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Transfusion of blood and blood components could be responsible for saving millions of life each year throughout the world. However, on the other hand, an improperly screened donated blood can be a source of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs). Some important prevalent infections are caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Treponema pallidum and malaria parasite. To study the sero-prevalence and trends of HIV viral markers amidst blood donors in Northern India. The study was carried out in the blood bank section of Department of Pathology, Era's Lucknow Medical College, Era University, Lucknow. The present study was conducted as a retrospective & prospective observational study. Retrospective data of past eight years before commencement of study (2008 to 2015) and prospective data of one and a half years (2016 and 2017) was used in the study. Data of 22192 blood donors was explored for the present study. Only 10 donors were found to be positive for HIV viral markers. Prevalence of HIV positivity was relatively much lower than that reported in contemporary studies. Nevertheless, the present study underscored the need to carry out screening of viral markers and their periodic audit in order to understand the changing trends of sero-positivity among blood donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the dangerous phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance to the available drugs, we present here the chemical synthesis and evaluation of a new phenoxy benzoyl methane Schiff bases (SA1-SA16), as antifungal agents. Among the compounds, SA3 was found to be most potent against Candida albicans when compared with the reference drugs Clotrimazole and Terbinafine. Molecular properties of the newly synthesized Schiff bases were performed by online software, and results showed good drug-like properties. The results showed new Schiff bases further optimized as a lead compound as anti-Candida potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Thalassaemia are genetic disorders characterized reduced synthesis of with β of Q chains of haemoglobin. All over the world including Pakistan, it is a common problem and its magnitude is increasing. In Pakistan the cussin for ß thalassaemia is reported between 4.5 - 13% in some major cities. The life expectancy with this disease is about 10 years. The ovarian label data is very patchy and incomplete. This study was designed to find out the frequency of beta (ß) thalassaemia trait in females of child bearing age. Methods: This descriptive study females of child bearing age visiting FMH OPD presenting with hypochromic microcytic anemia were selected by non-probability purposive sampling and screened for beta thalassemia trait. Hemoglobin electrophoresis was performed and a raisedHb A2 between 3.5%-7% was considered diagnostic for betathalassaemia trait. The data was analysed by SPSS 19. Results: Three hundred and fifteen females between 16-45 years were included in the study. Female cohort of child bearing age was mostly young with a mean ± SD age of 26.4 ± 4.8 years. Diagnosis of beta-thalassemia trait was made in 58 out of 315 (18.41%) females of child bearing age. Mean age of females with beta-thalassemia trait was 27.4 SD ± 6.7 years. Fifty one percent of beta thalassemia trait patients had coexistent iron deficiency. Conclusion: ß thalassaemia trait was seen in 18.51% females of child bearing ageat our Centre. Coexistent iron deficiency was seen in 51% of beta thalassemia patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unicompartmental arthroplasty has proved to be a reliable option for monocompartmental arthritis in well selected patients. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is not a temporary procedure and its ten year survival is comparable to TKA and better than High Tibial Osteotomy. The success of the procedure depends on strict patient selection, meticulous surgical technique and proper implant selection. The renewed interest in UKA is due to improved results, more conservative nature of the procedure, faster rehabilitation, decreased cost and the minimally invasive techniques. The sedentary patient with unicompartmental arthritis is currently the primary indication for UKA. The role of unicompartmental arthroplasty in younger patients needs more investigation. Revision of UKA has not found to be as complicated as reported in the early series. Minimally invasive UKA has shown short term promising results but more long term studies showing similar implant longevity compared with the standard approach are required to establish its role. Due to high level of patient satisfaction and low morbidity and complications compared with TKA, unicompartmental arthroplasty is an attractive option for patients with predominantly unicompartmental non inflammatory arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study involves co-precipitation method to grow un-doped and Zr-doped bismuth iron oxide with . The molar solutions of ferric chloride (FeCl3), zirconyle chloride (ZrOCl2), and bismuth chloride (BiCl3) are prepared in distilled water, and are allowed to react with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The synthesized powders are then converted into pellets, which are sintered at 500 °C for two hours in a muffle furnace. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows multi-phase formation in un-doped and Zr doped samples. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) depicts layered structure at low Zr concentration , while uniform surface with smaller grains and voids is observed at , but at , cracks and voids become prominent. The ferromagnetic nature of the un-doped sample is observed by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), while paramagnetic behavior appears due to Zr doping. The ferromagnetism in un-doped sample is lost by Zr doping, which is due to the formation of additional Fe–O–Zr bonds that induce paramagnetic behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional core–shell nanostructures consisting of a ferromagnetic cobalt core and a multiferroic BiFeO3 (BFO) shell were fabricated by an artificial two-step methodology. The coupling between the ferromagnetic core and multiferroic shell manifests a significant exchange bias effect which gives a clear demonstration of the anti-ferromagnetic functionality of the BFO shell material. Exchange biases of 30 Oe and 60 Oe are observed at 300 K and at 5 K, respectively. Superparamagnetic contributions at lower temperatures play an important role in contributing to overall magnetic behavior. Dominant shape anisotropy causes parallel alignment of the easy magnetization axis along the axis of core–shell nanowires. A coherent mode of the magnetization reversal mechanism is observed by the angular dependence of coercivity (Hc). This versatile two-step methodology can be employed to fabricate and investigate many other hybrid nanostructures leading to a vast scope of investigation for researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]