Search

BACKGROUND Post-transplant nephrotic syndrome (PTNS) in a renal allograft carries a 48% to 77% risk of graft failure at 5 years if proteinuria persists. PTNS can be due to either recurrence of native renal disease or de novo glomerular disease. Its prognosis depends upon the underlying pathophysiology. We describe a case of post-transplant membranous nephropathy (MN) that developed 3 mo after kidney transplant. The patient was properly evaluated for pathophysiology, which helped in the management of the case. CASE SUMMARY This 22-year-old patient had chronic pyelonephritis. He received a living donor kidney, and human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) mismatching was zero. PTNS was discovered at the follow-up visit 3 mo after the transplant. Graft histopathology was suggestive of MN. In the past antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) might have been misinterpreted as de novo MN due to the lack of technologies available to make an accurate diagnosis. Some researchers have observed that HLA-DR is present on podocytes causing an anti-DR antibody deposition and development of de novo MN. They also reported poor prognosis in their series. Here, we excluded the secondary causes of MN. Immunohistochemistry was suggestive of IgG1 deposits that favoured the diagnosis of de novo MN. The patient responded well to an increase in the dose of tacrolimus and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. CONCLUSION Exposure of hidden antigens on the podocytes in allografts may have led to subepithelial antibody deposition causing de novo MN.

Different types of enzymes are produced by bacteria, but proteases are the most widely used. In the present study, protease producing Bacillus sp. was isolated from dairy effluent and charecterized. The isolate could use all carbohydrates tested and optimum pH, NaCl and temperature were 8.5, 2.25 and 37oC. Beef extract was most suitable carbon source. The isolate showed better growth in presence of Mg+2 and K+ salts but Fe+2 and Co+2 were most inhibitory. The isolate also produced amylase and CMCase but maximum yield was of protease after 48h in Smf, and in SSF 125 U protease/g biomass was pro- duced in 1:9 proportion of cotton seed cake and rice husk.

An endeavor has been made to investigate the effect of transverse surface roughness on the behaviour of thin film lubrication at nano scale of a magnetic fluid based rough porous rotating circular step bearing. Mainly, the combination of the properties of the surfaces, the lubricant and viscosity of the lubricant are responsible for thin film lubrication between two rough surfaces in relative motion. The effects induced by the transverse roughness and the couple stress cannot be disregarded in the regime while the ordered molecules dominate the fluid field. The random roughness of the surfaces is characterized by a random variable with non zero mean, variance and skewness. The associated Reynolds’ equation is then stochastically averaged and solved with appropriate boundary conditions to obtain the pressure distribution, leading to the calculation of load carrying capacity. It is easily observed that basically, the magnetic fluid lubricant combined with the couple stress effect is responsible for the improved performance of the bearing system. It is clearly seen that the adverse effect of transverse roughness is relatively less when considered with thin film lubrication at nano scale. The increased load carrying capacity due to variance (-ve) gets further increased due to negatively skewed roughness which becomes more pronounced owing to thin film lubrication at the nano scale. It is seen that the existence of couple stress enhances the load carrying capacity. In addition, the characteristic length contributing to the couple stress increases load carrying capacity considerably. Even, size dependent effects are noticed in the lubrication with couple stress while the thinner the lubrication film the more obvious is the effect.Copyright © 2012 by ASME

Anodization of aluminum alloys is a common surface treatment procedure employed for the protection against corrosion. A thin amorphous layer of alumina is formed on the surface of alloy, which seals the alloy surface from the surrounding. This alumina layer being harder than the base aluminum alloy can be useful as a tribological coating. But since this alumina layer is randomly formed with disordered voids and pores, predicting the mechanical properties is difficult. Specific anodizing conditions can be used to form highly ordered anodic nanoporous alumina films [1] on the aluminum alloy surface. These nanoporous alumina layer can be effectively used as a tribological coating, because of the highly ordered controllable geometry and the empty pores which can be used as reservoirs for lubricant.