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Objective: We report the unorthodox use of a retrograde intramedullary nail via antegrade technique for the treatment of a subtrochanteric pathological femur fracture in the presence of significant coxa vara. No similar use has been documented previously in literature. Methods: A standard approach to the proximal right femur was performed and standard antegrade technique used to introduce a guide wire into the proximal femur after which the femoral shaft was reamed. A 38-cm long 10 mm diameter retrograde nail was attached to the retrograde insertion and targeting device as if to perform a left sided retrograde femoral nailing. The nail was then inserted antegrade into the proximal right femur and locked. Results: The patient made a good recovery without complications and was followed up regularly at the clinic until complete healing of the fracture. Conclusion: We believe that a retrograde intramedullary nail inserted antegrade, enabling proximal locking with screws passing into the femoral head, provides a mechanically sound fixation of a subtrochanteric fracture, where a reduced neck-shaft angle precludes the use of a standard cephalo-medullary nail.

The present work investigated the potential use of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) to deliver quercetin in fish through oral route to protect the fish from infection caused by S. agalactiae and K. pneumoniae. The MSNs were synthesized by sol gel method. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated MSNs (PMSNs) were synthesized employing a similar procedure by the addition of PEG and Quercetin conjugated PMSNs (QMSNs) were prepared by the co-precipitation process. These nanoparticles were characterized by UV–vis spectrum, FTIR, XRD, DLS and Zeta potential. The morphology and particle size measurements of the nanoparticles were studied by FE-SEM. The in vitro drug release profile was assessed at different pH, and pH 6.5 was found to be more efficient to release quercetin. The cytotoxicity of QMSNs nanoparticles was evaluated by MTT assay using tilapia gill (TG) cell line. The expression of immune related gene in gill, brain and liver were found to be increased significantly in fish (Oreochromis niloticus) fed with experimental feed when compared to the control fish fed with normal feed. The antibacterial effect of QMSNs against S. agalactiae and K. pneumoniae infection were analysed. The QMSNs produced strong antibacterial activity aganist both the pathogens. The results of this study indicate that quercetin can be easily delivered into fish by feeding with QMSNs for treatment against bacterial infections.

An effective approach to producing sophisticated miniaturized and nanoscale materials involves arranging nanomaterials into layered hierarchical frameworks. Nanostructured layered materials are constructed to possess isolated propagation assets, massive surface areas, and envisioned amenities, making them suitable for a variety of established and novel applications. The utilization of various techniques to create nanostructures adorned with metal nanoparticles provides a secure alternative or reinforcement for the existing physicochemical methods. Supported metal nanoparticles are preferred due to their ease of recovery and usage. Researchers have extensively studied the catalytic properties of noble metal nanoparticles using various selective oxidation and hydrogenation procedures. Despite the numerous advantages of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs), their catalytic potential remains incompletely explored. This article examines metal-based nanomaterials that are supported by layers, and provides an analysis of their manufacturing, procedures, and synthesis. This study incorporates both 2D and 3D layered nanomaterials because of their distinctive layered architectures. This review focuses on the most common metal-supported nanocomposites and methodologies used for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes employing layered nanomaterials. The comprehensive examination of biological and ecological cleaning and treatment techniques discussed in this article has paved the way for the exploration of cutting-edge technologies that can contribute to the establishment of a sustainable future., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

In this research, a sitagliptin-lignin biopolymer (SL) containing zinc selenide quantum dots (ZnSe QDs) and doxorubicin (doxo) was synthesized. The fabricated polymeric drug delivery system was characterized via FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, IR, and DSC. SLQD-Doxo exhibited an irregular surface with a 32 nm diameter and well-defined surface chemistry. Drug loading efficiency was assessed at different concentrations, pH levels, time intervals, and temperatures, and drug kinetics were calculated. Maximum drug release was observed at 6 μmol concentration after 24 h, pH of 6.5 and 45 °C. The maximum drug encapsulation efficiency was 81.75 %. SLQD-Doxo demonstrated 24.4 ± 1.04 % anti-inflammatory activity, and the maximum lipoxygenase inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner was 71.45 ± 2.02 %, compared to indomethacin, a standard anticancer drug. The designed system was applied to breast cancer MCF-7 cells to evaluate anticancer activity. Cytotoxicity of SLQD-Doxo resulted in 24.48 ± 1.64 dead cells and 74.39 ± 4.12 viable cells. Lignin's polyphenolic nature resulted in good antioxidant activity of LLQD-Doxo. The combination of SLQD-Doxo was appropriate for drug delivery at high temperatures and acidic pH of tumor cells compared to healthy cells., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been linked to severe consequences among hospitalized patients diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH), as evidenced by a limited number of studies. Our retrospective study employed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database to evaluate in-hospital mortality and various clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients with and without PH. This study included all patients ages 18 years and above who were hospitalized in the United States from January 1,2020 to December 31, 2020 with a COVID-19 diagnosis. The patients were then divided into 2 cohorts based on their PH status. After multivariate adjustment, we discovered that COVID-19 patients with PH experienced considerably higher in-hospital mortality, longer hospital stays, and higher costs of hospitalization when compared to COVID-19 patients without PH. Moreover, we observed an increased dependence on invasive and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation among COVID-19 patients with PH, indicating more severe respiratory failure. Our findings suggest that COVID-19 patients with PH had a heightened risk of acute pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction while hospitalized. Lastly, among COVID-19 patients with PH, Hispanic and Native American patients demonstrated a persistently higher risk of in-hospital mortality compared to other racial groups. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study of outcomes for COVID-19 patients with PH. The observed inpatient mortality appears to be driven by in-hospital complications, particularly pulmonary embolism. Given the substantial mortality and complications associated with COVID-19 and PH, we advocate for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and the implementation of aggressive nonpharmacological preventive measures., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Both the environment and human health have suffered as a result of excessive and irrational pesticide use. The human body is vulnerable to a wide range of illnesses brought on by prolonged exposure to or intake of food contaminated with pesticide residues, including immunological and hormonal abnormalities and the development of certain tumors. Sensors based on nanoparticles stand out from more conventional spectrophotometry analytical methods due to their low detection limits, high sensitivity, and ease of use; that is why the demand for simple, fast, and less expensive sensing methods increases daily and presents myriad uses. Such demands are fulfilled by employing paper-based analytical devices having intrinsic properties. The presented work reports an on-site, easy-to-handle, and disposable paper-based sensing device for performing fast screening along with readout from a smartphone. The fabricated device utilizes luminescent silica quantum dots, immobilized into a paper cellulose matrix, and the resonance energy transfer phenomenon is employed. The silica quantum dots probes were fabricated from citric acid and, by undergoing physical adsorption, were confined on the nitrocellulose substrate in small wax-traced spots. The silica quantum dots were excited by smartphone ultraviolet LED, acting as an energy source and for capturing the image. The obtained LOD is 0.054 μM, and the coefficient of variation is less than 6.1%, comparable to the result obtained by UV-Visible and fluorometric analysis under similar experimental conditions. In addition, high reproducibility (≥9.8%) and high recovery ≥90% were obtained in spiked blood samples. The fabricated sensor sensitively detected pesticides giving a LOD of 2.5 ppm along with the development of yellow color within a short period of 5 min. The sensor functions well when sophisticated instrumentation is not accessible. The presented work shows the potential of the paper strip for the on-site detection of pesticides in biological and environmental samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Electrochemical sensing methods monitor biomolecules because of their specificity, rapid response, lower cost, and automation. Hemoglobin is an abundant protein in the human body and is correlated with various physiological processes. Levels of hemoglobin in blood are associated with anemia in pregnant women. In this research, a non-enzymatic sensor based on NiTe nanorods is developed for the detection and quantification of hemoglobin (Hb) from anemic pregnant patients. NiTe nanorods are synthesized by the single-step method. After characterizing the material, sensing parameters such as the effect of scan rate, pH, concentration, and interferences are optimized using standard hemoglobin samples. Linearity, the limit of detection (LOD), and the limit of quantification (LOQ) for NiTe nanorods are 0.99698, 0.012 nM, and 0.04 nM, respectively. Stability is measured by cyclic chronoamperometry (12 h) and voltammetry (100 cycles). Recovery of hemoglobin from blood samples is in the range of 63-90%. NiTe nanorods quantitatively determine hemoglobin from the blood samples of anemic pregnant women., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Creatinine is an indicator of hindrance in urination and renal insufficiency. Creatinine levels are the marker of the late stages of prostate cancer. Early and sensitive detection of creatinine can reduce deaths associated with prostate cancer. In this work, nitrogen-doped porous carbon antimony (Sb/NPC) nanoparticles are fabricated to be employed as a non-enzymatic biosensor. Sb/NPC has promising redox activity and is synthesized by a two-step reaction using low-cost precursors. Electrochemical sensing by Sb/NPC is conducted for standard creatinine solutions on a three-electrodes system. Cyclic voltammetry, amperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are used to sense creatinine. LOD and LOQ of the Sb/NPC modified electrode are 0.74 µM and 2.4 µM, respectively. This electrode system analyzes creatinine in the serum of prostate cancer patients who have elevated PSA levels. More than 90% creatinine is recovered from a spiked serum sample of a prostate cancer patient. A direct relation is observed between PSA levels and creatinine levels in prostate cancer. The developed cyclic voltammetric setup detects trace concentrations of creatinine in serum., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Exposure to aerosol from electronic vapor (e-vapor) products has been suggested to result in less risk of harm to smokers than cigarette smoke (CS) exposure. Although many studies on e-vapor products have tested the effects of liquid formulations on cell cultures, few have evaluated the effects of aerosolized formulations. We examined the effects of acute exposure to the aerosol of an e-vapor device that uses the MESH® technology (IQOS® MESH, Philip Morris International) and to CS from the 3R4F reference cigarette on human organotypic bronchial epithelial culture and alveolar triculture models. In contrast to 3R4F CS exposure, exposure to the IQOS MESH aerosol (Classic Tobacco flavor) did not cause cytotoxicity in bronchial epithelial cultures or alveolar tricultures despite its greater concentrations of deposited nicotine (3- and 4-fold, respectively). CS exposure caused a marked decrease in the frequency and active area of ciliary beating in bronchial cultures, whereas IQOS MESH aerosol exposure did not. Global mRNA expression and secreted protein profiles revealed a significantly lower impact of IQOS MESH aerosol exposure than 3R4F CS exposure. Overall, our whole aerosol exposure study shows a clearly reduced impact of IQOS MESH aerosol relative to CS in bronchial and alveolar cultures, even at greater nicotine doses., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A selective and cost-effective biosensor based on catalase immobilized antimonene quantum dots modified glassy carbon electrode (Cat@AMQDs-GCE) is designed for the first time to determine hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Antimonene quantum dots (AMQDs) are synthesized by a single step method, characterized by various analytical techniques and applied to the electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide. Catalase enzyme specific for H 2 O 2 reduction is immobilized onto AMQDs to facilitate its detection by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. Concentration, scan rate, pH, stability and selectivity are optimized. Linearity of Cat@AMQDs-GCE is determined as 0.989 with limit of detection as 4.4 μM. Amperometric measurements show recovery of 95 to 103.4% for H 2 O 2 from human serum samples. Cat@AMQDs-GCE is electrochemically stable up to 30 cycles, reducing the cost of analysis. Cat@AMQDs-GCE shows good selectivity in presence of ascorbic acid, dopamine, leucine and glucose. Prepared electrode is also applied for the quantitative determination of H 2 O 2 from ovarian cancer serum. CA 125 concentration is previously determined by Elecsys CA 125 II Assay. Results demonstrate that concentration of H 2 O 2 increases with increasing levels of CA125 in serum., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tobacco smoking contributes to tooth discoloration. Pigmented compounds in the smoke generated by combustion of tobacco can cause discoloration of dental hard tissues. However, aerosols from heated tobacco products cause less discoloration than cigarette smoke (CS) in vitro. The objective of the present study was to optimize a method for extracting the colored chemical compounds deposited on tooth enamel following exposure to total particulate matter (TPM) from CS or a heated tobacco product (Tobacco Heating System [THS] 2.2), analyze the extracts by gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and identify the key chemicals associated with tooth discoloration. Sixty bovine enamel blocks were exposed for 2 weeks to TPM from CS or THS 2.2 aerosol or to artificial saliva as a control. Brushing without toothpaste and color measurements were performed each week. Noticeable discoloration of enamel was observed following exposure to CS TPM. The discoloration following exposure to THS 2.2 aerosol TPM or artificial saliva was not distinguishable to the eye (ΔE < 3.3). Carbon disulfide was used to extract surface-deposited chemicals. Untargeted analyses were followed by partial least squares correlation against discoloration scores (R 2  = 0.96). Eleven compounds had variable importance in projection scores greater than 2. Discriminant autocorrelation matrix calculation of their mass spectral information identified eight of the eleven compounds as terpenoids. None of the compounds were related to nicotine. Several of these compounds were also detected in THS 2.2 aerosol TPM-exposed enamel, but at lower levels, in line with our findings showing less discoloration. Compared with CS TPM exposure, THS 2.2 aerosol TPM exposure resulted in lower deposition of color-related compounds on enamel surface, consistent with minimal discoloration of dental enamel., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Filippo Zanetti, Philippe A. Guy, Adrian Haiduc, Nikolai V. Ivanov, Shoaib Majeed, Julia Hoeng, and Manuel C. Peitsch are employees of Philip Morris International; Walter K. Schlage is a biology consultant paid by Philip Morris International., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Limestone particle size (PS) affects its solubility and thus can influence broiler performance by altering the rate of calcium (Ca) release into the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this research was to determine, using 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, the influence of PS (fine and coarse) and supplemented phytase (0 and 1,000 FYT/kg) in diets formulated with 2 Ca and P i levels (positive control [PC]; negative control [NC]) on live performance, bone ash, and apparent ileal nutrients digestibility (AID). Starter PC: 0.9 Ca and 0.45 Pi; NC: 0.72 Ca and 0.03 Pi. Grower PC: 0.76 Ca and 0.38 Pi; NC: 0.58 Ca and 0.23 Pi. The 8 diets were assigned randomly to a total of 1,512 birds, with 21 birds per pen and 9 pens per treatment. The main effects of PS and Ca and P i levels had no influence on feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), or feed conversion ratio. Adding phytase improved BWG by 8 g and 50 g and FI by 25 g and 56 g at 0-14 D (P ≤ 0.05) and 0-35 D (P ≤ 0.05), respectively. Interaction between Ca and P i levels and phytase improved BWG and FI for 0-14 D (P ≤ 0.05) and BWG during 15-28 D (P ≤ 0.05) for PC without phytase and for PC and NC with phytase when compared with NC without phytase. Birds fed PC without phytase, or either PC or NC with phytase were about 96 g heavier than NC without phytase. Birds fed either PC or NC diet with coarse limestone or PC with fine limestone gained approximately 14 g more (P ≤ 0.05) than birds fed NC with fine limestone for BWG at 0-14 D (P ≤ 0.05). Phytase increased tibia bone ash (14 D) by 1% (P ≤ 0.05). AID of Ca and P i at 14 D was improved (P ≤ 0.05) by 66% when phytase was added to coarse limestone. Results indicate that phytase improved broiler performance without being affected by PS. Furthermore, phytase had greater influence on coarse limestone than on fine limestone for bone ash and AID. Ca and P i levels were the most influential factors in determining bone ash although phytase inclusion could lead to an improvement during early days., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To compare the relative effects of cigarette smoke (CS), electronic cigarette (EC), red wine, coffee, and soy sauce on the color of enamel, dentin, and composite resin restorations, as well as the effects of whitening treatments., Methods: Seventy premolars with composite restorations were exposed to CS, EC aerosol (a novel EC device with MESH™ technology [P4M3 version 1.0, Philip Morris International]), red wine, coffee, and soy sauce for 56 min/day for 15 days. Two whitening sessions with 6% and 35% hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) were performed on the exposed samples. Teeth exposed to CS and EC aerosol were also brushed with whitening toothpaste for 3 weeks. Color match of resin restorations was assessed, and color changes were compared after exposure and after whitening treatments., Results: Discolorations in enamel, dentin, and composite resin were observed in the order of red wine > CS > soy sauce > coffee > EC. Color mismatch between enamel and resin restorations occurred only in red wine and CS groups. Brushing with whitening toothpaste removed discoloration caused by EC aerosol; H 2 O 2 treatments were necessary to eliminate discolorations caused by coffee and soy sauce. Discolorations of dentin and resin restorations could not be completely removed by whitening treatments, and color mismatch remained in teeth exposed to red wine and CS., Conclusion: Red wine and CS cause significant tooth discoloration and color mismatch in enamel and resin restorations that are not reversible by whitening treatments. Tooth discoloration associated with EC aerosol was minimal and could be removed by brushing with whitening toothpaste., Clinical Significance: Red wine drinkers and cigarette smokers have increased risks for tooth discoloration and color mismatch between enamel and composite resin restorations. Whitening treatments may not be effective in correcting the color mismatch. Tooth discoloration associated with EC aerosol is minimal., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the current study was to biosynthesize the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the bacterial strain of Bacillus cereus (ATCC 14579) extracellularly. When bacterial extract was challenged with 1 mM silver nitrate (AgNO3) the color of the extract changed into brown confirms the formation of nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were capped with bovine serum albumin (BSA). UV- visible spectroscopy showed the absorption peak at 420 nm indicates the formation of AgNPs. Fourier Infra -red (FTIR) attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy showed amide and amine group associated with AgNPs that stabilizes the nanoparticles. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) showed a strong peak of silver confirms the presence of silver. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) analysis was used to determine the protein degradation showed less protein degradation at higher temperature confirms the stability of nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed the AgNPs are well dispersed and spherical, and 5.37 nm to 17.19 whereas albumin coated nanoparticles are size ranges from 11.26 nm to 23.85 nm. The anticancer effect of capped AgNPs (cAgNPs) showed the IC50 value against breast cancer MCF-7 at 80 μg/mL, intestinal colon cancer HCT- 116 60 μg/mL, and bone cancer osteosarcoma MG-63 cell line80 μg/mL while against normal fibroblast cells 3T3 cells showed the IC50 value at 140 μg/mL. Lactate dehydrogenase assay (LDH) showed higher toxicity on MCF-7, HCT-116, and MG-63 cells. The apoptotic study clearly showed the blebbing of membrane, chromatin condensation due to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by ethidium bromide and acridine orange dual staining method. The DNA analysis showed the complete fragmentation of the DNA of treated cells when compared with control cells., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Previously, the nanofibers were predominantly fabricated from synthetic polymers due to their excellent mechanical properties. Understanding the different complex processes in fabrication and various process parameters involved have not only allowed the use of natural polymers for fabricating nanofibers but also broadened the scope of applications. To date, many of the natural polymeric composites have been fabricated by different functionalization techniques to increase their applicability. Nanofibers fabricated from natural polymers have been chemically functionalized by a variety of molecules like drugs, enzymes, metal ions etc. by techniques such as plasma treatment, wet chemical method, graft polymerization and co-electrospinning of surface-active molecules. Furthermore, the nanofibers derived from natural polymers have been surface-coated on the synthetic polymers to induce extracellular matrix mirroring properties like cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and differentiation. In this review, we have not only investigated the various novel and facile functionalization approaches but potential properties and applications are discussed as well. The various surface chemistry modifications of the natural polymeric nanofibers and their potential applications in drug delivery, enzymology, catalysis, filtration, biosensing and tissue engineering are discussed. In addition, a brief presentation of an overview of challenges and future scope with the aim of making them a clinical success has been presented., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The VP28 gene of white spot syndrome virus was amplified by PCR using gene specific primer set and cloned into pRSET B vector to produce recombinant VP28 (r-VP28) in E. coli GJ1158. The chitosan tripolyphosphate nanoparticles (CS/TPP) were prepared by ionic gelation process and characterized. The purified r-VP28 protein was encapsulated by CS/TPP nanoparticles. The encapsulation efficiency of CS/TPP nanoparticles was found to be 84.8% for r-VP28 protein binding with CS/TPP nanoparticles. The in vitro release profile of encapsulated r-VP28 was determined after treating with protease and chitosanase. The different types of feed were formulated and named as normal feed with PBS, Feed A coated with crude r-VP28, Feed B with purified r-VP28 and Feed C with CS/TPP encapsulated r-VP28 (Purified). Tissue distribution and clearance of r-VP28 at different time intervals were examined in shrimp fed with different types of feed by ELISA and the results showed the presence of r-VP28 protein in different organs. Various immunological parameters were assessed in experimental shrimp. The mRNA expression of five immune-related genes was analysed by qPCR in order to investigate their response to all types of feed in shrimp. A cumulative percentage mortality was also recorded in treated shrimp challenged with WSSV., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Recently, cultivation of high-yielding hybrid maize varieties has revolutionized maize production in Pakistan. Analyses of nutritional traits and aflatoxin (AF) contamination in these varieties can aid in the identification of susceptible and resistant varieties, particularly for cultivation in the Pakistani agro-climatic environment. Five spring maize varieties-Pioneer, Neelam, DK-919, Desi, and Hi-maize-were selected for analyses of their nutritional, tocopherol, and AF contents. Protein, carbohydrate, oil, ash, fiber, and moisture contents ranged between 8.7 and 10.8%, 68 and 71%, 3.72 and 5.56%, 1.09 and 1.81%, 1.1 and 3.1%, and 11.7 and 14.2%, respectively. Tocopherol levels in selected varieties were in the range of 461 to 1,430 μg/g. Hi-maize exhibited significantly higher protein and tocopherol contents than the other varieties, indicating its better suitability for feed and silage applications. The highest mean level of total AFs, 14.5 ± 0.12 μg/kg, was found in Desi, and results showed that the most dominant AF found in the maize varieties was AFB 1 . Furthermore, the results showed that the higher the level of tocopherol, the lower the concentration of total AFs and vice versa in maize varieties. The results can be used to investigate additional susceptible maize varieties that are resistant to fungal attack.

Aims: Statins are competitive inhibitors of HMGCoA reductase and are commonly used as antihypercholesterolemic agents. Experimental studies clearly demonstrate the beneficial effects of statins on bone. Tocotrienols have also been shown to have anti-osteoporotic effects on the skeletal system. This study was conducted to observe the effect of a combination of delta-tocotrienol and lovastatin on structural bone histomorphometry and bone biomechanical strength in a postmenopausal rat model at clinically tolerable doses, and to compare it with the effect of delta-tocotrienol or lovastatin., Main Methods: Forty-eight female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: baseline control; sham-operated control; ovariectomised control; ovariectomised+11mg/kg lovastatin; ovariectomised+60mg/kg delta-tocotrienol and ovariectomised+60mg/kg delta-tocotrienol+11mg/kg lovastatin. These treatments were given via oral gavage daily for eight weeks. After sacrificing the rats, the left and right femurs were dissected and processed for bone histomorphometric analysis and a bone biomechanical test, respectively., Key Findings: Delta-tocotrienol in combination with lovastatin significantly improved the trabecular volume, trabecular number, trabecular thickness and trabecular separation; and it significantly increased bone strength in oestrogen-deficient rats. Delta-tocotrienol alone enhanced bone formation and maintained bone strength in ovariectomised rats. Delta-tocotrienol plus lovastatin treatment promoted better trabecular volume and trabecular number and received higher load than delta-tocotrienol alone. Lovastatin alone was not effective., Significance: Thus, the combination of delta-tocotrienol and lovastatin has the potential to be used for anti-osteoporotic therapy in postmenopausal women., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The present study examines the use of CS/TPP nanoparticles for gene delivery in different tissues of shrimp through oral route. The viral gene of WSSV was used to construct DNA vaccines using pcDNA 3.1, a eukaryotic expression vector and the constructs were named as pVP28. The CS/TPP nanoparticles were synthesized by ionic gelation process and these particles were characterized. The structure and morphology of the nanoparticles were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra). The cytotoxicity of CS/TPP nanoparticles was evaluated by MTT assay using fish cell line. The expression of gene was confirmed by Immuno-dot blot, ELISA and RT-PCR analyses. The results indicate that DNA can be easily delivered into shrimp by feeding with CS/TPP nanoparticles., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Owing to its high affinity with phosphate, Zr(IV) can induce the aggregation of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-stabilized AuNPs, leading to the change of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption spectra and color of ATP-stabilized AuNP solutions. Based on these phenomena, visual and SPR sensors for Zr(IV) have been developed for the first time. The A(660 nm)/A(518 nm) values of ATP-stabilized AuNPs in SPR absorption spectra increase linearly with the concentrations of Zr(IV) from 0.5 μM to 100 μM (r=0.9971) with a detection limit of 95 nM. A visual Zr(IV) detection is achieved with a detection limit of 30 μM. The sensor shows excellent selectivity against other metal ions, such as Cu(2+), Fe(3+), Cd(2+), and Pb(2+). The recoveries for the detection of 5 μM, 10 μM, 25 μM and 75 μM Zr(IV) in lake water samples are 96.0%, 97.0%, 95.6% and 102.4%, respectively. The recoveries of the proposed SPR method are comparable with those of ICP-OES method., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A new cell line, Channa striatus kidney (CSK), derived from the kidney tissue of murrel, was established and characterized. The CSK cell line was maintained in Leibovitz's L-15 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and has been subcultured more than 140 times. This cell line was able to grow in a range of temperatures from 22 to 32°C with optimal growth at 28°C. The plating efficiency was very high (67.54%) and doubling time was approximately 29h. The kidney cell line was cryopreserved at different passage levels and revived successfully with 90-92% survival. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of mitochondrial 16S rRNA using primer specific to C. striatus confirmed the origin of this cell line from murrel. The cell line was further characterized by chromosome number, transfection and mycoplasma detection. A marine fish nodavirus was tested to determine the susceptibility of this new cell line. The CSK cell line was found to be susceptible to nodavirus and the infection was confirmed by cytopathic effect (CPE), reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunodot blot, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), virus replication efficiency and real time RT-PCR. The present study highlights the development and characterization of a new kidney cell line from an air breathing fish that could be used as an in vitro tools for propagation of fish viruses and gene expression studies., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) are found to possess intrinsic peroxidase-like activity for the first time. Similar to nature peroxidase, they can catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine by H(2)O(2) to produce a nice blue color reaction. Compared with horseradish peroxidase, Cu NCs exhibits higher activity near neutral pH, which is beneficial for biological applications. The increase in absorbance caused by the Cu NCs catalytic reaction allows the detection of H(2)O(2) in the range of 10 μM to 1 mM with a detection limit of 10 μM. A colorimetric method for glucose detection was also developed by combining the Cu NCs catalytic reaction and the enzymatic oxidation of glucose with glucose oxidase. Taking into account the advantages of ultra-small size, good stability, and high biocompatibility in aqueous solutions, Cu NCs are expected to have potential applications in biotechnology and clinical diagnosis as enzymatic mimics., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Benzophenone is one of the most commonly used photoinitiators of UV-cured inks on food packaging materials and can migrate into foodstuffs. In this study, an amperometric benzophenone sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was successfully constructed for the first time. The sensor was prepared by electropolymerizing o-phenylenediamine (o-PD) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in the presence of template benzophenone, and then removing the template by immersing the poly-o-phenylenediamine film-modified GCE in ethanol. The molecularly imprinted sensor was tested in the presence or absence of benzophenone by cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry to verify the changes in the redox peak currents of potassium ferricyanide. The sensor responded sensitively to benzophenone over a linear range of 0.05-5 μM with a detection limit of 10 nM. The imprinted sensor showed high recognition ability for benzophenone and was successfully applied to the determination of benzophenone in food packaging material samples., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Membrane microdomains known as lipid rafts have been shown recently to be involved in Fas signalling and apoptosis in T and B cell lines. Here, we have investigated further the role of lipid rafts in Fas-induced apoptosis in non-transformed human CD4 T cells. We show that Fas-induced apoptosis in CD4 T cells was inhibited by the lipid raft disrupter methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. When lipid rafts were isolated from control and Fas ligand treated cells, we found that a small proportion of Fas was present in the raft fraction in untreated cells and that this was greatly increased upon Fas ligation. The other components of the Death Inducing Signalling Complex (DISC), FADD, and procaspase 8, were also present at higher levels in the raft fraction isolated from Fas ligand treated cells. We conclude that formation of the DISC occurs in lipid rafts and that these membrane microdomains are required for efficient Fas signalling and apoptosis.

A variety of changes was seen in the respiratory tract of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) infected with a Capillaria species. The main lesions were those of bronchopneumonia and tracheitis.

The effect of repeated (4 weeks) oral administration of 2,4-, 2,5- or 2,6-xylidine (at dose levels of 400--500 mg/kg/day) on the morphology and microsomal drug metabolising enzyme activity of the liver was studied in rats. All 3 isomers caused hepatomegaly which was considered to be due to proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Decreases in glycogen content and glucose-6-phosphatase activity were demonstrated histochemically. Biochemical investigations showed increases in microsomal protein and cytochrome P-450 content in rats dosed with 2,4- or 2,5-xylidine and in glucuronyltransferase activity in rats given 2,4-, 2,5- or 2,6-xylidine. Aniline hydroxylase activity was increased in all treated rats except males dosed with 2,6-xylidine. The results of the study indicate that all isomes of xylidine can be inducers of microsomal drug-metabolising enzyme activity, that they may be metabolised by oxidation and that the xylidine molecule may be eliminated as a conjugate with glucuronic acid.

Venalot, a mixture of coumarin and troxerutin, in the proportion 1 to 6 respectively, was given orally to baboons at dosages of 0, 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg/day for 26 weeks. Vomiting, usually within 3 h of administration and considered to be of central origin, in addition to vomiting immediately after dosing, was noted in animals receiving 1000 mg/kg/day. At this level, collapse on several occasions in two animals, one of which died, was also observed. Another animal receiving 1000 mg/kg/day was killed for humane reasons following a period of weight loss, reduced appetite and deterioration in body condition. However, no adverse effect on body weight gain, food or water consumption, ophthalmoscopic or electrocardiographic examinations were noted in any other animals during this study. Increased levels of liver function (serum leucine amino-peptidase (LAP), and serum ornithine carbamyl transferase (OCT) were noted during the dosing period, together with slightly increased liver weights terminally for animals receiving 1000 mg/kg/day; however, as no morphological or ultrastructural changes were noted, these findings were considered to be attributable to hypertrophy.

Kerato-conjunctivitis sicca is reported in beagle dogs treated with an antispasmodic compound for 26 weeks during a routine toxicity study. There was a deficiency of lachrymal secretion associated with keratitis and corneal vascularization. Histopathologically, the changes were characterized by vascularization, fibroblast proliferation and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the substantia propria. In some cases, the inflammation also occurred in corneal epithelium, ocular conjunctiva and corneal limbi.

Fifty-three dead hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) were investigated histologically for evidence of lungworm infestation. The faeces of forty-two were examined microscopically for nematode eggs. Thirty-five animals showed parasitic lesions--fourteen Crenosoma only, five Capillaria only and sixteen both. Infestations were characterized by inflammatory changes in the trachea and lung and the presence of worms in other organs. There was some correlation between the finding of parasites in histological sections and the detection of eggs in faeces but, neither method appears completely reliable.

When (+/-) gossypol acetic acid was administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats for 26 weeks, the most significant toxicological finding was marked suppression of body weight gain in rats receiving 25 mg/kg per day. Minor biochemical changes were noted at this dosage level. Terminal studies showed 6 out of 20 rats receiving 25 mg/kg per day to have varying degrees of testicular pathology. Five mg/kg per day was shown to be a "no effect" level.

Malignant phaeochromocytomas occurring in the adrenals of 2 aged male rats are reported. The primary tumour was unilateral and had metastasized to the other adrenal, pancreas, liver, spleen, lung, kidney and bone marrow. Metastatic deposits were also seen in a co-existing pituitary tumour and in an islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas. The cells, although resembling normal medullary cells, were smaller and had sparse cytoplasm; the nuclei were generally hyperchromatic. The cells were arranged in nests and sometimes in a trabecular pattern. The presence of phaeochromocytomas with widespread metastasis is of interest since, in general, phaeochromocytomas of rats are not prone to metastasize. In addition, invasion into a pancreatic islet cell tumour and into a pituitary tumour was unusual.

Two cases of soft tissue giant-cell tumours are reported in Sprague-Dawley rats. The lesions had the characteristic appearance of multinucleate tumour giant cells and were unassociated with bone. A search of the literature failed to reveal any previous report of this lesion in the rat.

A neoplastic lesion in the liver of a king snake, Lampropeltis getulus, was identified as a hepatocellular carcinoma. There were metastases in the spleen.

The accepted animal toxicity studies indicate that the ganglioside mixture extracted and purified from the bovine brain cortex (Cronassial) is without detectable toxicity. It did not induce any adverse effects on any of the characteristics of reproduction and it is not antigenic.

The chronic toxicity of O,S-dibenzoyl thiamine hydrochloride (DBT) was studied by prolonged dietary administration to rats at dosages of 1000 and 10 000 ppm. The study confirmed the low toxicity of this compound and absence of carcinogenicity.

A rare type of mixed mammary tumour, described in a CD female rat, represents the first record of a mixed mammary tumour in a rat with both epithelial and chondroid components.