Plastic is a broad name given to the different types of organic polymers having high molecular weight and is commonly derived from different petrochemicals. Plastics are generally not biodegradable ...or few are degradable but in a very slow rate. Day by day, the global demand of these polymers is sharply increasing; however, considering their abundance and potentiality in causing different environmental hazards, there is a great concern in the possible methods of degradation of plastics. Recently, there have been some debates at the world stage about the potential degradation procedures of these synthetic polymers and microbial degradation has emerged as one of the potential alternative ways of degradation of plastics. Alternatively, some scientists have also reported many adverse effects of these polymers in human health, and thus, there is an immediate need of a potential screening of some potential microbes to degrade these synthetic polymers. In this review, we have taken an attempt to accumulate all information regarding the chemical nature along with some potential microbes and their enzymatic nature of biodegradation of plastics along with some key factors that affect their biodegradability.
Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is a complex surgical procedure which is indicated for malignant lower end biliary obstruction, malignant pancreatic head tumors and certain benign conditions like chronic ...pancreatitis and cystic neoplasms of pancreas. The procedure has greatly evolved since its initial description and has become a reasonably safe procedure with mortality rate of less than 5% in high volume centers but it is still associated with significant morbidity.1, 2Although post-operative pancreatic fistula is the mostdreaded complication after PD, delayed gastric emptying(DGE) remains the most common complication.1, 2DGE, although not imminently life threatening, is an annoying complication which causes significant discomfort and results in prolongation of hospital stay and readmission and thus increased hospital costs.3, 4 Pathophysiology of DGE has not been completely understood but its
We designed this study to evaluate efficacy of modified gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (mGEMOX) over best supportive care (BSC) or fluorouracil (FU) and folinic acid (FA) in unresectable gall bladder ...cancer (GBC).
Patients with unresectable GBC were enrolled for single center randomized study. Arm A, BSC; arm B, FU 425 mg/m(2) and FA 20 mg/m(2) intravenous (IV) bolus weekly for 30 weeks (FUFA); arm C, gemcitabine 900 mg/m(2) and oxaliplatin 80 mg/m(2) IV infusion on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks for maximum of six cycles. Eighty-one patients were randomly assigned, arms A (n = 27), B (n = 28), and C (n = 26).
Complete response plus partial response in the three groups was 0 (0%), four (14.3%), and eight (30.8%) respectively (P < .001). Two patients in the mGEMOX arm and one patient in the FUFA arm underwent curative resection after chemotherapy. One patient in the mGEMOX arm had complete pathologic response. Median overall survival (OS) was 4.5, 4.6, and 9.5 months for the BSC, FUFA, and mGEMOX arms (P = .039), respectively. Progression-free survival (PFS) was 2.8, 3.5, and 8.5 months for the three groups (P < .001). There was no difference in grade 3/4 toxicities in the chemotherapy arms except transaminitis, which was more prevalent in mGEMOX arm (P = .04). Two patients in the FUFA arm and 10 patients in the mGEMOX arm had grade 3 or 4 myelosuppression. Two patients in the mGEMOX group had neutropenic fever that resolved with antibiotics.
This randomized controlled trial confirmed the efficacy of chemotherapy (mGEMOX) compared with BSC and FUFA in improving OS and PFS in unresectable GBC.
Sarcopenia and visceral fat independently predict poor outcomes in Crohn's disease (CD). However, combined influence of these parameters on outcomes is unknown, and was investigated in the present ...study.
This retrospective study evaluated skeletal muscle index (SMI-cross-sectional area of five skeletal muscles normalized for height), visceral and subcutaneous fat area and their ratio (VF/SC) on single-slice computed tomography (CT) images at L3 vertebrae in CD patients (CT done: January 2012-December 2015, patients followed till December 2019). Sarcopenia was defined as SMI < 36.5 cm
/m
and 30.2 cm
/m
for males and females, respectively. Disease severity, behavior, and long-term outcomes (surgery and disease course) were compared with respect to sarcopenia and VF/SC ratio.
Forty-four patients age at onset: 34.4 ± 14.1 years, median disease duration: 48 (24-95) months, follow-up duration: 32 (12-53.5) months, males: 63.6% were included. Prevalence of sarcopenia was 43%, more in females, but independent of age, disease severity, behavior and location. More patients with sarcopenia underwent surgery (31.6% vs 4%, p = 0.01). VF/SC was significantly higher in patients who underwent surgery (1.76 + 1.31 vs 0.9 + 0.41, p = 0.002), and a cutoff of 0.88 could predict surgery with sensitivity and specificity of 71% and 65% respectively. On survival analysis, probability of remaining free of surgery was lower in patients with sarcopenia (59.6% vs 94.1% p = 0.01) and those with VF/SC > 0.88 (66.1% vs 91.1%, p = 0.1), and still lower in those with both sarcopenia and VF/SC > 0.88 than those with either or none (38% vs 82% vs 100%, p = 0.01).
Combination of sarcopenia and high visceral fat predict worse outcomes in CD than either.
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. is a highly important and extensively cultivated medicinal plant and that is also extensively used in the cosmetic industry. It has been frequently reported to suffer from ...Alternaria leaf spot disease in various parts of the world. Various fungicides used to combat this disease, have deleterious effects on the environment and on pharmacologically important constituents of Aloe vera. To avoid the harmful effects of fungicides an ecofriendly approach has been adopted here. A weekly survey was conducted during 2013-2015 in and around North 24 Parganas (West Bengal) to obtain the percentage of disease index (PDI). For biological control of the disease, screening of the antagonistic efficacy of biocontrol agents was carried out through the in vitro dual-culture-plate method and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the mechanism. The in vitro effects of fungicides on the radial growth of the pathogen were evaluated through the poison food method and were compared with potent antagonistic fungi. Field application of potent antagonistic fungi was conducted through the dip-and-spray method. The results showed that, the PDI peaked during the hot and humid conditions of May to September (76.57%-98.57%) but decreased during the winter, December-January (35.71-46.66%). Trichoderma asperellum exerted the greatest inhibition of the radial growth of A. brassicae acting through non volatile (70.39%) and volatile metabolites (72.17%). A SEM study confirmed the hyperparasitic nature of T. asperellum through hyphal coiling-T. asperellum was similar to 2% blitox-50 (73.92%) and better than 2% bavistin (59.77%) (in vitro). In agricultural field trials (2013-15), Trichoderma application restricted the disease to the smallest area (PDI 24.00-29.33%) in comparison to untreated plots (73.33%). In conclusion, saplings treated with the dip method (108 spores / mL) and sprayed 4 times with a spore suspension of biocontrol agents such as T. asperellum, T. viride and T. harzianum, standardized at a rate of 2.5 L / plot (36 sq ft) (108 spores/ mL) are suggested for the ecofriendly management of this epidemic leaf spot disease of Aloe vera in agricultural fields.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine tumors (PanNET) are challenging to diagnose and often detected at advanced stages due to a lack of specific and sensitive biomarkers. This study utilized proteomics as a ...valuable approach for cancer biomarker discovery; therefore, mass spectrometry-based proteomic profiling was conducted on plasma samples from 12 subjects (3 controls; 5 Grade I, 4 Grade II PanNET patients) to identify potential proteins capable of effectively distinguishing PanNET from healthy controls. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD045045. 13.2% of proteins were uniquely identified in PanNET, while 60% were commonly expressed in PanNET and controls. 17 proteins exhibiting significant differential expression between PanNET and controls were identified with downstream analysis. Further, 5 proteins (C1QA, COMP, HSP90B1, ITGA2B, and FN1) were selected by pathway analysis and were validated using Western blot analysis. Significant downregulation of C1QA (p = 0.001: within groups, 0.03: control vs. grade I, 0.0013: grade I vs. grade II) and COMP (p = 0.011: within groups, 0.019: control vs grade I) were observed in PanNET Grade I & II than in controls. Subsequently, ELISA on 38 samples revealed significant downregulation of C1QA and COMP with increasing disease severity. This study shows the potential of C1QA and COMP in the early detection of PanNET, highlighting their role in the search for early-stage (Grade-I and Grade-II) diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for PanNET.
The Gallbladder Reporting and Data System (GB-RADS) ultrasound (US) risk stratification is proposed to improve consistency in US interpretations, reporting, and assessment of risk of malignancy in ...gallbladder wall thickening in non-acute setting. It was developed based on a systematic review of the literature and the consensus of an international multidisciplinary committee comprising expert radiologists, gastroenterologists, gastrointestinal surgeons, surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, and pathologists using modified Delphi method. For risk stratification, the GB-RADS system recommends six categories (GB-RADS 0–5) of gallbladder wall thickening with gradually increasing risk of malignancy. GB-RADS is based on gallbladder wall features on US including symmetry and extent (focal vs. circumferential) of involvement, layered appearance, intramural features (including intramural cysts and echogenic foci), and interface with the liver. GB-RADS represents the first collaborative effort at risk stratifying the gallbladder wall thickening. This concept is in line with the other US-based risk stratification systems which have been shown to increase the accuracy of detection of malignant lesions and improve management.
Graphical abstract
Acinar cystic transformation (ACT) is a rare benign cystic lesion of the pancreas reported in elderly women. ACT can be easily confused with other cystic lesions of the pancreas, such as intraductal ...papillary neoplasm and serous and mucinous neoplasms, on imaging, especially when detected radiologically in a male patient as the index case. A preoperative histological examination can establish a diagnosis and avoid extensive surgical resection. We hereby report a case of ACT in a 69-year-old male patient that affected the body and tail region of the pancreas.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Aim
To compare the technical difficulty, safety, radiation exposure and success rates between right-sided and left-sided percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (RPTBD and LPTBD) in patients with ...malignant biliary obstruction (MBO).
Materials and Methods
Fifty patients (28 males, 22 females; mean age 51.78 years) with MBO were randomized to undergo either RPTBD or LPTBD during the study period between June 2016 and May 2018. The procedure time, fluoroscopy time, radiation doses to the operators and patients, technical success, clinical success, complications and effect on quality of life were evaluated and compared between the two groups.
Results
Twenty-five patients were included in each group. The technical success was 100% in both groups. There was no significant difference between RPTBD and LPTBD groups in terms of major complications 4% and 12%, respectively;
p
= 0.297 and minor complications 40% and 32%, respectively;
p
= 0.597. Further, the average procedure time (37.80 ± 13.07 min vs 41.04 ± 14.94 min), fluoroscopy time (5.88 ± 4.2 min vs 5.97 ± 3.8 min), radiation doses to the operator (136.84 ± 106.67 μSv vs 130.40 ± 106.46 μSv) and to the patient (8.23 ± 5.80 Gycm
2
vs 11.74 ± 11.28 Gycm
2
) were not significantly different between the groups. Clinical success was achieved in 21 patients (84%) of RPTBD group and 17 patients (68%) of LPTBD group with no significant difference (
p
= 0.416) between them.
Conclusion
There was no significant difference between RPTBD and LPTBD with reference to the technique, safety, radiation dose, success rates and impact on quality of life suggesting no laterality advantage for biliary drainage in cases of MBO.
Background: The incidence rate of cervical cancer is increasing and its existing drugs are becoming more and more resistant. Therefore, we extracted the fruiting body of Calocybe indica edible ...mushroom in 90% ethyl acetate extract (EAE) and evaluated it as an anticancer property against HeLa and CaSki. Method: We performed cytotoxicity assay by MTT, cell morphological study by phase contrast microscope, and apoptosis study by nuclear morphology via DAPI staining under inverted microscopy; the expressions of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic genes and p53 were examined by Western blotting, cell cycle analysis, and cologenic and cell migration assay. Antioxidant content and activity assays were performed and for mycochemistry analysis of EAE, thin layer chromatography (TLC) was done. Results: EAE-treated HeLa and CaSki cells became round and showed condensed and fragmented nuclei. They inhibited the cell proliferation of both cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. At maximum dose (1250 μg/mL) after 24 h, the cell inhibition percentages of HeLa and CaSki cells were 97.12±10.01 and 98.52±10.08 (P<0.05), respectively. They upregulated the expression of p53, caspase 3, and caspase 9 while down-regulating BcL2 gene. Cell cycle became arrested at G2/M checkpoint of both cancer cell lines by EAE. EAE inhibited colony formation and cell migration. The antioxidant assay showed that EAE contained good amounts of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and ascorbic acids and had good antioxidant activity. TLC supported the presence of bioactive components. Conclusion: The EAE of C. indica exerts very potent anticervical cancer effects. It is urgent that future studies analyze its bioactive compounds in detail and examine them in animal models.
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