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Tailoring the surface-bulk structure of narrow gap semiconductors has been the prominent strategy to promote both light absorption properties and charge carrier separation. In this context, monoclinic-WO 3 is modified with gadolinium (GWO) through a wet chemical approach and integrated with 2D g-C 3 N 4 (GCN) via simple annealing step to form unique heterostructure (GWOGCN). The X-ray diffraction revealed that Gd3+ ion substitutes the bulk structure of WO 3 and distributes over the surface. The UV–visible absorption spectra confirmed significant improvement in the light absorption properties of heterostructures compared to pure phase materials. The results from the photoluminescence and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy collectively suggested the low degree of charge transfer resistance with improved carrier separation in the GWOGCN heterojunction. The pivotal role of Gd species and the construction of Type-II heterojunction between GWO and GCN was ascribed to the superior activity of GWOGCN. The half-filled electronic configuration of Gd3+ dopant accelerates the shallow trapping of charge carriers, while the surface Gd species transferred the charge carriers to the adsorbed species. The beneficial role of Gd and formation of Type-II heterostructure was also evidenced from the density functional theory calculations. The findings of the present research open an avenue for the fabrication of heterostructures comprised with narrow-gap semiconductors through a facile approach. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Arthritis is a common degenerative joint disease characterized by deterioration of articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and associated with immobility, pain and inflammation. The incessant action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during progressive arthritis causes severe oxidative damage to vital organs and circulatory system.Purpose: In this study we investigated the ability of guggulipid (GL), a lipid rich extract from the gum resin of the plant Commiphora whighitii to suppress the progressive arthritis and associated liver oxidative stress both in vivo and in vitro.Study Design/methods: The anti-arthritic ability of GL was demonstrated in vitro using IL-1β stimulated bovine nasal cartilage model and in vivo Freund's complete adjuvant-induced arthritic rat model. Collagen/proteoglycan degradation and pro-inflammatory mediators were monitored in the harvested culture medium of nasal cartilage by estimating the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), hydroxy proline, glycosaminoglycans and inflammatory mediators. Further, anti-arthritic ability of GL was evaluated in vivo by measuring enzymatic and non-enzymatic mediators of cartilage degradation, inflammation and oxidative stress markers.Results: GL significantly inhibited the IL-1β stimulated cartilage degradation in vitro by mitigating the MMPs activity, collagen degradation and secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators. Further, GL significantly reduced the adjuvant-induced paw swelling and body weight loss in vivo. GL remarkably reduced the MMPs and hyaluronidases activities in serum and bone homogenate along with altered hematological parameters. GL also mitigated the elevated bone resorbing enzymes cathepsins, exoglycosidases and phosphatases. Additionally, GL effectively mitigated ROS and oxidative stress-mediators recuperating the altered serum/liver oxidative stress and liver damage incurred during arthritic progression.Conclusion: In summary, the study clearly demonstrates the protective efficacy of GL against arthritis and its associated oxidative stress, particularly, liver oxidative damage. Hence, GL could be a potential alternative and complementary medicine to treat inflammatory joint diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: The mainstay treatment for Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma (JNA) is complete excision. Surgical approach should allow maximal exposure of the tumour with minimum morbidity. One such possible approach is Lefort I maxillary osteotomy. Objective: To review our experience on feasibility of Lefort I osteotomy approach to achieve the best result and to look at the outcome in our series of patients at a tertiary centre in India. Method: This prospective study involves 22 patients with JNA who have been treated by Lefort I approach between August 2006 and December 2007 at the Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health And Neurosciences, Bangalore, India. Results: All patients underwent primary surgical resection through Lefort I approach. No major intra-operative and post-operative complications were noted except in one patient where loss of vision in one eye due to prior pre-operative orbital involvement. The mean follow-up period was 2.8 years. To date, there has been no cases of residual tumour or recurrence that can be attributed to the procedure except in one case. Conclusion: Our experience suggests that the Lefort I osteotomy approach is a useful technique for the removal of extensive JNA which has distinct advantages over traditional approaches, providing a more direct vision, improved exposure, and cosmesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An experiment was conducted to study the biochemical and physicochemical changes with respect to improvement in tenderness of spent hen breast meat. Breast muscle obtained from freshly slaughtered spent hens (72 wk old) was divided into 5 equal lots and dipped in 1 mM NaN3 before being packed in low-density polyethylene pouches under aerobic conditions and stored at refrigeration temperature (4°C). Lots were removed on 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 d of storage and analyzed for pH, TBA reactive substances (TBARS), total sulfhydryl content, protein-bound sulfhydryl content, nonprotein-bound sulfhydryl content, perimysial fraction, collagen content, free OH-proline, N, nonprotein N, and proteolysis rate. Shear force value and penetrometer readings were also determined after making patties from the stored muscle samples. Results showed that pH values were gradually decreasing over the storage period. The TBARS values were increasing (P < 0.001), whereas the sulfhydryl content was decreasing (P < 0.001) over the storage period. The TBARS values were negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with total sulfhydryl content. This suggests that sulfhydryl content may prevent further higher oxidation of lipids. The soluble collagen content, collagen solubility, free OH-proline, and proteolysis rate were increasing (P < 0.001) during postmortem aging. These results suggest that collagen degradation into free amino acids occurs postmortem. A gradual decrease (P < 0.001) in shear force value and a gradual increase (P < 0.001) in penetrometer readings were recorded in the patties made from matured breast meat. Therefore, postmortem aging of spent hen breast meat resulted in 23% improvement in tenderness of minced patties On 14 d and 39% on 28 d as evidenced by biochemical and physicochemical changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]