Prospective randomised controlled trial of methods of call and recall for cervical cytology screening.

OBJECTIVE--To discover whether systematic methods of call and recall are more effective than a non-systematic method and to see which of the two systematic methods was more effective. DESIGN--Prospective randomised controlled trial over a year. SETTING--One group general practice. PATIENTS--416 Women over 35 eligible for a smear test who had never had a cervical smear test or in whom a smear test was overdue (previous test more than five years before). INTERVENTIONS--One group received written invitations to have a smear taken. The second group had their notes tagged so that the doctor would remind them (when they attended for another reason) to have a smear test. No special intervention was made in the third group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Performance of a cervical smear test during the year of the study. RESULTS--32% (45/140) of the screened group, 27% (39/142) of the tagged group, and 15% (20/134) of the control group had a smear test during the year. The percentage of women having a smear test in the screened group was not significantly different from that in the tagged group, but the percentages in the two groups were significantly different from that in the control group. Whether a woman had had a previous smear test significantly affected the uptake of the invitation to have a smear test independently of the method of invitation. CONCLUSIONS--The systematic methods of call and recall were more effective than a non-systematic method. There was no significant difference between the two systematic methods (sending letters or tagging the notes) at one year.     

Mosquito larvicidal activity of Aloe vera (Family: Liliaceae) leaf extract and Bacillus sphaericus,against Chikungunya vector,Aedes aegypti

The bio-efficacy of Aloe vera leaf extract and bacterial insecticide, Bacillus sphaericus larvicidal activity was assessed against the first to fourth instars larvae of Aedes aegypti, under the laboratory conditions. The plant material was shade dried at room temperature and powdered coarsely. A. vera and B. sphaericus show varied degrees of larvicidal activity against various instars larvae of A. aegypti. The LC₅₀ of A. vera against the first to fourth instars larvae were 162.74, 201.43, 253.30 and 300.05 ppm and the LC₉₀ 442.98, 518.86, 563.18 and 612.96 ppm, respectively. B. sphaericus against the first to fourth instars larvae the LC₅₀ values were 68.21, 79.13, 93.48, and 107.05 ppm and the LC₉₀ values 149.15, 164.67, 183.84, and 201.09 ppm, respectively. However, the combined treatment of A. vera + B. sphaericus (1:2) material shows highest larvicidal activity of the LC₅₀ values 54.80, 63.11, 74.66 and 95.10 ppm; The LC₉₀ values of 145.29, 160.14, 179.74 and 209.98 ppm, against A. aegypti in all the tested concentrations than the individuals and clearly established that there is a substantial amount of synergist act. The present investigation clearly exhibits that both A. vera and B. sphaericus materials could serve as a potential larvicidal agent. Since, A. aegypti is a container breeder vector mosquito this user and eco-friendly and low-cost vector control strategy could be a viable solution to the existing dengue disease burden. Therefore, this study provides first report on the mosquito larvicidal activity the combined effect of A. vera leaf extract and B. sphaericus against as target species of A. aegypti.     

Design,synthesis and characterisation of affinity ligands for glycoproteins

The concepts of rational design and solid phase combinatorial chemistry were used to develop affinity adsorbents for glycoproteins. A detailed assessment of protein–carbohydrate interactions was used to identify key residues that determine monosaccharide specificity, which were subsequently exploited as the basis for the synthesis of a library of glycoprotein binding ligands. The ligands were synthesised using solid phase combinatorial chemistry and were assessed for their sugar‐binding ability with the glycoenzymes, glucose oxidase and RNase B. Partial and completely deglycosylated enzymes were used as controls. The triazine‐based ligand, histamine/tryptamine (8/10) was identified as a putative glycoprotein binding ligand, since it displayed particular affinity for glucose oxidase and other mannosylated glycoproteins. Experiments with deglycosylated control proteins, specific eluants and retardation in the presence of competing sugars strongly suggest that the ligand binds the carbohydrate moiety of glucose oxidase rather than the protein itself. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiscale Investigation of Sodium-Ion Battery Anodes: Analytical Techniques and Applications

The anode/electrolyte interface behavior, and by extension, the overall cell performance of sodium-ion batteries is determined by a complex interaction of processes that occur at all components of the electrochemical cell across a wide range of size- and timescales. Single-scale studies may provide incomplete insights, as they cannot capture the full picture of this complex and intertwined behavior. Broad, multiscale studies are essential to elucidate these processes. Within this perspectives article, several analytical and theoretical techniques are introduced, and described how they can be combined to provide a more complete and comprehensive understanding of sodium-ion battery (SIB) performance throughout its lifetime, with a special focus on the interfaces of hard carbon anodes. These methods target various length- and time scales, ranging from micro to nano, from cell level to atomistic structures, and account for a broad spectrum of physical and (electro)chemical characteristics. Specifically, how mass spectrometric, microscopic, spectroscopic, electrochemical, thermodynamic, and physical methods can be employed to obtain the various types of information required to understand battery behavior will be explored. Ways are then discussed how these methods can be coupled together in order to elucidate the multiscale phenomena at the anode interface and develop a holistic understanding of their relationship to overall sodium-ion battery function.     

Impact of dengue virus (serotype DENV-2) infection on liver of BALB/c mice: A histopathological analysis

In this research, we characterized the histopathological impact of dengue virus (serotype DENV-2) infection in livers of BALB/c mice. The mice were infected with different doses of DENV-2 via intraperitoneal injection and liver tissues were processed for histological analyses and variation was documented. In the BALB/c mouse model, typical liver tissues showed regular hepatocyte architecture, with normal endothelial cells surrounding sinusoid capillary. Based on histopathological observations, the liver sections of BALB/c mice infected by DENV-2 exhibited a loss of cell integrity, with a widening of the sinusoidal spaces. There were marked increases in the infiltration of mononuclear cells. The areas of hemorrhage and micro- and macrovesicular steatosis were noted. Necrosis and apoptosis were abundantly present. The hallmark of viral infection, i.e., cytopathic effects, included intracellular edema and vacuole formation, cumulatively led to sinusoidal and lobular collapse in the liver. The histopathological studies on autopsy specimens of fatal human DENV cases are important to shed light on tissue damage for preventive and treatment modalities, in order to manage future DENV infections. In this framework, the method present here on BALB/c mouse model may be used to study not only the effects of infections by other DENV serotypes, but also to investigate the effects of novel drugs, such as recently developed nano-formulations, and the relative recovery ability with intact immune functions of host.     

Could adrenal insufficiency serve as a predictor of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in HIV disease?

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is an inflammatory manifestation that occurs subsequent to initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy in terminal (HAART) HIV infection, mainly due to the restoration of robust immune responses directed against latent microbial antigens. IRIS is believed to be multifactorial and less studied. Herein, we postulate that hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) dysregulation, a well-documented manifestation in HIV/AIDS, could possibly disturb the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines leading to clinical IRIS. Drugs, opportunistic infections, stress and numerous intrinsic and extrinsic factors have been described to be the possible causes of IRIS in HIV illness.     

Hesperidin, a flavanone glycoside, on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in experimental myocardial ischemic rats

Myocardial infarction continues to be a leading cause of mortality world-wide. Novel therapies are needed to treat the myocardial ischemia. This study was undertaken to evaluate the cardioprotective role of hesperidin on isoproterenol-induced myocardial ischemia in rats. Myocardial ischemia was induced by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol hydrochloride (85 mg/kg body weight), for two consecutive days. Isoproterenol-administered rats showed elevated levels of cardiac markers (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, creatine kinase-MB, cardiac troponins T and I) when compared with control and hesperidin treatment groups (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight). The serum levels of cardiac markers were significantly reduced at the doses of 200 mg and 400 mg. All further experiments were carried out at the 200 mg dose. Lipid peroxidation markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes) were elevated significantly in the plasma and heart whereas non-enzymic antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione) were decreased significantly. Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione reductase declined significantly in the heart of ischemic rats. However, after hesperidin treatment, all the above parameters reverted to normal levels. This study demonstrated that the cardioprotective effect of hesperidin on ischemic rats could be due to its anti-lipid peroxidative and antioxidant properties.     

Non-nodulating pink-pigmented facultative Methylobacterium sp. with a functional nifH gene

Among the 250 Methylobacterium isolates studied, 11 were able to grow in Nitrogen-free methanol mineral salts medium. Out of the eleven isolates, except MV10, 10 isolates had the nodA gene. ARA and presence of nifH gene confirmed the ability of isolate MV10 to fix biological nitrogen. Plant infection tests conducted with Crotalaria sp. confirmed the inability of isolate MV10 to nodulate Crotalaria sp. The presence of a functional nifH gene and absence of a nodA gene differentiate this isolate from the other 15 species so far described in the genus Methylobacterium and suggest that it is a new species.