Formation of a gold–carbon dot nanocomposite with superior catalytic ability for the reduction of aromatic nitro groups in water

Probing on the synthesis of gold-carbon dot nanocomposite for catalytic reduction of aromatic nitrogroup.

Effect of Storage Time on Fish Feed Stored at Room Temperature and Low Temperature

An experiment was conducted to determine the changes of nutritive value of different commercial fish feeds stored at room temperature (25-30°C) and low temperature (5-8°C) for a period of two months by taking biweekly sample. Three most popular fish feeds named Mega fish feed, Quality fish feed and Saudi Bangla fish feed used in the Mymensingh region were selected for the purpose. Throughout the study, physical characteristics and proximate composition of three commercial fish feeds were analyzed. There were no change in color, appearance of moderately bad odour, a little bit of soft texture and broken pellets were found in later stages of the experiment but the overall quality was still acceptable. Along with physical characteristics, changes were occurred in case of proximate composition. In Mega, Quality and Saudi Bangla fish feed, crude protein content was reduced in both the storage conditions. Lipid content also exhibited similar reduction due to storage at both the conditions. Whereas moisture content increased a little bit in the case of room temperature storage and decreased when stored in low temperature (5-8°C). No marked changes had been occurred in other proximate composition like ash, and crude fibre. Declining rate of the quality of fish feeds was higher at room temperature (25-30°C) than low temperature (5-8°C) but the overall quality remained acceptable upto two months storage at both the conditions. It is suggested to use the feed within two months after manufacture. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v22i1-2.16473 Progress. Agric. 22(1 & 2): 115-122, 2011

Characterization of tumor heterogeneity using dynamic contrast enhanced CT and FDG-PET in non-small cell lung cancer

PURPOSE

Dynamic contrast-enhanced CT (DCE-CT) quantifies vasculature properties of tumors, whereas static FDG-PET/CT defines metabolic activity. Both imaging modalities are capable of showing intra-tumor heterogeneity. We investigated differences in vasculature properties within primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors measured by DCE-CT and metabolic activity from FDG-PET/CT.

METHODS

Thirty three NSCLC patients were analyzed prior to treatment. FDG-PET/CT and DCE-CT were co-registered. The tumor was delineated and metabolic activity was segmented on the FDG-PET/CT in two regions: low (<50% maximum SUV) and high (≥50% maximum SUV) metabolic uptake. Blood flow, blood volume and permeability were calculated using a maximum slope, deconvolution algorithm and a Patlak model. Correlations were assessed between perfusion parameters for the regions of interest.

RESULTS

DCE-CT provided additional information on vasculature and tumor heterogeneity that was not correlated to metabolic tumor activity. There was no significant difference between low and high metabolic active regions for any of the DCE-CT parameters. Furthermore, only moderate correlations between maximum SUV and DCE-CT parameters were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

No direct correlation was observed between FDG-uptake and parameters extracted from DCE-CT. DCE-CT may provide complementary information to the characterization of primary NSCLC tumors over FDG-PET/CT imaging.

Localized rotational activation in the left atrium during human atrial fibrillation: relationship to complex fractionated atrial electrograms and low-voltage zones

BACKGROUND

In humans, the existence of rotors or reentrant sources maintaining atrial fibrillation (AF) and the underlying electroanatomic substrate has not been well defined.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to determine the prevalence of localized rotational activation (RotA) in the left atrium (LA) during human AF and whether complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) or low-voltage areas colocalize with RotA sites.

METHODS

We prospectively studied 32 patients (mean age 57 ± 8 years; 88% with persistent AF) undergoing AF catheter ablation. Bipolar electrograms were recorded for 2.5 seconds during AF using a roving 20-pole circular catheter in the LA. RotA was defined as sequential temporal activation of bipoles around the circular catheter. Bipolar electrogram fractionation index and bipolar voltage were used to define CFAEs and low-voltage areas, respectively.

RESULTS

In 21 (66%) patients, 47 RotA sites were identified. Few (9%) lasted 2.5 seconds (cycle length 183 ± 6 ms), while the majority (91%) were nonsustained (duration 610 ± 288 ms; cycle length 149 ± 11 ms). RotA was most common in the pulmonary vein antrum (71%) and posterior LA (25%). CFAEs were recorded from 18% ± 12% of LA area, and most (92% ± 7%) were not associated with RotA sites. However, 85% of RotA sites contained CFAEs. Very low voltage (<0.1 mV) areas comprised 12% ± 10% of LA area and were present in 23% of RotA sites.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with predominantly persistent AF, localized RotA is commonly present but tends to be transient (<1 second). Although most CFAEs do not colocalize with RotA sites, the high prevalence of CFAEs and very low voltages within RotA sites may indicate slow conduction in diseased myocardium necessary for their maintenance.

Portopulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary involvement is common in patients with portal hypertension and can manifest in diverse manners. Changes in pulmonary arterial resistance, manifesting either as the hepatopulmonary syndrome or portopulmonary hypertension (POPH), have been increasingly recognized in these patients in recent years. The prognosis in patients with liver disease who also suffer from significant POPH is considered to be poor. Higher degree of pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) may preclude a patient from liver transplant as mortality in these patients is high. This review summarizes the clinicopathologic features, diagnostic criteria, as well as the latest concepts in the pathogenesis and management of POPH, which is defined as is a form of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with portal hypertension with or without underlying chronic liver disease.

A complete genetic linkage map and QTL analyses for bast fibre quality traits, yield and yield components in jute (Corchorus olitorius L.)

We report the first complete microsatellite genetic map of jute (Corchorus olitorius L.; 2n = 2x = 14) using an F6 recombinant inbred population. Of the 403 microsatellite markers screened, 82 were mapped on the seven linkage groups (LGs) that covered a total genetic distance of 799.9 cM, with an average marker interval of 10.7 cM. LG5 had the longest and LG7 the shortest genetic lengths, whereas LG1 had the maximum and LG7 the minimum number of markers. Segregation distortion of microsatellite loci was high (61%), with the majority of them (76%) skewed towards the female parent. Genomewide non-parametric single-marker analysis in combination with multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL)-models (MQM) mapping detected 26 definitive QTLs for bast fibre quality, yield and yield-related traits. These were unevenly distributed on six LGs, as colocalized clusters, at genomic sectors marked by 15 microsatellite loci. LG1 was the QTL-richest map sector, with the densest colocalized clusters of QTLs governing fibre yield, yield-related traits and tensile strength. Expectedly, favorable QTLs were derived from the desirable parents, except for nearly all of those of fibre fineness, which might be due to the creation of new gene combinations. Our results will be a good starting point for further genome analyses in jute.

Prevalence of ESBL producing Escherichia Coli and Klebsiella species with their co-resistance pattern to antimicrobials

Extended spectrum β-lactamase producing bacteria are potential emerging pathogens and continue to be a major challenge in clinical setup worldwide. In the present study an attempt was made to study the prevalence of extended spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species from clinical isolates in a rural tertiary care hospital in West Bengal, India with their antimicrobial susceptibility as well as co-resistance pattern to different antimicrobials. A total of 179 Escherichia coli and 62 Klebsiella isolates recovered from various clinical samples of urine, pus, aural swabs and respiratory secretions (including sputum) for a period of six months were subjected to routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing and also tested for extended spectrum β-lactamase production as per NCCLS recommendations. Extended spectrum β-lactamase was detected in 32.40% of Escherichia coli and 40.32% of Klebsiella species isolates. Urine, pus and respiratory samples were common source of extended spectrum β-lactamase producers and resistance rate of these organisms to third generation cephalosporins were more than 30 to 40%. Co-resistance pattern of these extended spectrum β-lactamase producers to other commonly used antimicrobials were also statistically significant (p≤0.05). From the study it is concluded that indiscriminate use of third generation cephalosporins may be responsible for the selection of extended spectrum β-lactamase producing multidrug resistant strains in hospital setup and amikacin is a reliable drug against them.

Detection of constitutive and inducible clindamycin resistance of staphlococcus in a rural tertiary care hospital

Clindamycin has gained immense importance in the treatment of Staphylococcal infections following resistance to Beta-lactam antibiotics, especially after emergence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Clindamycin is a valuable treatment option for Staphylococcal isolates that are erythromycin resistant and clindamycin sensitive. However following exposure to erythromycin, clindamycin sensitive strains may lead to constitutive clindamycin resistance and treatment failure. But labeling all erythromycin resistant Staphylococci as clindamycin resistant strain prevents its use in infections caused by true clindamycin sensitive strains. This study aims to detect the presence of inducible clindamycin resistance among clinical isolates of Staphylococci. The detection of inducible clindamycin resistance was performed by D-Test as per the NCCLS guidelines. Among two hundred clinical isolates of Staphylococci studied, there was 24% inducible Clindamycin resistance among all the Staphylococci isolates: 29.4% among Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and 21% among Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. It is advisable to include inducible clindamycin resistance testing as part of routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Aripiprazole for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

AIMS

To test aripiprazole for efficacy in decreasing use in methamphetamine-dependent adults, compared to placebo.

DESIGN

Participants were randomized to receive 12 weeks of aripiprazole or placebo, with a 3-month follow-up and a platform of weekly 30-minute substance abuse counseling.

SETTING

The trial was conducted from January 2009 to March 2012 at the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

PARTICIPANTS

Ninety actively using, methamphetamine-dependent, sexually active adults were recruited from community venues.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome was regression estimated reductions in weekly methamphetamine-positive urines. Secondary outcomes were study medication adherence [by self-report and medication event monitoring systems (MEMS)], sexual risk behavior and abstinence from methamphetamine.

FINDINGS

Participant mean age was 38.7 years, 87.8% were male, 50.0% white, 18.9% African American, and 16.7% Latino. Eighty-three per cent of follow-up visits and final visits were completed. By intent-to-treat, participants assigned to aripiprazole had similar reductions in methamphetamine-positive urines as participants assigned to placebo [risk ratio (RR) 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66-1.19, P = 0.41]. Urine positivity declined from 73% (33 of 45 participants) to 45% (18 of 40) in the placebo arm and from 77% (34 of 44) to 44% (20 of 35) in the aripiprazole arm. Adherence by MEMS and self-report was 42 and 74%, respectively, with no significant difference between arms (MEMS P = 0.31; self-report P = 0.17). Most sexual risk behaviors declined similarly among participants in both arms (all P > 0.05). There were no serious adverse events related to study drug, although participants randomized to aripiprazole reported more akathisia, fatigue and drowsiness (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Compared with placebo, aripiprazole did not reduce methamphetamine use significantly among actively using, dependent adults.