Bioinspired Cobalt Oxide Nanoball Synthesis, Characterization, and Their Potential as Metal Stress Absorbants

Massive accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural land as a result of enhanced levels of toxicity in the soil is an emerging global concern. Among various metals, zinc contamination has severe effects on plant and human health through the food chain. To remove such toxicity, a nanotechnological neutralizer, cobalt oxide nanoballs (Co₃O₄ Nbs) were synthesized by using the extract of Cordia myxa. The Co₃O₄ Nbs were well characterized via UV-vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Green-synthesized Co₃O₄ Nbs were exposed over Acacia jacquemontii and Acacia nilotica at different concentrations (25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm). Highly significant results were observed for plant growth by the application of Co₃O₄ Nbs at 100 ppm, thereby increasing the root length (35%), shoot length (48%), fresh weight (44%), and dry weight (40%) of the Acacia species with respect to the control. Furthermore, physiological parameters including chlorophyll contents, relative water contents, and osmolyte contents like proline and sugar showed a prominent increase. The antioxidant activity and atomic absorption supported and justified the positive response to using Co₃O₄ Nbs that mitigated the heavy-metal zinc stress by improving the plant growth. Hence, the biocompatible Co₃O₄ Nbs counteract the zinc toxicity for governing and maintaining plant growth. Such nanotechnological tools can therefore step up the cropping system and overcome toxicity to meet the productivity demand along with the development of agricultural management strategies.

Quantifying Serum Derived Differential Expressed and Low Molecular Weight Protein in Breast Cancer Patients

Background:

Searching the biomarker from complex heterogeneous material for early detection of disease is a challenging task in the field of biomedical sciences.

Objective:

The study has been arranged to explore the proteomics serum derived profiling of the differential expressed and low molecular weight protein in breast cancer patient.

Methods:

Quantitative proteome was analyzed using the Nano LC/Mass and Bioinformatics tool.

Results:

This quantification yields 239 total protein constituting 29% of differentially expressed protein, with 82% downregulated differential protein and 18% up-regulated differential protein. While 12% of total protein were found to be cancer inducing proteins. Gene Ontology (GO) described that the altered proteins with 0-60 kDa mass in nucleus, cytosol, ER, and mitochondria were abundant that chiefly controlled the RNA, DNA, ATP, Ca ion and receptor bindings.

Conclusion:

The study demonstrate that the organelle specific, low molecular weighted proteins are significantly important biomarker. That act as strong agents in the prognosis and diagnosis of breast cancer at early stage.

Prenatal sonographic documentation of cystic hygroma regression in Noonan syndrome

Prenatal diagnosis of a posterior nuchal cystic hygroma was made at 13 weeks of gestation in a fetus diagnosed at birth with Noonan syndrome. Through serial sonographic evaluation during pregnancy, the embryologic evolution of cystic hygroma into nuchal skin thickening was appreciated and later correlated with postnatal findings of nuchal skin fold redundancy and pterygium colli in a patient with Noonan syndrome. These observations support the concept of the jugular lymphatic disruption sequence as pathogenesis of the nuchal findings in severely affected Noonan syndrome patients.

Atrial natriuretic peptide in heart and specific binding in organs from fetal and newborn rats

To assess the possibility that atrial natriuretic peptide plays a role in salt and water balance during early mammalian development, we examined hearts from fetal and neonatal rates for the presence of this peptide and presumed target tissues for their ability to bind the hormone. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize and radioimmunoassay to quantify this peptide in heart. Immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide was visualized in the fetal heart on day 17.5 post-conception. It was distributed throughout the atrial appendages and free wall and, in ventricle, in the trabeculae carnae and chordae tendineae. The concentrations of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide in atria of rats on day 19.5 post-conception were one-tenth of those in the adult. Levels of this peptide in fetal ventricle were low and virtually absent from the adult tissue. Specific binding of radiolabelled atrial natriuretic peptide measured by whole organ counting occurred in several organs from 19.5-day fetal and neonatal rats. A number of these tissues, including the kidney, ileum, adrenal, lung and liver, are targets for and/or bind the peptide in adult rats. Specific binding in these tissues was localized using autoradiography at anatomical sites similar to those in adult organs. Specific binding was also seen in fetal but not neonatal skin. In the kidney, binding was associated with immature as well as mature glomeruli. These findings support the proposition that atrial natriuretic peptide may function in the perinatal rat as it does in the adult and, in addition, may play a unique role during fetal life.

Antibacterial activity of amniotic fluid in the early third trimester. Its association with preterm labor and delivery

The purpose of this study was to determine the bacterial growth inhibitory property of amniotic fluid (AF) from patients in the early third trimester and to examine its relationship to preterm labor and delivery. A total of 38 AF samples from patients between 27 and 35 weeks gestation with intact membranes were studied. Antibacterial activity was tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacteroides fragilis. Fifteen fluids were from patients in preterm labor who delivered near term after successful inhibition of labor. Five of these fluids (33%) were inhibitory to E. coli, five (33%) to S. aureus, and 11 (73%) to B. fragilis. Nine fluids were from patients who failed inhibition of labor and delivered preterm; none of these were inhibitory to E. coli, two (22%) to S. aureus, and only one (11%) to B. fragilis (P less than 0.005). Two of the nine fluids from patients who failed inhibition of labor also yielded fusobacteria. The remaining 14 fluids were obtained from patients without preterm labor and exhibited antibacterial activity similar to that from patients with successful labor inhibition. Results suggest a relationship between the absence of AF antibacterial activity against B. fragilis and preterm delivery in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes.

Myotonic dystrophy in pregnancy. Prenatal, neonatal and maternal considerations

Five pregnancies occurred in three women with myotonic dystrophy. Four of the five infants had generalized hypotonia, respiratory failure, swallowing difficulties and arthrogryposis; two of the affected infants died despite intensive treatment. The surviving affected children had a gradual improvement in respiratory and swallowing symptoms but have remained hypotonic and developmentally delayed. The fifth infant was entirely normal. Polyhydramnios was the most constant feature of the affected pregnancies. Three of the four affected fetuses weighed less than 2,500 gm. Other obstetric complications were not prominent. Second-trimester amniocentesis and linkage studies have a role in predicting myotonic dystrophy. Real-time ultrasound can be used in the prenatal diagnosis of neonatal myotonic dystrophy.