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Aerospace electronic and power systems demand increasing levels of safety, efficiency and power delivery because of the severe effects from long term operation in the space environment, often without any manned operation or maintenance. Consequently, the design requirements place more emphasis on the insulation components and their applications posing new challenges to the electrical insulation design engineer. The space and volume constraints require the high power components to be miniaturized, yet compatible with the thermal and mechanical environments while maintaining cost at a reasonable level. A combination of technical skills, new technologies, experience and extensive data from the older engineers is the way to achieve advancement and realization of the required design specifications for the electrical insulation of aerospace systems.

Hysterothylacium species are perhaps the most abundant and diverse group of marine ascaridoids; however, their life cycle and specific identification in larval stages in many parts of the world, particularly in Iraqi marine waters, have not been completely understood. In this study three members of the genus Hysterothylacium collected from Khor Abdulla in Iraq are morphologically described, genetically characterized and their relationship with other closely related taxa are compared and discussed. A new Hysterothylacium larval type in the fourth stage of development is described, and morphological and molecular evidence (based on the sequences of internal transcribed spacers) are provided for its distinction from previously known fourth-stage Hysterothylacium larval types. Based on the sequence data it is suggested that the new larval type, which herein was assigned as Hysterothylacium larval type XVI, is H. persicum which was previously reported from the close proximity in Bandar Abbas, Iran. In addition, two other taxa, including Hysterothylacium larval type XV and H. reliquens, have been found in the present study, for which new hosts are reported. This study provides some insights into the taxonomy and systematics of these parasites, not only in this region but also for similar studies elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant clonal disorder of the hematopoietic stem cells characterized by the aberrant production and uncontrolled proliferation of mature granulocytes with normal cell differentiation. The Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome resulting from reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 is the main genetic molecular hallmark of CML seen in more than 90% of the patients. However, about 5-10% of CML patients show a variant genetic rearrangement, involving one or more chromosomes in addition to 9 and 22. Herein, we describe the results of hematological, cytogenetic, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and high-end molecular analysis in a 77-year-old man diagnosed with CML. The combination of conventional cytogenetic analysis along with metaphase FISH and whole chromosomal paint revealed a novel cryptic variant chromosomal rearrangement involving 9q34, 22q11.2, and 5q22, resulting in ins(9;22) and t(5;22). At the molecular level, using PCR, myeloid NGS panels, and whole transcriptome analyses, we showed that this complex rearrangement indeed resulted in the formation of the BCR::ABL1 e13a2 major fusion transcript. No additional somatic mutations or kinase domain mutations were identified, thereby suggesting that the current case is indeed genetically homogeneous. This study provided strong evidence to support the idea that insertion-derived BCR::ABL1 fusions often involve complex chromosomal abnormalities that are overlooked by conventional cytogenetics but can be identified by a combination of conventional, molecular cytogenetics, and high-end NGS studies., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The efficacy and treatment outcome of a CML patient are heavily dependent on BCR::ABL1 kinase domain (KD) mutation status. Next-generation sequencing technology is a bright alternative to the previously used sanger sequencing method due to its global presence in diagnostic setups, massive parallel sequencing ability, and far better sensitivity. In the present study, we have demonstrated a new protocol for kinase domain mutation analysis using the next-generation sequencing (NGS) method using the ion torrent sequencing platform. This protocol uses RNA as the starting material, followed by nested PCR to amplify the fusion transcript, which is subsequently used as a template for NGS. Initial validation and comparison of this assay with the sanger sequencing (SS) method yielded 95.23% agreement. CML samples (n = 121) with a failure to TKI response were subjected to this newly developed NGS-based assay to detect KD mutations, from which samples were found to have mutations with a sensitivity ranging from 2.32 to 93.41%. A total of 34.71% of samples (n = 42) were found to be positive for one or more KD mutations, whereas 65.29% of samples (n = 81) were found to be negative. Nine samples out of 42 positive samples, i.e., 21.42%, were found to have compound mutations. This is one of the first studies from India, which includes more than 160 samples and is analyzed by the NGS approach for KD mutation analysis., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: To evaluate the cardioprotective effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats and to evaluate the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K) in cardioprotection., Methods: The protective effect of the hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (LEGP) on the heart was investigated against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced MI in rats. Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed followed by molecular docking. For the in vivo studies Wistar albino rats (Male) were divided among different groups. Different parameters were evaluated such as heart weight index, Electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis, triphenyl tetrazolium chloride assay, cardiac enzyme markers, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes, PI3K levels, and histopathology of cardiac tissue., Results: Results showed that LEGP improved the electrocardiogram, reduced infarct size, and decreased the levels of cardiac enzyme markers and oxidative stress, while antioxidant enzymes and PI3K levels were increased., Conclusion: LEGP protected the heart against ISO-induced MI in rats by improving hemodynamic, biochemical and histological attributes. These protective effects were produced by the phytoconstituents of the LEGP through modulation of the PI3K signalling pathway., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2024.)

We provide the incidental necropsy findings associated with anisakid nematode infections of black noddy terns, Anous minutus Boie, 1844 (Charadriiformes: Laridae), from offshore islands in the southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Specimens collected from the proventriculi were identified morphologically as Contracaecum magnipapillatum Chapin, 1925 (Rhabditida: Anisakidae), using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The entire nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced to provide reference sequences for morphologically well-identified voucher specimens. Interestingly, after an alignment with closely related taxa using BLAST, sequences of the ITS1 and ITS2 were 100% identical to the sequences assigned to Contracaecum septentrionale Kreis, 1955, from a razorbill, Alca torda Linnaeus, 1758 (Charadriiformes: Alcidae), from Spain. These results either raise questions about the ITS as a genetic marker for some members of Contracaecum, or the identity of the specimens assigned to C. septentrionale, given that no supporting morphological data was associated with them. We highlight the need for a combined morphological and molecular approach to parasite diagnostics and the use of multiple genetic loci to resolve the molecular taxonomy of cryptic species. Morphological identifications should be taxonomically robust, transparent and precede the deposition of molecular barcodes in public repositories. The gross and histopathological findings of our investigation concur with previous reports of widespread Contracaecum infections in black noddies and support the contention that Contracaecum spp. are an unlikely primary cause of mortality., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The majority of research on the safety of marine edible fish has primarily focused on anisakid nematodes, neglecting the potential risks posed by other parasites, including those belonging to the family Gnathostomatidae. In Australia, there have been few reported cases of human infections with gnathostomatid parasites since 2011. However, due to the absence of a standardized diagnostic test in the country, it is believed that the actual number of infections is higher than reported. This study aimed to assess the occurrence and prevalence of infectious gnathostomatid parasites in selected commercial fish species in Australia. A total of 1947 marine fish from northern Australia, representing 9 families, 16 genera, and 30 species, were examined for gnathostomatid nematode infections. Overall, 12.3 % of the fish were found to be infected with at least one gnathostomatid larva. Among the species examined, the yellow-dabbled flounder (Branchypleura novaezeelandiae) exhibited the highest prevalence (83.3 %; n = 6) and the largest number of gnathostomatid larvae. The identification of the gnathostomatid larvae was confirmed as belonging to the genus Echinocephalus based on both morphological characteristics and sequence data. No significant correlation was observed between the prevalence, mean abundance, and mean intensity of infection with the length or weight of the examined fish species. Notably, several of the infected fish species are considered popular choices in the Australian market. Hence, it is imperative to raise awareness among relevant food safety authorities regarding the occurrence of these parasites. The findings from this study should be taken into consideration for the revision of current seafood safety protocols in the country., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare there is no conflict of interest to report., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are routinely released from nearly all cell types as transport vehicles and for cell communication. Crucially, they contain biomolecular content for the identification of health and disease states that can be detected from readily accessible physiological fluids, including urine, plasma, or saliva. Despite their clinical utility within noninvasive diagnostic platforms such as liquid biopsies, the currently available portfolio of analytical approaches are challenged by EV heterogeneity in size and composition, as well as the complexity of native biofluids. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) has recently emerged as a powerful alternative for the phenotypic detection of EVs, offering multiple modes of analyte discrimination by frequency and dissipation. While providing rich data for sensor development, further progress is required to reduce detection limits and fully exploit the technique's potential within biosensing. Herein, we investigate the impact of nanostructuring the sensor electrode surface for enhancing its detection capabilities. We employ self-assembly of the block copolymer polystyrene- block -poly(4-vinylpyridine) to create well defined 2D gold islands via selective impregnation of the pyridine domain with gold precursors and subsequent removal of the template. When matched to the EV length scale, we find a 4-fold improvement in sensitivity despite a 4-fold reduction in area for analyte and ligand anchoring in comparison to a flat sensor surface. Creation of tailored and confined sensing regions interspersed by non-binding silica provides optimal spatial orientation for EV capture with reduced steric effects and negative cooperativity of grafted antibodies, offering a promising route for facilitated binding and enhanced performance of sensor platforms.

This study determines the occurrence and molecular identification of nematodes from blue mackerel Scomber australasicus Cuvier (Perciformes: Scombridae), an edible fish from Australian waters. A total of 150 fish were sourced from the New South Wales and Victorian coasts. Nematodes were initially classified morphologically as 10 morphotypes belonging to the families Anisakidae (Anisakis morphotypes I and II, Contracaecum morphotype II, Terranova morphotypes I and II), Raphidascarididae (Hysterothylacium morphotypes IV, VI, VIII, and XIV), and Capillariidae (Capillaria sp.), followed by molecular identification through sequencing of their internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1, 5.8S, ITS-2) region. Anisakis morphotype I was confirmed as A. pegreffii Campana-Rouget & Biocca, 1955 and A. berlandi Mattiucci, Cipriani, Webb, Paoletti, Marcer, Bellisario, Gibson & Nascetti, 2014. Anisakis morphotype II and Contracaecum morphotype II were confirmed as A. physeteris Baylis, 1923 and C. ogmorhini Johnston & Mawson, 1941, respectively. Terranova morphotypes I and II were identified as Pulchrascaris australis Shamsi, Barton & Zhu, 2020 and Euterranova pectinolabiata n. comb. (Shamsi, Barton & Zhu, 2019) Moravec & Justine, 2020, respectively. The specific identification of Hysterothylacium morphotypes IV, VI, and VIII was not possible as no comparable adult Hysterothylacium species sequences were available in GenBank, with the exception of morphotype XIV which was confirmed as H. persicum Shamsi, Ghadam, Suthar, Mousavi, Soltani & Mirzargar, 2016. Seven nematode morphotypes were identified for the first time in Australian blue mackerel. The outcomes of the study provide a basis for future research into the community structure, life cycles, and distribution of nematode species in Australian mackerel and to analyse and clarify their importance for public health., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Research into extracellular vesicles (EVs) has grown significantly over the last few decades with EVs being widely regarded as a source of biomarkers for human health and disease with massive clinical potential. Secreted by every cell type in the body, EVs report on the internal cellular conditions across all tissue types. Their presence in readily accessible biofluids makes the potential of EV biosensing highly attractive as a noninvasive diagnostic platform via liquid biopsies. However, their small size (50-250 nm), inherent heterogeneity, and the complexity of the native biofluids introduce challenges for effective characterization, thus, limiting their clinical utility. This has led to a surge in the development of various novel EV biosensing techniques, with capabilities beyond those of conventional methods that have been directly transferred from cell biology. In this review, key detection principles used for EV biosensing are summarized, with a focus on some of the most recent and fundamental developments in the field over the last 5 years. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing Diagnostic Tools > In Vitro Nanoparticle-Based Sensing., (© 2022 The Authors. WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized circulating assemblies that contain biomarkers considered promising for early diagnosis within neurology, cardiology, and oncology. Recently, acoustic wave biosensors, in particular based on quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), have emerged as a sensitive, label-free, and selective EV characterization platform. A rational approach to further improving sensing detection limits relies on the nanostructuration of the sensor surfaces. To this end, inorganic inverse opals (IOs) derived from colloidal self-assembly present a highly tunable and scalable nanoarchitecture of suitable feature sizes and surface chemistry. This work systematically investigates their use in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) for enhanced QCM-D EV detection. Precise tuning of the architecture parameters delivered improvements in detection performance to sensitivities as low as 6.24 × 10 7 particles/mL. Our findings emphasize that attempts to enhance acoustic immunosensing via increasing the surface area by 3D nanostructuration need to be carefully analyzed in order to exclude solvent and artifact entrapment effects. Moreover, the use of 2D nanostructured electrodes to compartmentalize analyte anchoring presents a particularly promising design principle., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: The most convincing species of Allopodocotyle Pritchard, 1966 (Digenea: Opecoelidae) are known overwhelmingly from groupers (Serranidae: Epinephelinae). Six species of Allopodocotyle have been reported, collectively, from species of Cromileptes Swainson, 1839, Epinephelus Bloch, 1793 and Plectropomus Oken, 1817. These are A. epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1942), A. heronensis Downie & Cribb, 2011, A. manteri (Saoud & Ramadan, 1984), A. mecopera (Manter, 1940), A. plectropomi (Manter, 1963) and A. serrani (Yamaguti, 1952). In addition, a not yet fully described and unnamed seventh species, morphologically and phylogenetically close to A. epinepheli, was isolated from the orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1822) off Bali, Indonesia in 2016. An eighth species, again from E. coioides off Bali is described herein., Methods: Morphological and phylogenetic analyses justify the recognition of A. palmi sp. nov., which is also genetically different from the as yet unnamed congener from the same host and locality. For the first time, 3D confocal laser scanning microscopy was applied to study and distinguish Digenea taxonomically. We introduce the 'Palm pattern', a new simplified way to visualise morphometric differences of related digenean taxa., Results: Allopodocotyle palmi sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners that infect groupers by its elongate body with a size > 2.7 mm and diagonal testes. The ovary is located mainly, and the anterior testis completely, in the posterior half of the body; the uterine coils are in the fourth eighth of the body. The cirrus-sac is 0.75-1.4 (1.1) mm long, its posterior extremity is well separated from the anterior extent of the vitelline fields, just reaching the anterior border of uterine coils. In addition, Prosorhynchus maternus Bray & Justine, 2006 (Bucephalidae) was isolated from E. coioides, representing the first record in Indonesia and the third record for this fish species., Conclusion: The biodiversity research in Indonesia is enhanced with a new species description based on modern and newly applied techniques., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Echinocephalus caniculus n. sp. (Nematoda, Gnathostomatidae Railliet, 1895) was isolated from the spiral valve of the lesser spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula (L.) from the waters off Kalaat El Andalous, North East Tunisia. This new species is mainly characterized by a cephalic bulb armed with 31-39 transverse rows of uncinated hooks, a comparatively long oesophagus, short spicules and the presence of a gubernaculum. The new species differs from its congeners by having four cervical sacs of almost equal length, a higher oesophagus/body length ratio, the arrangement of the caudal papillae, the absence of a medioventral preanal organ and numerous scattered `pores´ limited to the lateral side of the posterior part of the body. This is the first report of a member of the genus Echinocephalus Molin, 1858 from the Tunisian coast, and a new host and locality record for the Gnathostomatidae. A key to the species of Echinocephalus is provided., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The present study investigates the fish parasite fauna from Lake Tollense, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany., Methods: A total of 117 perch (Perca fluviatilis), bream (Abramis brama) and roach (Rutilus rutilus) were sampled for parasites during 2018 and 2019 from Lake Tollense and compared with earlier data from Lake Malchin and Lake Hohen Sprenz in 2011 and 2014, respectively. Parasites were identified based on morphological and molecular characters., Results: A total of 32 parasite species were isolated from fishes of Lake Tollense, predominated by digeneans. Diplostomum baeri was found only in perch while D. spathacaeum was isolated from bream and roach. Parasite comparison of similar hosts between lakes revealed highly abundant Ichthyocotylurus spp. in perch and bream of Lake Malchin while Aspidogaster limacoides was most common in roach from Lake Tollense. Diversity indices of roach showed significant variation between localities. However, NMDS graph revealed separation of the three freshwater habitats based on the parasite fauna of perch, bream and roach., Conclusion: Based on the multivariate statistical analysis, the three natural inland water bodies could be distinguished based on the parasite communities of perch, bream and roach. The potential to utilise fish parasites as biological indicators in freshwater ecosystem is discussed., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The biomolecular contents of extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes, have been shown to be crucial in intercellular communication and disease propagation. As a result, there has been a recent surge in the exploration of novel biosensing platforms that can sensitively and specifically detect exosomal content such as proteins and nucleic acids, with a view toward application in diagnostic assays. Here, we demonstrate dual-mode and label-free detection of plasma exosomes using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (EQCM-D). The platform adopts a direct immunosensing approach to effectively capture exosomes via their surface protein expression of CD63. By combining QCM-D with a tandem in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement, we are able to demonstrate relationships between mass, viscoelasticity and impedance inducing properties of each functional layer and analyte. In addition to lowering the limit of detection (by a factor of 2-4) to 6.71 × 10 7 exosome-sized particles (ESP) per mL in 25% v/v serum, the synergy between dissipation and impedance response introduces improved sensing specificity by offering further distinction between soft and rigid analytes, thereby promoting EQCM-D as an important technique for exosome analysis.

Aspidogaster limacoides Diesing, 1834 (Aspidogastridae) is redescribed based on light and scanning electron microscopy of specimens from the stomach and intestine of Abramis brama, Rutilus rutilus and Scardinius erythrophthalmus (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae). The fishes were sampled during 2018 and 2019 at Lake Tollense in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. The prevalence of A. limacoides was highest in R. rutilus (61.7%) followed by Scardinius erythrophthalmus (7.7%) and A. brama (2.9%), while it was absent in Perca fluviatilis from the same lake. The following structures of A. limacoides are described for the first time: a depression on the ventral side of the neck, variations in the number and the arrangement of alveoli, numerous pits scattered all over the body surface, the presence of a few papillae-like structures posterior lateral to the mouth, the number of marginal organs represented by openings of exocrine multicellular glands as shown in histology and the subterminal position of the excretory pore. These characters can be used to distinguish three species of Aspidogaster, namely, A. ijimai, A. conchicola and A. limacoides, suggesting that SEM is a useful and promising tool in differentiating Aspidogaster species. Comparison of molecular data of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 regions showed a 94% similarity to A. limacoides from the European part of Russia. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the present specimens clustered in the same clade with A. limacoides sensu stricto, forming a distinct group to the exclusion of congeners., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Seafood is nutritious and a healthy source of proteins and its regular consumption is highly recommended by medical professionals and dieticians. Owing to this, the global consumption of seafood per capita has been significantly increasing since the 1960s. Consequently, seafood-borne pathogens, including parasites, have also become more widely known and recognised. In Australia, a vast island country, information about such parasites is extremely limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and abundance of zoonotic parasites, including anisakid nematodes, in selected Australian edible fish. Four species of fish, namely tiger flathead, Platycephalus richardsoni (n = 43), blue mackerel, Scomber australasicus (n = 117), snapper, Pagrus auratus (n = 11) and school whiting, Sillago flindersi (n = 90) were purchased from a fish market. Although a range of parasites was found, due to their significance for human health, the focus of this study was on nematodes whose infectious stage was found in these fish. The prevalence of nematodes in these fish species was 86.05%, 64.10%, 45.45% and 56.67%, respectively. Among the parasites found, Anisakis spp., Contracaecum spp. and Hysterothylacium spp. in tiger flathead, blue mackerel and school whiting, might be of zoonotic importance. Our findings suggest there is a need to revise current seafood safety protocols and develop educational campaigns for seafood industries stakeholders., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mesoporous inorganic thin films are promising materials architectures for a variety of applications, including sensing, catalysis, protective coatings, energy generation and storage. In many cases, precise control over a bicontinuous porous network on the 10 nm length scale is crucial for their operation. A particularly promising route for structure formation utilizes block copolymer (BCP) micelles in solution as sacrificial structure-directing agents for the co-assembly of inorganic precursors. This method offers pore size control via the molecular weight of the pore forming block and is compatible with a broad materials library. On the other hand, the molecular weight dependence impedes continuous pore tuning and the intrinsic polymer dispersity presents challenges to the pore size homogeneity. To this end, we demonstrate how chromatographic fractionation of BCPs provides a powerful method to control the pore size and dispersity of the resulting mesoporous thin films. We apply a semi-preparative size exclusion chromatographic fractionation to a polydisperse poly(isobutylene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PIB-b-PEO) BCP obtained from scaled-up synthesis. The isolation of BCP fractions with distinct molecular weight and narrowed dispersity allowed us to not only tune the characteristic pore size from 9.1 ± 1.5 to 14.1 ± 2.1 nm with the identical BCP source material, but also significantly reduce the pore size dispersity compared to the non-fractionated BCP. Our findings offer a route to obtain a library of monodisperse BCPs from a polydisperse feedstock and provide important insights on the direct relationship between macromolecular characteristics and the resulting structure-directed mesopores, in particular related to dispersity.

Background: At present thoracotomy with femoro-femoral bypass is an established approach for minimally invasive open heart surgeries, but thoracotomy with conventional cannulation is yet to be established. We performed 54 cases of ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure via anterolateral thoracotomy approach with central cannulation. Here we are describing our results and experience of VSD closure via anterolateral thoracotomy approach., Aim and Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate early outcomes of VSD repair via anterolateral thoracotomy with central cannulation., Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, descriptive type of study. Fifty four patients (31 males, 23 females) underwent VSD repair from November 2016 to November 2018 via anterolateral thoracotomy with age ranges from 3 to 22 years (mean age 10.57 + 8.88 years). Mean body weight was 22.29 + 13.44 kg (range 10 to 48 kg). The VSD was perimembranous in 47 patients, subpulmonic in 2, muscular in 2, and inlet in 3 patients., Results: There was no operative or late mortality. The mean incision length was 7.16 ± 02.08 cm (range, 5 cm to 9 cm). Average duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was 61.72 ± 14.20 min (range, 48-78 min), and aortic cross-clamp time was 38.51 ± 13.08 min (range, 26-56 min). The average postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay was 1.83 ± 1.32 days (range, 1-3 days), and hospital stay was 4.92 ± 1.82 days (range, 4-7 days)., Conclusion: Anterolateral thoracotomy with conventional central cannulation can be a safe alternative to median sternotomy with superior cosmetic results for the repair of VSDs., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (© Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons 2020.)

Exosomes are endocytic lipid-membrane bound bodies with the potential to be used as biomarkers in cancer and neurodegenerative disease. The limitations and scarcity of current exosome characterization approaches have led to a growing demand for translational techniques, capable of determining their molecular composition and physical properties in physiological fluids. Here, we investigate label-free immunosensing, using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), to detect exosomes by exploiting their surface protein profile. Exosomes expressing the transmembrane protein CD63 were isolated by size-exclusion chromatography from cell culture media. QCM-D sensors functionalized with anti-CD63 antibodies formed a direct immunoassay toward CD63-positive exosomes in 75% v/v serum, exhibiting a limit-of-detection of 2.9 × 10 8 and 1.4 × 10 8 exosome sized particles (ESPs)/mL for frequency and dissipation response, respectively, i.e., clinically relevant concentrations. Our proof-of-concept findings support the adoption of dual-mode acoustic analysis of exosomes, leveraging both frequency and dissipation monitoring for use in bioanalytical characterization.

Different industries have explicit applications of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites (AMMCs). However, porosity, wettability and Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) are important factors that need to consider while fabricating AMMCs. This paper focuses on identification of the most significant parameters for low porosity and high ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of hybrid aluminium metal matrix composite. Significant as well as non-significant factors were identified from the literature survey and trial experiments. Without considering the significance of given responses, identified factors were represented graphically by the fishbone diagram. FMEA (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis) was used to find out significant parameters from all the parameters that represented by fishbone diagram. Afterwards, Plackett-Burman design was used to screen the most significant parameters out of the significant parameters. Stirring speed, stirring time, preheating temperature and reinforcement amount was found the most significant parameters to attain high UTS and low porosity. However, because of the unfavourable combination of parameters % porosity increased beyond 7% during screening design based experiments. Subsequently, these parameters were optimized by factorial design. The result shows optimized parameters stirring speed 650 rpm and stirring time 12 minutes provides low porosity and high UTS. UTS improved up to 310 MPa due to an optimized range of stirring speeds and stirring time. However, porosity increased beyond 3% due to excess stirring in cast composites during factorial design based experiments. Moreover, studies were carried out to understand the effect of stirring, fluxing, degassing and moulding methods on porosity, UTS, clustering and surface finish of the cast composite. It was observed from a supplementary study that permanent mould reduces surface roughness below 3μm, compared to the sand casting process. The porosity was reduced below 3% by degassing and fluxing. Low agglomeration was observed in specimen prepared with automatic stirring process compared to the manually stirred specimen. Compared to others, in specimen 4, UTS was improved beyond 150 MPa because of permanent mould, automatic stirring, degassing and fluxing.

Despite several reports on the presence of the potentially zoonotic nematodes among edible fishes in the Persian Gulf, there is still no study on the specific identification of these parasites or their genetic characterisation. In the present study, a total of 600 fish belonging to five popular species of fish in the region, including Otolithes ruber, Psettodes erumei, Saurida tumbil, Scomberomorus commerson and Sphyraena jello were examined for infection with nematode parasites. Detailed microscopy of nematodes found in the present study followed by characterisation of the first and second internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2, respectively) showed that they belong to five distinct taxa that could be potentially zoonotic. Anisakis type I was found in four species of fish, had identical ITS sequences as Anisakis typica previously reported in Australian waters and was different from those reported in the Nearctic. Hysterothylacium type VI in the present study was morphologically similar to those previously described from Australasian waters and ITS sequences were identical among Australian specimens and those found in the present study. Another Hysterothylacium larval type was also found in the present study which had identical ITS sequences and similar morphology to those previously reported and identified as H. amoyense in China Sea. Since no ITS sequence data from a well identified adult H. amoyense with an identifiable museum voucher number is yet available and due to some other issues discussed in the article we suggest assignment of this larval type from the China Sea and the Persian Gulf to H. amoyense is doubtful until future studies on a well identified male specimen of H. amoyense or other species reveals the specific identity of this larval type. We propose to refer to this larval type as Hysterothylacium larval type XV. In the present study we also describe a new species, Hysterothylacium persicum and discuss how to differentiate it from closely related species. We also found some adult females with distinct morphology and ITS sequence but due to lack of male specimens they have been referred as Hysterothylacium sp. in this paper. They had the same ITS sequence data as Hysterothylacium larval type VI. This study shows the presence of a relatively broad diversity of potentially zoonotic nematodes in edible fish of the Persian Gulf. Therefore educational campaigns for public and local health practitioners are suggested to protect consumers from becoming infected with these parasites., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The infection of fish with zoonotic nematodes, particularly anisakid nematodes is of great interest to many researchers who study food safety, human or animal health or who use them as biological tags for stock assessment studies. Accurate examination of fish for infection with anisakid larvae is crucial in making accurate estimates of their occurrence, abundance and prevalence in their fish hosts. Here we describe a new method of examining fish for infection with these parasites. In 2015, a total of 261 fish were purchased from a fish market in New South Wales, Australia. All fish were first examined by routine visual examination for infection with zoonotic nematode larvae and all data were recorded. Subsequently all internal organs were placed in a container and filled with water and incubated in the room temperature overnight. The prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance of anisakids were significantly higher (p<0.05) when the revised method of examination, i.e., combining visual examination and overnight incubation in room temperature, was employed (63.98, 8.23 and 5.27, respectively) compared to routine visual examination with or without the aid of a microscope (8.81, 3.78 and 0.33, respectively). The proposed method is effective and has several advantages, such as: not using UV or HCl for fish examination, allowing the examination of a larger number of fish in shorter time; larval specimens collected being suitable for both morphological and DNA sequencing; and being simple and inexpensive. The disadvantages would be the odour of the specimens after overnight incubation as well as not being suitable for use with frozen fish. We suggest that results, conclusions or recommendations made in studies that claim no anisakid/ascaridoid larvae were found in a fish should be approached carefully if it is only based on visual examination of the fish., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Pseudoterranovosis is a well-known human disease caused by anisakid larvae belonging to the genus Pseudoterranova. Human infection occurs after consuming infected fish. Hence the presence of Pseudoterranova larvae in the flesh of the fish can cause serious losses and problems for the seafood, fishing and fisheries industries. The accurate identification of Pseudoterranova larvae in fish is important, but challenging because the larval stages of a number of different genera, including Pseudoterranova, Terranova and Pulchrascaris, look similar and cannot be differentiated from each other using morphological criteria, hence they are all referred to as Terranova larval type. Given that Terranova larval types in seafood are not necessarily Pseudoterranova and may not be dangerous, the aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Terranova larval types in Australian marine fish and to determine their specific identity. A total of 137 fish belonging to 45 species were examined. Terranova larval types were found in 13 species, some of which were popular edible fish in Australia. The sequences of the first and second internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2 respectively) of the Terranova larvae in the present study showed a high degree of similarity suggesting that they all belong to the same species. Due to the lack of a comparable sequence data of a well identified adult in the GenBank database the specific identity of Terranova larval type in the present study remains unknown. The sequence of the ITS regions of the Terranova larval type in the present study and those of Pseudoterranova spp. available in GenBank are significantly different, suggesting that larvae found in the present study do not belong to the genus Pseudoterranova, which is zoonotic. This study does not rule out the presence of Pseudoterranova larvae in Australian fish as Pseudoterranova decipiens E has been reported in adult form from seals in Antarctica and it is known that they have seasonal presence in Australian southern coasts. The genetic distinction of Terranova larval type in the present study from Pseudoterranova spp. along with the presence of more species of elasmobranchs in Australian waters (definitive hosts of Terranova spp. and Pulchrascaris spp.) than seals (definitive hosts of Pseudoterranova spp.) suggest that Terranova larval type in the present study belong to either genus Terranova or Pulchrascaris, which are not known to cause disease in humans. The present study provides essential information that could be helpful to identify Australian Terranova larval types in future studies. Examination and characterisation of further specimens, especially adults of Terranova and Pulchrascaris, is necessary to fully elucidate the identity of these larvae.

Background. Dementia is one of the most frequent disorders among elderly patients, reaching to epidemic proportions with an estimated 4.6 million new cases globally annually. Partially effective treatments are available for dementia. Aims & Objectives. We aim to study drugs used in dementia and find out frequency of types of Dementia. Method. This was an observational study conducted at rurally based tertiary care hospital. Prospective data was collected from outpatient department, while retrospective data was collected from medical records. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. Result. Total 125 prescriptions of patients diagnosed with dementia were analyzed. Alzheimer's dementia was most common (65.6%), followed by vascular dementia (21.6%), and frontotemporal dementia (10.4%), with the rarest being Lewy body dementia in (2.4%) cases. 60.57% of patients were males. Mini Mental Score Examination mean score was 15.93 ± 1.37. Frontal Battery Assessment mean score was 4.75 ± 1.01. Prescribed drugs were Donepezil (68.49%), Rivastigmine (13.63%), Donepezil + Memantine (6.43%) and Galantamine (12.83%), Quetiapine (38.46%), Lorazepam (23.07%), Clozapine (11.53%), Escitalopram (10.25%), Haloperidol (3.84%), Zolpidem, Sertraline, Olanzepine (2.56%), Nitrazepine, Lamotrigine, Fluoxetine, Tianeptine (1.28%), Folic acid, and Vitamin B12, respectively. Conclusion. Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia while Donepezil was the most frequent drug.

Insulin resistance is central to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Previous studies have demonstrated that compounds that cause adipogenesis and improve glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 cells are potential insulin sensitizers. Therefore, we evaluated one such compound, 18F9, for (1) adipogenesis in human subcutaneous preadipocyte (SQ) cells, (2) glucose uptake in human skeletal muscle myotubes and SQ cells, and (3) antidiabetic activity in db/db mice. We also investigated its effect on ex vivo glucose uptake in soleus muscle isolated from continuously treated db/db mice. Gene expression profiling in soleus muscle and epididymal fat of db/db mice was performed to understand its effect on glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and thermogenesis. 18F9 enhanced adipogenesis in SQ cells and increased glucose uptake in SQ and human skeletal muscle myotubes cells. In db/db mice, 18F9 exhibited dose-dependent reduction in plasma glucose and insulin level. Interestingly, 18F9 was as efficacious as rosiglitazone but did not cause body weight gain and hepatic adverse effects. In addition, 18F9 demonstrated no change in plasma volume in Wistar rats. Furthermore, it enhanced ex vivo glucose uptake in soleus muscles in these mice, which substantiates our in vitro findings. Human peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma transactivation assay revealed a weak peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma transactivation potential (44% of rosiglitazone at 10 mumol/L) of 18F9. Gene expression profiling indicated that 18F9 increased insulin sensitivity mainly through a phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent mechanism. 18F9 also up-regulated genes involved in lipid transport and synthesis at par with rosiglitazone. Unlike rosiglitazone, 18F9 elevated the expression of Pdk4. In addition, 18F9 elevated the expression of glycogen synthase and adiponectin significantly higher than rosiglitazone. Taken together, these observations suggest that 18F9 is a safer and potent insulin sensitizer that demonstrates promising antidiabetic activity and is worth further development.