Association of plasma Decorin levels and markers of glycocalyx disruption with adverse events in women with severe preeclampsia

Identifying preeclamptic women with an increased risk of severe maternal complications can aid in timely interventions to optimize pregnancy outcomes. Newer biomarkers such as Decorin and markers of endo glycocalyx disruption were assessed in earlier studies for its role in predicting preeclampsia, but their role in identifying those with adverse maternal outcomes is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the association of these biomarkers with adverse maternal outcomes in women with severe pre-eclampsia. Markers of glycocalyx disruption may be further explored for their role along with clinical features and other biomarkers in identifying women at higher risk of maternal complications.

Unheard Voices of Pregnant Health Care Professionals during COVID-19 Pandemic? - A Qualitative Study

Background

Pregnant Health Care Professionals (HCPs), who serve as front-line warriors of COVID-19 will invariably experience a stressful pregnancy period. Ensuring their well-being during this COVID-19 pandemic period is a big challenge and guidelines or standard operating procedures (SOP) for the same are non-existent or are scarce.

Objectives

To explore the challenges and experiences of pregnant HCPs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted among 19 pregnant HCPs (14 Doctors and 5 staff nurses) working in Pondicherry, who were selected using purposive sampling for in-depth interviews. After obtaining informed written consent, face-to-face interviews were conducted until the attainment of the point of saturation. Audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed in English. Transcripts were proofread and manually analyzed for content. Codes obtained from the analysis of transcripts were merged to form broad categories.

Results

The majority 15 (78.9%) of HCPs belonged to the clinical department and had work experience from 2-4 years. The mean age of the respondents was 29.4 ± 3.6 years. Four broad categories (of challenges), namely, Personnel level (Fear of infection in workplace, Inadequate antenatal care), Family level (Family pressure to quit job, Guilt of spreading the infection to family members), society level (Criticism by neighbor for working, Stigma), and work level challenges (Fear of losing the job, Uncomfortable work environment) emerged from the study.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Challenges faced by the pregnant HCPs due to their nature of work remain by and large not addressed. Hence, specific guidelines or SOPs addressing these issues of pregnant health care workers and their swift and strict implementation are the need of the hour.

Isolation of bioactive compounds from lichen Parmelia sulcata and evaluation of antimicrobial property

BACKGROUND

Lichens were used as an ailment in the traditional medicine for treating various disorders for centuries. Since there is less evidence in the literature about the medicinal property of Parmelia sulcata (P. sulcata), we made a pioneer attempt to explore the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of lichens.

METHODS

In the present study, the three Samples were collected by using the column chromatography by elucidating the ethyl acetate extract of P. sulcata, and the samples were subjected to DPPH and ABTS assays to find the free radical scavenging activity, total phenols and flavonoids were estimated. The minimum inhibitory concentration was evaluated against the bacterial species (Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and fungal species (Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus) by the microdilution method. The best activity sample was analyzed using the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier Transmission Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).

RESULTS

The results shown that all the samples contain phenols and flavonoids which are responsible for antioxidants, antibacterial and antifungal activities. Among that sample-3 shown best antimicrobial activity and it was analyzed and identified as 7-hydroxy-3-(2-methylbut-3-en2-yl)-chromen-2-one.

CONCLUSION

The outcome of the study suggests that sample-3 shown good antimicrobial activity and identified as 7-hydroxy-3-(2-methylbut-3-en2-yl)-chromen-2-one. It can be a resource for further studies.

Compositional and spectrochemical analyses of Cr-spinels in the Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex, Southern India: Implications for remote observation of spinels on the Moon

The spectroscopic techniques such as Laser Raman, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and hyperspectral have been used widely to understand the mineral chemistry and crystal structure and identify the functional phases and organic molecules in geological materials on Earth and other planetary bodies. The present study used these spectroscopic techniques combined with X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA) to understand the spectral-compositional relationships of the Cr-spinel (Chromian spinel) present in chromitite bodies associated with Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex (SAC), southern India. The bands/lenses of Cr-spinel are found as layers (few centimeters to 6 m thick) intercalated with anorthosites and clinopyroxenites of the SAC. The cumulate Cr-spinels of the study area exhibit compositions ranging between Al-chromite and Cr-spinel. Fe-, Al-rich Cr-spinel is a characteristic of the SAC with Cr₂O₃ content ranging from ~32-37 wt% and Cr# (Cr/[Cr + Al]) in the 0.44 to 0.53 range. The XRD spectra of these Cr-spinels have shown characteristic peaks corresponding to its constituent phases, with the highest peak at 36.11°. The observed longward shift in the Raman A_1g peak (~705-714 cm^-1) is likely to be caused by the substitution of Al³⁺ in the spinel structure. The Raman A_1g peak position near 705 cm^-1 in the spectra is attributed to the coexistence of (Mg, Fe) in the tetrahedral site and (Al, Cr) in the octahedral site. The broader and stronger 2 µm band position in the hyperspectral data is at relatively shorter wavelengths than typical Cr-spinels due to enhanced Al content (Al₂O₃ ~ 25 wt%) in the SAC samples. The 2 µm band position is observed to have a longward shift with increasing Cr₂O₃ and Cr# abundances and a corresponding shortward shift with enhanced Al₂O₃ content in Cr-spinels. The linear relationship between the 2 µm band position and Cr/Al abundances indicates that this absorption band is significant in distinguishing Cr-spinels from Al-spinels. Based on spectral and compositional resemblance, Fe- and Al-rich Cr-spinels in SAC are considered as probable terrestrial (functional) analogues for similar lunar spinel compositions given that evidence-based correlation of intricate processes involved in their formation under the lunar and terrestrial conditions. The present study demonstrates the approach of applying spectrochemical characteristics of terrestrial analogue spinels for remote identification of lunar spinels and retrieving their compositional ranges from the spectral reflectance parameters.

Efficient rejection of organic compounds using functionalized ZSM-5 incorporated PPSU mixed matrix membrane

Zeolite (ZSM-5) and functionalised zeolite blended polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were fabricated for comparing their performance with virgin PPSU.

Effects of polymer blend composition on membrane properties and separation performance of PEES/PEI blend membrane

In this work, an attempt has been made for protein rejection from aqueous solution using ultrafiltration blend membrane based on poly(phenylene ether ether sulfone) (PEES) and polyetherimide (PEI) was prepared in various blend compositions. Prepared membranes were characterized in terms of pure water flux, water content, membrane hydraulic resistance, porosity, contact angle, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Studies were carried out to find out the rejection of proteins such as trypsin, pepsin, egg albumin, and bovine serum albumin. The extent of protein separation is directly proportional to molecular weight of protein. Pristine PEES membrane exhibited high-percentage protein rejection of BSA (92.7%), EA (88.2%), pepsin (85.8%), and trypsin (82.2%) compared to PEES/PEI blend membranes. PEES/PEI blend membranes have better hydrophilic property compared to pristine PEES membrane. Pristine PEES has a contact angle of 97.8°, embedded with PEI and reduced to 67.9°. The thermal stability of the membrane was slightly decreased when the percentage of PEI composition into the PEES/PEI blend increased and observed that the pure PEES membrane has superior thermal stability than PEES/PEI blend membranes

Zero-valent iron impregnated cellulose acetate mixed matrix membranes for the treatment of textile industry effluent

Novel green synthesized zero valent iron (ZVI) nanoparticles of distinct mass fractions of 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 wt% are blended with cellulose acetate (CA) to prepare CA/ZVI mixed matrix membranes (MMMs).

Enhanced vacuum sensing performance of multiwalled carbon nanotubes: role of defects and carboxyl functionalization

The presence of surface active carboxylic sites and the nature of the (ordered and defective) stacking of graphite layers in the nanotubes determined the vacuum sensing characteristics.

Acute toxicity and the 28-day repeated dose study of a Siddha medicine Nuna Kadugu in rats

BACKGROUND

Nuna Kadugu (NK), a Siddha medicine prepared from leaves and fruits of Morinda Pubescens, used for the treatment of various skin diseases. Though NK has been widely used for several decades, no scientific report was available on its safety. Present study was undertaken to demonstrate the oral toxicity of NK in Sprague Dawley rats.

METHODS

Acute and 28-day repeated oral toxicity studies were performed following OECD test guidelines 423 and 407, respectively, with minor modifications. In acute oral toxicity study, NK was administered at 2000 mg/kg b.wt., p.o and animals were observed for toxic signs at 0, 0.5, 1, 4, 24 h and for next 14 days. Gross pathology was performed at the end of the study. In repeated dose, the 28- day oral toxicity study, NK was administered at 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg b.wt./p.o/day. Two satellite groups (control and high dose) were also maintained to determine the delayed onset toxicity of NK. Animals were observed for mortality, morbidity, body weight changes, feed and water intake. Haematology, clinical biochemistry, electrolytes, gross pathology, relative organ weight and histopathological examination were performed.

RESULTS

In acute toxicity study, no treatment related death or toxic signs were observed with NK administration. In the repeated dose study, no significant differences in body weight changes, food / water intake, haematology, clinical biochemistry and electrolytes content were observed between control and NK groups. No gross pathological findings and difference in relative organ weights were observed between control and NK treated rats. Histopathological examination revealed no abnormalities with NK treatment.

CONCLUSION

Acute study reveals that the LD50 of NK is greater than 2000 mg/kg, b.wt. in fasted female rats and can be classified as Category 5. 28-day repeated oral toxicity demonstrates that the No Observed Adverse Effect Level of NK is greater than 900 mg/kg b.wt./day, p.o in rats. There were no delayed effects in NK satellite group. In conclusion, NK was found to be non-toxic in the tested doses and experimental conditions.

Thalidomide attenuates nitric oxide mediated angiogenesis by blocking migration of endothelial cells

BACKGROUND

Thalidomide is an immunomodulatory agent, which arrests angiogenesis. The mechanism of anti-angiogenic activity of thalidomide is not fully understood. As nitric oxide is involved in angiogenesis, we speculate a cross-talk between thalidomide and nitric oxide signaling pathway to define angiogenesis. The aim of present study is to understand the mechanistic aspects of thalidomide-mediated attenuation of angiogenesis induced by nitric oxide at the cellular level.

METHODS

To study the cellular mechanism of thalidomide-mediated blocking of angiogenesis triggered by nitric oxide, we used two endothelial cell based models: 1) wound healing and 2) tube formation using ECV 304, an endothelial cell line. These cell-based models reflect pro-angiogenic events in vivo. We also studied the effects of thalidomide on nitric oxide mediated egg yolk angiogenesis. Thalidomide could block the formation of blood vessels both in absence and presence of nitric oxide. Thalidomide effects on migration of, and actin polymerization in, ECV 304 cells were studied at the single cell level using live cell imaging techniques and probes to detect nitric oxide.

RESULTS

Results demonstrate that thalidomide blocks nitric oxide-mediated angiogenesis in egg yolk model and also reduces the number of tubes formed in endothelial cell monolayers. We also observed that thalidomide arrests wound healing in presence and absence of nitric oxide in a dose-dependent fashion. Additionally, thalidomide promotes actin polymerization and antagonizes the formation of membrane extensions triggered by nitric oxide in endothelial cells. Experiments targeting single tube structure with thalidomide, followed by nitric oxide treatment, show that the tube structures are insensitive to thalidomide and nitric oxide. These observations suggest that thalidomide interferes with nitric oxide-induced migration of endothelial cells at the initial phase of angiogenesis before cells co-ordinate themselves to form organized tubes in endothelial cells and thereby inhibits angiogenesis.

CONCLUSION

Thalidomide exerts inhibitory effects on nitric oxide-mediated angiogenesis by altering sub-cellular actin polymerization pattern, which leads to inhibition of endothelial cell migration.