Coexisting giant splenic artery and portal vein aneurysms leading to non-cirrhotic portal hypertension: a case report.

Background: Splenic artery aneurysms are the commonest visceral and third most common abdominal artery aneurysms, having a strong association with both pregnancy and multiparity. Here we report possibly the first case of a giant splenic artery aneurysm in association with a smaller portal vein aneurysm, in a woman who had never conceived, leading to non-cirrhotic portal hypertension.

Case Presentation: A 40-year-old Pakistani Asian woman who had no evidence of liver cirrhosis presented in April 2016 for a diagnostic workup of ascites, massive splenomegaly, and pancytopenia.

Assessment of insulin injection techniques among diabetes patients in a tertiary care centre.

Aims: The efficacy of insulin therapy in diabetes depends on proper storage and injection technique. The purpose of this study was to assess the practice of insulin administration among diabetes patients in a tertiary care center.

Materials And Methods: This observational study was done in Endocrinology department of a tertiary care center during April-June 2015.

In Vitro Elucidation of the Folding Intermediates and Aggregate Formation of Hemoglobin Induced by Acetonitrile: A Multispectroscopic Approach.

Acetonitrile is a mild solvent, which induces β-sheet conformation in proteins. The global conformational changes in Hb in the presence of ACN were studied using intrinsic fluorescence experiments, acrylamide quenching, ANS fluorescence measurements, soret absorbance spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism, thioflavin T and congo red assay. Molecular docking showed the binding of hydrophobic residues of Hb to ACN.

Gene Expression in Mouse Thyrotrope Adenoma: Transcription Elongation Factor Stimulates Proliferation.

Thyrotrope hyperplasia and hypertrophy are common responses to primary hypothyroidism. To understand the genetic regulation of these processes, we studied gene expression changes in the pituitaries of Cga(-/-) mice, which are deficient in the common α-subunit of TSH, LH, and FSH. These mice have thyrotrope hypertrophy and hyperplasia and develop thyrotrope adenoma.

Role of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Biochemical Markers in the Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes: Correlation with Age and Glycemic Condition in Diabetic Human Subjects.

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic inflammatory disease involving insulin producing β-cells destroyed by the conjoined action of auto reactive T-cells, inflammatory cytokines and monocytic cells. The aim of this study was to elucidate the status of pro-inflammatory cytokines and biochemical markers and possible correlation of these factors towards outcome of the disease.

Methods: The study was carried out on 29 T1D subjects and 20 healthy subjects.

Prevalence of venous thromboembolism risk factors and prophylactic adequacy among general surgical patients in a tertiary care hospital.

Introduction: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a disease manifested as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. General surgical procedures are associated with significant risk of precipitating VTE, and despite the surging evidences, it is often overlooked. The study attempted at estimating the prevalence of VTE and bleeding risk factors coupled with the adequacy of thromboprophylaxis administered.

Biophysical insights into the interaction of hen egg white lysozyme with therapeutic dye clofazimine: modulation of activity and SDS induced aggregation of model protein.

The present study details the binding process of clofazimine to hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) using spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and molecular docking techniques. Clofazimine binds to the protein with binding constant (K) in the order of 1.57 × 10 at 298 K.

A Comprehensive Spectroscopic and Computational Investigation to Probe the Interaction of Antineoplastic Drug Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid with Serum Albumins.

Exogenous drugs that are used as antidote against chemotheray, inflammation or viral infection, gets absorbed and interacts reversibly to the major serum transport protein i.e. albumins, upon entering the circulatory system.

Impact of removing point-of-sale tobacco displays: data from a New Zealand youth survey.

Introduction: The tobacco industry increasingly invests in point-of-sale (POS) marketing. In July 2012, New Zealand required the removal of POS tobacco displays concurrently with increased enforcement and penalties for selling tobacco to minors, and additional restrictions on tobacco sponsorship. We evaluated the impact of these measures using a before-after study.

Epithelioid Haemangioendothelioma (EHE) of the Liver.

A45-year previously known hypertensive lady presented with 2-year history of upper abdominal pain, heaviness, and weight loss. Her radiological assessment suggested the possibility of hepatoma or liver metastases. Considering her age, overall good health and absence of cirrhosis, a liver biopsy was taken which showed hepatic epithelioidhaemangioendothelioma (HEHE), a rare and unusual intermediate grade vascular tumor which can easily be confused with hepatoma or metastatic liver disease.

In silico analysis of a disease-causing mutation in PCDH15 gene in a consanguineous Pakistani family with Usher phenotype.

Aim: To map Usher phenotype in a consanguineous Pakistani family and identify disease-associated mutation in a causative gene to establish phenotype-genotype correlation.

Methods: A consanguineous Pakistani family in which Usher phenotype was segregating as an autosomal recessive trait was ascertained. On the basis of results of clinical investigations of affected members of this family disease was diagnosed as Usher syndrome (USH).

Vitamin k3 inhibits protein aggregation: Implication in the treatment of amyloid diseases.

Protein misfolding and aggregation have been associated with several human diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and familial amyloid polyneuropathy etc. In this study, anti-fibrillation activity of vitamin k3 and its effect on the kinetics of amyloid formation of hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) and Aβ-42 peptide were investigated. Here, in combination with Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay, circular dichroism (CD), transmission electron microscopy and cell cytotoxicity assay, we demonstrated that vitamin k3 significantly inhibits fibril formation as well as the inhibitory effect is dose dependent manner.

Insight into the interaction of antitubercular and anticancer compound clofazimine with human serum albumin: spectroscopy and molecular modelling.

The binding of clofazimine to human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by applying optical spectroscopy and molecular docking methods. Fluorescence quenching data revealed that clofazimine binds to protein with binding constant in the order of 10 M, and with the increase in temperature, Stern-Volmer quenching constants gradually decreased indicating quenching mode to be static. The UV-visible spectra showed increase in absorbance upon interaction of HSA with clofazimine which further reveals formation of the drug-albumin complex.

Surfactant-mediated amyloidogenesis behavior of stem bromelain; a biophysical insight.

Neurodegenerative disorders are mainly associated with amyloid fibril formation of different proteins. Stem bromelain (SB), a cysteine protease, is known to exist as a molten globule state at pH 10.0.

Extraordinarily high conductivity of flexible adhesive films by hybrids of silver nanoparticle-nanowires.

Highly conductive flexible adhesive (CFA) film was developed using micro-sized silver flakes (primary fillers), hybrids of silver nanoparticle-nanowires (secondary fillers) and nitrile butadiene rubber. The hybrids of silver nanoparticle-nanowires were synthesized by decorating silver nanowires with silver nanoparticle clusters using bifunctional cysteamine as a linker. The dispersion in ethanol was excellent for several months.

Paroxetine: An update of response on intestinal motility.

Objective: To find out the possible effects of paroxetine on gastrointestinal smooth muscles in vitro as they can cause severe nausea and vomiting at the start of therapy which later settles down.

Methods: Power lab (USA) was used for recording the contractions of ileal smooth muscle of rabbits in response to acetylcholine, serotonin and paroxetine.

Results: The percent responses with acetylcholine, serotonin and paroxetine were 100, 158.

Introduction of double amidoxime group by double post surface modification on poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) beads for higher amounts of organic dyes, As (V) and Cr (VI) removal.

In this study, the synthesis of micron-sized poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) (p(VBC)) beads and subsequent conversion of the reactive chloromethyl groups to double amidoxime group containing moieties by post modification is reported. The prepared beads were characterized by SEM and FT-IR spectroscopy. The amidoximated p(VBC) beads were used as adsorbent for the removal of organic dyes, such as eosin y (EY) and methyl orange (MO), and heavy metals containing complex ions such as dichromate (Cr2O7(2-)) and arsenate (HAsO4(2)(-)) from aqueous media.

Successful Treatment of Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis with Rifampin.

Currently recommended treatment regimens for human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) include doxycycline or tetracycline. Antibiotic susceptibility studies demonstrate that rifampin has in vitro bactericidal activity against Ehrlichia. Case reports have suggested clinical response with rifampin treatment of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA).

Interaction of new kinase inhibitors cabozantinib and tofacitinib with human serum alpha-1 acid glycoprotein. A comprehensive spectroscopic and molecular Docking approach.

In the current study we have investigated the interaction of newly approved kinase inhibitors namely Cabozantinib (CBZ) and Tofacitinib (TFB) with human Alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AAG) under simulated physiological conditions using fluorescence quenching measurements, circular dichroism, dynamic light scattering and molecular docking methods. CBZ and TFB binds to AAG with significant affinity and the calculated binding constant for the drugs lie in the order of 10(4). With the increase in temperature the binding constant values decreased for both CBZ and TFB.

Tobacco retail outlet density and risk of youth smoking in New Zealand.

Introduction: Evidence suggests inconsistent findings on the relationship between density of tobacco outlets around schools and risk of smoking among students. This study examines the density of tobacco outlets around secondary schools in New Zealand (NZ) and current smoking, experimental smoking, susceptibility to smoking, and attempted and successful tobacco purchasing.

Methods: Smoking data came from the 2012 ASH Year 10 survey, a national survey of youth smoking in NZ.

Comprehensive genotyping reveals RPE65 as the most frequently mutated gene in Leber congenital amaurosis in Denmark.

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) represents the most severe form of inherited retinal dystrophies with an onset during the first year of life. Currently, 21 genes are known to be associated with LCA and recurrent mutations have been observed in AIPL1, CEP290, CRB1 and GUCY2D. In addition, sequence analysis of LRAT and RPE65 may be important in view of treatments that are emerging for patients carrying variants in these genes.

Whole exome sequencing for handedness in a large and highly consanguineous family.

Pinpointing genes involved in non-right-handedness has the potential to clarify developmental contributions to human brain lateralization. Major-gene models have been considered for human handedness which allow for phenocopy and reduced penetrance, i.e.

Silver nanowires decorated with silver nanoparticles for low-haze flexible transparent conductive films.

Silver nanowires have attracted much attention for use in flexible transparent conductive films (TCFs) due to their low sheet resistance and flexibility. However, the haze was too high for replacing indium-tin-oxide in high-quality display devices. Herein, we report flexible TCFs, which were prepared using a scalable bar-coating method, with a low sheet resistance (24.

Synthesis, characterization and in vitro evaluation of methotrexate conjugated fluorescent carbon nanoparticles as drug delivery system for human lung cancer targeting.

Nanotechnology based cancer therapeutics have rapidly advanced towards the solution of many limitations associated with other drug delivery agents such as nonspecific distribution within the body, low water solubility and non-biocompatibility. Carbon nanoparticles have demonstrated unique properties that are useful to combat with these issues, including their properties dependent on size, high stability in different solvents, compatible size for drug delivery and ease of surface modifications. Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles with good water solubility were obtained from a carbohydrate source by acid assisted ultrasonic treatment at 35kHz for 4h.