Structure, Function, and Molecular Landscapes of the Aging Retina.

Because the central nervous system is largely nonrenewing, neurons and their synapses must be maintained over the lifetime of an individual to ensure circuit function. Age is a dominant risk factor for neural diseases, and declines in nervous system function are a common feature of aging even in the absence of disease. These alterations extend to the visual system and, in particular, to the retina.

Retrospective national cohort study of pregnancy outcomes for women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Republic of Ireland.

Aim: Report the outcomes of pregnant women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and to identify modifiable and non-modifiable factors associated with poor outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of pregnancy preparedness, pregnancy care and outcomes in the Republic of Ireland from 2015 to 2020 and subsequent multivariate analysis.

Results: In total 1104 pregnancies were included.

In silico molecular docking study of phytochemicals against TNF-α as a potent anti-rheumatoid drug.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a proinflammatory cytokine which plays a crucial role in controlling inflammatory responses. The pathway of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) leading to TNF-alpha is activated by macrophages and quite often by natural killer cells and lymphocytes. In the inflammatory phase, it is believed to be the main mediator and to be anchored with the progression of different diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Identification of potential ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease inhibitors from : An insilico approach.

is a widely used medicinal plant for treating a variety of human infections. The plant's bioactives have been shown to have a variety of biological activities in various studies, including potential antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects in a variety of experimental models. The present investigation identifies a potent antiviral compound from the phytochemicals of against Zika virus using computational docking simulation.

Diabetes care and pregnancy outcomes for women with pregestational diabetes in Ireland.

Aims: Pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) is associated with adverse outcomes. We aimed to examine pregnancies affected by PGDM; report on these pregnancy outcomes and compare outcomes for patients with type 1 versus type 2 diabetes mellitus; compare our findings to published Irish and United Kingdom (UK) data and identify potential areas for improvement.

Methods: Between 2016 and 2018 information on 679 pregnancies from 415 women with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and 244 women with type 2 diabetes was analysed.

Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance of Novel Reaction Condition-Induced BiS-Bi Nanocomposites.

This is the first report on the enhanced thermoelectric (TE) properties of novel reaction-temperature () and duration-induced BiS-Bi nanocomposites synthesized using a facile one-step polyol method. They are well characterized as nanorod composites of orthorhombic BiS and rhombohedral Bi phases in which the latter coats the former forming BiS-Bi core-shell-like structures along with independent Bi nanoparticles. A very significant observation is the systematic reduction in electrical resistivity ρ with a whopping 7 orders of magnitude (∼10) with just reaction temperature and duration increase, revealing a promising approach for the reduction of ρ of this highly resistive chalcogenide and hence resolving the earlier obstacles for its thermoelectric application potentials in the past few decades.

A load-based thermopower measurement setup in the temperature range of 5-330 K.

This is a report on the development of an automated precision load-based measurement setup for thermoelectric power (S) of different types of samples in the temperature range of 5-330 K. The problems in the old spring-based setup have been solved in this load-based setup. This setup takes nearly 4 h for each run, and the typical error is within 5%.

Thermoelectric properties of Ag-doped CuS nanocomposites synthesized by a facile polyol method.

We report the first thermoelectric properties of CuAgS, x = 0-0.75 nanocomposites, synthesized by using a facile polyol method. Systematic characterizations using powder XRD, Rietveld refinement of XRD, EDAX, XPS and Raman spectroscopy confirmed their single phase, hexagonal crystal structure with the space group P6/mmc, nominal elemental composition, valence states of the constituent elements and stoichiometric nature.

Correction: Influence of particle size and dielectric environment on the dispersion behaviour and surface plasmon in nickel nanoparticles.

Correction for 'Influence of particle size and dielectric environment on the dispersion behaviour and surface plasmon in nickel nanoparticles' by Vikash Sharma et al., Phys. Chem.

Influence of particle size and dielectric environment on the dispersion behaviour and surface plasmon in nickel nanoparticles.

Nickel nanoparticles (NPs) are promising candidates for various applications, including biomedical ones, as they have good magnetic properties as well as high thermal conductivity. We used well-characterized Ni NPs of average Scherrer sizes from 1.31 nm to 22.

Apoptosis of rat decidual cells: site specific initiation and related biochemical changes.

The artificially induced rat deciduoma serves as a model to study cellular changes associated with implantation in the endometrium. The stromal cells differentiate to form two types of decidual cells and are restricted to specific anatomical sites of the uterus. Programmed cell death starts in the antimesometrial area and expression of glutathione-S-transferase, an antioxidant enzyme, enhances in these cells as the deciduoma enters the regressive phase.

Biogenesis of L-glyceric aciduria, oxalosis and renal injury in rats simulating type II primary hyperoxaluria.

Tracer experiments in rats mimicking type II primary hyperoxaluria, with an expanded intracellular pool of hydroxypyruvate, showed that the excess formation of oxalate did not originate from its immediate precursor glyoxylate. In these animals, the hepatic and kidney activities of oxalate synthesising enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase and glycolate oxidase were normal, but tissue lipid peroxidation was significantly higher. In vitro experiments established that in a mild alkaline solution, hydroxypyruvate underwent auto-oxidation to form oxalate and H2O2 and also inhibited lactate dehydrogenase and glycolate oxidase from oxidising glyoxylate to oxalate.

Clot lysis: role of plasminogen activator inhibitors in haemostasis and therapy.

An unimpeded circulation of blood depends on the concerted activation of coagulation and fibrinolytic factors. The latter entails the controlled, localised conversion of plasma zymogen plasminogen to the active enzyme plasmin mediated by tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). Bulk of tPA activity is in the proximity of the endogenous plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) as an active complex.

A molecular variant of plasminogen activator inhibitor of rat decidual tissue.

Artificially induced rat decidual tissue expresses plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI). This PAI, isolated and purified employing chromatographic techniques, is a low molecular weight protein unlike the known PAIs. The final purified preparation resolves into a single band following SDS-PAGE and has an approximate molecular weight of 29 kDa.

Differential rate of protein synthesis by antimesometrial and mesometrial decidual cells of rat.

Incorporation, in vitro, of labelled methionine into proteins of artificially induced decidual tissue shows the presence of an active protein synthetic machinery in the decidualising endometrium of rats. During the progressive phase, antimesometrial and mesometrial decidual cells, restricted to specific anatomical sites of the endometrium, synthesize proteins at varying rates and the rate of incorporation of methionine into proteins of mesometrial decidual cells is higher. Resolution of proteins on acrylamide gels following SDS electrophoresis shows qualitative changes in endometrial proteins at different stages of morphogenesis of decidual cells.

Characterization of urokinase-type plasminogen activator of rat decidual tissue.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) from artificially induced decidual tissue of rat has been purified to homogeneity employing chromatographic techniques and the final preparation has a specific activity of 12,084 I.U./mg.

Enhanced expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in the rat endometrium following induction of decidualisation.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator(uPA) assayed in uteri of cycling and deciduoma bearing rats shows detectable levels of this enzyme in endometrium. Zymographic analysis confirms uPA of decidual tissue and, following artificial induction of decidualisation, uPA activity constantly increases in the decidualising endometrium reaching a peak on day 9 of pseudopregnancy. Endometrial uPA of nonpregnant rats does not show any significant change during estrous cycle.

Gestation confers temporary resistance to peroxidation in the maternal rat brain.

Lipid peroxidation, as assessed by the formation of thiobarbituric acid substances on incubation with ascorbate-Fe2+, NADPH-ADP-Fe3+ and cumene hydroperoxide in brain homogenate and mitochondria, was significantly decreased during gestation and restored to respective control levels post partum. The decrease observed with the brain homogenate on Day 10 of pregnancy was 42% with ascorbate-Fe2+ and 70% with NADPH-ADP-Fe3+. This temporary decrease in peroxidation potential seems to be due to lesser availability of substrate in the form of unsaturated fatty acids besides increase in the cholesterol:phospholipid ratio and glutathione.

Lipid peroxidation in the rat uterus during deciduoma induced cell differentiation.

The influence of deciduoma-induced differentiation on the lipid peroxidation in the rat uterus was investigated. The wet weight of uterus and its protein content increased during deciduoma progression. Content of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as well as lipid peroxidation induced by ascorbate and cumene hydroperoxide showed significant decreases during deciduoma growth.

Pregnancy-associated decrease in lipid peroxidation in rat liver.

A significant decrease in the hepatic malonaldehyde content and lipid peroxidation, induced by ascorbate, NADPH and cumene hydroperoxide, was observed during gestation in the rat. Lipid peroxidation tends to reach normal levels 3 days post partum. While a significant decrease in the lipid peroxidation of hepatic mitochondria was observed with ascorbate and NADPH, that of microsomes was affected by ascorbate and cumene hydroperoxide.

Decreased lipid peroxidation in the rat kidney during gestation.

Renal malonaldehyde content and lipid peroxidation, induced by ascorbate, NADPH and cumene hydroperoxide, are significantly decreased during gestation in rats. Lipid peroxidation tends to reach normal levels in the kidney post partum. In the renal mitochondria lipid peroxidation without co-factors and that induced by cumene hydroperoxide, ascorbate and NADPH is decreased during pregnancy.

Degradation of oxalate in rats implanted with immobilized oxalate oxidase.

Accumulation of oxalate leads to hyperoxaluria and calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in man. Since oxalate is a metabolic end product in mammals, the feasibility of its enzymic degradation has been tested in vivo in rats by administering exogenous oxalate oxidase. Oxalate oxidase, isolated from banana fruit peels, in its native form was found to be non-active at the physiological pH of the recipient animal.

Metrial gland: structure, origin, differentiation and role in pregnancy.

Metrial gland is a separate class of cells associated with decidualization. These granulated cells, which are early detectable in the endometrium at implantation sites, become more prominent in the mesometrial triangle of rats as pregnancy advances. Typical ultrastructural features which include the presence of pleomorphic granules characterize these cells and recent observations indicate differentiation of these cells from lymphocyte-like precursors.

Decidualisation: origin and role of associated cells.

Proliferation of peri- and subluminal stroma following a stimulus from the blastocyst leads to the appearance of decidual cells in the mammalian endometrium. Decidualisation can also be elicited by artificial stimuli in pseudopregnant animals. A variety of histophysiological reactions accompany decidualisation and distinct morphological features characterize decidual cells localized in the antimesometrial and mesometrial area.

Morphogenesis and postulated functions of decidual cells.

Decidual cells are a morphologically distinct cell population arising in the endometrium during pregnancy. Decidualisation can also be elicited by artificial stimuli in suitably hormone primed animals. A variety of histophysiological reactions accompany decidualisation and culminate in the differentiation of endometrial stromal cells to decidual ones.