali is celebrated widely in Asian countries, with a custom of firing crackers. Crackers pollute the environment with noise, particulate matter and chemicals. There are reports on the variation of particulates during firing crackers but none on airborne microbes. The present study was conducted to know the impact of fire crackers on airborne microflora. The air samples were collected 3 days prior to Diwali, on Diwali and 3 days after Diwali during the year 2017 at 15 different areas in Chennai, India. Andersen N-6 viable particle air sampler was exposed with petridishes containing nutrient agar and potato dextrose agar for the isolation of bacteria and fungi respectively. An average of 1,904 ± 2.5 CFU/m3 of bacteria recorded prior Diwali was reduced by 53.23% on Diwali and increased by 27.37% after Diwali. This reduction on Diwali is attributed to the exposure of bacteria to chemicals emitted by the crackers. For fungi, an average of 235.57 ± 1.67 CFU/m3 was recorded prior Diwali, with an increase of 78.5% on Diwali. The increase in fungal count might be due to the release of spores by ground crackers. The study shows that bacteria are susceptible to the chemicals emitted by fire crackers when compared with fungi.

Critical care usage after major gastrointestinal and liver surgery: a prospective, multicentre observational study

BACKGROUND

Patient selection for critical care admission must balance patient safety with optimal resource allocation. This study aimed to determine the relationship between critical care admission, and postoperative mortality after abdominal surgery.

METHODS

This prespecified secondary analysis of a multicentre, prospective, observational study included consecutive patients enrolled in the DISCOVER study from UK and Republic of Ireland undergoing major gastrointestinal and liver surgery between October and December 2014. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore associations between critical care admission (planned and unplanned) and mortality, and inter-centre variation in critical care admission after emergency laparotomy.

RESULTS

Of 4529 patients included, 37.8% (n=1713) underwent planned critical care admissions from theatre. Some 3.1% (n=86/2816) admitted to ward-level care subsequently underwent unplanned critical care admission. Overall 30-day mortality was 2.9% (n=133/4519), and the risk-adjusted association between 30-day mortality and critical care admission was higher in unplanned [odds ratio (OR): 8.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.51-19.97) than planned admissions (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.43-3.85). Some 26.7% of patients (n=1210/4529) underwent emergency laparotomies. After adjustment, 49.3% (95% CI: 46.8-51.9%, P<0.001) were predicted to have planned critical care admissions, with 7% (n=10/145) of centres outside the 95% CI.

CONCLUSIONS

After risk adjustment, no 30-day survival benefit was identified for either planned or unplanned postoperative admissions to critical care within this cohort. This likely represents appropriate admission of the highest-risk patients. Planned admissions in selected, intermediate-risk patients may present a strategy to mitigate the risk of unplanned admission. Substantial inter-centre variation exists in planned critical care admissions after emergency laparotomies.

Bis-anthracene derived bis-pyridine: selective fluorescence sensing of Al3+ ions

A novel bis-anthracene molecule linked to bis-pyridine by xylylene dibromide (APC) was synthesized as a potent sensor for the detection of Al³⁺ ions.

4-Methylanilinium 2-carboxyacetate

In the crystal of the title salt, C7H10N+·C3H3O4 −, the cations are linked to the anions via N—H...O and trifurcated N—H...(O,O,O) hydrogen bonds. The anions are linked into [010] chains by O—H...O hydrogen bonds. Taken together, these interactions generate (100) sheets.

Role of inter-nanowire distance in metal nanowires on pool boiling heat transfer characteristics

Energy management in data centres is crucial where a maximum portion of energy is spent on thermal management and electronics cooling systems. It becomes very crucial when it comes to immersion cooling techniques (pool boiling mechanism) using dielectric fluids. Role of metal nanowires (Cu and Ag) with different inter-nanowire distance values were analysed for their pool boiling performance. Templates with different inter-pore distances (260 ± 20 nm, 320 ± 20 nm and 360 ± 20 nm) and diameter of 200 nm were used to deposit copper nanowires (CuNW) and silver nanowires (AgNW) over the copper substrate using electrodeposition technique. Electrodeposition conditions like voltage and time were optimised to obtain nanowires of near constant height and different surface density coverage. To investigate the role of these metal nanowires on pool boiling characteristics, a dedicated pool boiling experimental facility was fabricated and experiments were carried out using FC-72 as working fluid. As a result of experimental investigation, boiling incipience superheat was observed to reduce which is very important for electronics systems. Also, both the critical heat flux (CHF) and heat transfer coefficient (h) were found to be increased as compared to the bare copper surface. Increasing the distance between nanowires, decreases the number of nanowires per unit area and thus the surface density coverage. This increases the cavity density and cavity size of micron-scale cavities in favour of pool boiling enhancement. This also decreases the resistance to fluid flow at high heat flux values which delays the surface dryout and critical heat flux.