Ultrasound measurement of the distance of the phrenic nerve from the brachial plexus at the classic interscalene point and upper trunk: A volunteer-based observational study.

Background and Aims: The method of blocking the brachial plexus at the level of the upper trunk has been gaining popularity as a phrenic nerve-sparing alternative for interscalene block. We aimed to measure the distance of the phrenic nerve from the upper trunk and compare it with the distance between the phrenic nerve and the brachial plexus at the classic interscalene point by using ultrasound. Method: In this study, after ethical approval and trial registration, 100 brachial plexus of 50 volunteers were scanned from the emergence of the ventral rami and its course was traced to the supraclavicular fossa. The distance of the phrenic nerve from the brachial plexus was measured at two levels: the interscalene groove along the cricoid cartilage (classic interscalene block point) and from the upper trunk. The presence of anatomical variations of the brachial plexus, the classic traffic light sign, vessels across the plexus, and the location of the cervical oesophagus were also noted. Results: At the classic interscalene point, the C5 ventral ramus was observed to be just emerging or to have fully emerged from the transverse process. The phrenic nerve was identified in 86/100 (86%) of scans. The median (IQR) distance of the phrenic nerve from the C5 ventral ramus was 1.6 (1.1-3.9) mm and that of the phrenic nerve from the upper trunk was 17 (12-20.5) mm. Anatomical variations of the brachial plexus, the classic traffic light sign, and vessels across the plexus were seen in 27/100, 53/100, and 41/100 scans respectively. The oesophagus was consistently located on the left side of the trachea. Conclusions: There was a 10-fold increase in the distance of the phrenic nerve from the upper trunk when compared to that from the brachial plexus at the classic interscalene point.

Sequestration of toxic Pb(II) ions using ultrasonic modified agro waste: Adsorption mechanism and modelling study.

Treating the effluents from industries by using biological and agricultural wastes is an emerging field of research. In this study, three different biosorbents are prepared from tamarind seeds such as; raw, sulphuric acid-modified and ultrasonic-assisted surface-modified tamarind seed powder has been utilized to expel the Pb (II) ions from synthetic solution. The surface characteristics of the newly synthesized raw and surface modified agro-waste biomass were studied by FTIR and SEM. An experimental study was carried out to investigate the effect of different parameters on adsorption of Pb(II) ions using raw, sulphuric acid-modified and ultrasonic-assisted surface-modified tamarind seeds. The maximum Pb(II) ions adsorption was found at pH - 6.0, temperature - 303 K, biosorbent dosage - 3.5 g/L and contact time - 60 min for raw tamarind seeds and 30 min for sulphuric acid-modified and ultrasonic-assisted surface-modified tamarind seeds. The adsorption mechanism was described by Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-first order kinetic model. Among the three biosorbents, ultrasonic-assisted surface-modified tamarind seeds show higher adsorption capacity (18.86 mg/g) of Pb(II) ions removal from the synthetic solution. The thermodynamic study declared that the present Pb(II) ions adsorption onto the prepared biosorbents was spontaneous, exothermic and followed physical adsorption process. Results have shown that tamarind seed was found to be the best adsorbent in the expulsion of Pb(II) ions from the wastewater environment.

Dinuclear manganese(II) complexes of hexaazamacrocycles bearing N-benzoylated pendant separated by aromatic spacers: Antibacterial, DNA interaction, cytotoxic and molecular docking studies.

Three new homodinuclear manganese(II) complexes of the type [Mn2L(1-3)(ClO4)(H2O)](ClO4)3 (1-3) have been synthesized via cyclocondensation of terephthalaldehyde with three different benzoylated pendants in the presence of manganese(II) perchlorate and characterized by spectroscopic methods. Cyclic voltammetric investigation of complexes (1-3) depict two quasi-reversible one electron reduction processes in the cathodic potential region (E(1)pc=-0.73 to-0.83 V, E(2)pc=-1.31 to -1.40 V) and two quasi-reversible one electron oxidation processes in the anodic potential region (E(1)pa=1.03 to 1.10 V, E(2)pa=1.69 to 1.77 V). Electronic absorption spectra of the complexes suggested tetrahedral geometry around the central metal ion. The observed low magnetic moment values (µeff, 5.60-5.68 B.M.) of the complexes indicate the presence of an antiferromagnetic spin-exchange interaction between two metal centers, which was also supported by the broad EPR signal. All the compounds were tested for antibacterial activity against Gram (-ve) and Gram (+ve) bacterial strains. The binding studies of complexes with CT-DNA suggested minor-groove mode of interaction. Molecular docking studies were carried out in order to find the binding affinity of complexes with DNA and protein EGFR Kinase. The complexes are stabilized by additional electrostatic and van der Waals interaction with the DNA, and support minor groove mode of binding. The cleavage activity of complexes on pBR322 plasmid DNA displays efficient activity through a mechanistic pathway involving hydroxyl radicals. The cytotoxicity of complexes 2 and 3 have been tested against human liver adenocarcinoma (HepG2) cell line. Nuclear-chromatin cleavage has also been observed with propidium iodide (PI) staining and alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) techniques.

Synthesis, characterization, biological evaluation and docking studies of macrocyclic binuclear manganese(II) complexes containing 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl pendant arms.

A series of bis(phenoxo) bridged binuclear manganese(II) complexes of the type [Mn2L(1-3)](ClO4)2 (1-3) containing 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl pendant-arms have been synthesized by cyclocondensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-R-phenols (where R=CH3, C(CH3)3 or Br) with 2,2'-3,5-dinitrobenzoyliminodi(ethylamine) trihydrochloride in the presence of manganese(II) perchlorate. The IR spectra of complexes indicate the presence of uncoordinated perchlorate anions. The UV-Vis spectra of complexes suggest the distorted octahedral geometry around manganese(II) nuclei. The EPR spectra of Mn(II) complexes show a broad signal with g value 2.03-2.04, which is characteristic for octahedral high spin Mn(2+) complex. The observed room temperature magnetic moment values of the Mn(II) complexes (5.60-5.62B.M.) are less than the normal value (5.92B.M.), indicating weak antiferromagnetic coupling interaction between the two metal ions. Electrochemical studies of the complexes show two distinct quasi-reversible one electron transfer processes in the cathodic (E(1)pc=-0.73 to -0.76V, E(2)pc=-1.30 to -1.36V), and anodic (E(1)pa=1.02-1.11V, E(2)pa=1.32-1.79V) potential regions. Antibacterial efficacy of complexes have been screened against four Gram (-ve) and two Gram (+ve) bacterial strains. The DNA interaction studies suggest that these complexes bind with CT-DNA by intercalation, giving the binding affinity in the order 1>2>3. All the complexes display significant cleavage activity against circular plasmid pBR322 DNA. Docking simulation was performed to insert complexes into the crystal structure of EGFR tyrosine kinase and B-DNA at active site to determine the probable binding mode.

Antibacterial, DNA interaction and cytotoxic activities of pendant-armed polyamine macrocyclic dinuclear nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes.

A series of dinuclear nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes (1-6) of hexaaza macrocycles of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol with three different benzoyl pendant-arms, 2,2'-benzoyliminodi(ethylamine) trihydrochloride (L), 2,2'-4-nitrobenzoyliminodi(ethylamine) trihydrochloride (L') and 2,2'-3,5-dinitrobenzoyliminodi(ethylamine) trihydrochloride (L″) have been synthesized and characterized by spectral methods. The electrochemical studies of these complexes depict two irreversible one electron reduction processes around E(1)pc=-0.62 to -0.76 V and E(2)pc=-1.21 to -1.31, and nickel(II) complexes (1-3) exhibit two irreversible one electron oxidation processes around E(1)pa=1.08 to 1.14 V and E(2)pa=1.71 to 1.74 V. The room temperature magnetic moment values (µeff, 1.52-1.54 BM) indicate the presence of an antiferromagnetic interaction in the binuclear copper(II) complexes (4-6) which is also observed from the broad ESR spectra with a g value of 2.14-2.15. The synthesized complexes (1-6) were screened for their antibacterial activity. The results of DNA interaction studies indicate that the dinuclear complexes can bind to calf thymus DNA by intercalative mode and display efficient cleavage of plasmid DNA. Further, the cytotoxic activity of complexes 2, 5 and 6 on human liver adenocarcinoma (HepG2) cell line has been examined. Nuclear-chromatin cleavage has also been observed with PI staining and comet assays.