Exploring the Influence of Nanocrystalline Structure and Aluminum Content on High-Temperature Oxidation Behavior of Fe-Cr-Al Alloys.

The present study examines the high-temperature (500-800 °C) oxidation behavior of Fe-10Cr-(3,5) Al alloys and studies the effect of nanocrystalline structure and Al content on their resistance to oxidation. The nanocrystalline (NC) alloy powder was synthesized via planetary ball milling. The prepared NC alloy powder was consolidated using spark plasma sintering to form NC alloys. Subsequently, an annealing of the NC alloys was performed to transform them into microcrystalline (MC) alloys. It was observed that the NC alloys exhibit superior resistance to oxidation compared to their MC counterparts at high temperatures. The superior resistance to oxidation of the NC alloys is attributed to their considerably finer grain size, which enhances the diffusion of those elements to the metal-oxide interface that forms the protective oxide layer. Conversely, the coarser grain size in MC alloys limits the diffusion of the oxide-forming components. Furthermore, the Fe-10Cr-5Al alloy showed greater resistance to oxidation than the Fe-10Cr-3Al alloy.

Efficacy of topical application of autologous platelet-rich plasma in adult tonsillectomy patients: a randomised control study.

OBJECTIVE: Tonsillectomy is a painful surgery performed in cases of recurrent tonsillitis. Application of platelet-rich plasma to diminish the pain and morbidity post-tonsillectomy is gaining importance. This study evaluated post-operative pain and morbidity after autologous platelet-rich plasma application on the tonsil beds during tonsillectomy. METHOD: Participants were randomised into group 1 (n = 28, peri-operative platelet-rich plasma intervention) and group 2 (n = 28, control). Post-tonsillectomy, patients were assessed (day 0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 14) for pain, healing and time taken to return to normal activity. Data were analysed by independent t-test and chi-square test with p ≤ 0.05 as the significance level. RESULTS: A significant decrease in the mean pain score up to day 7 (p < 0.05) and tonsillar fossae healing on days 2 and 3 (p < 0.05) post-tonsillectomy was noted. The majority of the patients returned to their routine activities after a week post-tonsillectomy. CONCLUSION: Platelet-rich plasma application was effective in accentuating healing and reducing post-tonsillectomy pain and morbidity.

Altered expressions of circulating microRNAs 122 and 192 during antitubercular drug induced liver injury indicating their role as potential biomarkers.

Drug induced liver toxicity is a serious health complication leading to high mortality rates and post marketing withdrawal of drugs. Although considered to be the gold standard biomarkers; aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase have been found to have specificities beyond liver, therefore more specific and predictive markers for the detection of antitubercular drug mediated liver damage are required. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of currently used first line antitubercular drugs namely isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide is often accompanied with liver injury, impeding the cure of patients. Keeping in view, the prognostic and diagnostic applications of microRNAs in various diseases, we tried to assess the importance of microRNAs 122 and 192 in antitubercular drug associated liver injuries. The study included subjects having tuberculosis of any type with antitubercular drug induced liver injury; naïve or newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients, tuberculosis patients on drugs not having toxicity and healthy controls. Observations from this study revealed that expression levels of miR-122 and miR-192 were significantly decreased in the serum of antitubercular drug induced liver injury patients only. Therefore, these microRNAs or the pathways associated with them can be used as a tool to predict or cure antitubercular drug associated liver injury in future.

Incidence of Vesicobullous and Erosive Disorders of Neonates: Where and How Much to Worry?

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the incidence of dermatoses in neonates, stress the importance of simple noninvasive diagnostic procedures with perspective to actual need of active intervention. METHODS: Forty four neonates with vesicobullous lesions in Departments of Dermatology and Pediatrics were evaluated with respect to diagnosis, required treatments and follow ups. RESULTS: Of the total 44 neonates, 29 were boys and 15 girls. Low birth weight (weight at birth less than 2,500 g as per WHO criteria) was seen in 19 neonates. Of the infectious dermatoses, most common were pyodermas. Four cases (9%) were diagnosed to be of staphylococcal pyoderma and impetigo and two cases each of Group A Streptococcal impetigo and neonatal tinea faciei (4.5% each), one case each of neonatal candidiasis, neonatal varicella/chickenpox and scabies (2.3% each) were seen. Of the transient skin lesions, erythema toxicum neonatorum was commonest of all, being seen in 18 neonates (41%), followed by four cases (9%) of miliaria crystallina, three cases of neonatal acne (6.8%) and two cases of sucking blisters (4.5%) and one case each of transient neonatal pustular melanosis, epidermolysis bullosa simplex, incontinentia pigmentii, eosinophilic pustular folliculitis, pemphigus vulgaris and neonatal herpes simplex (2.3% each) were enrolled in this study (Fig. 1). Fig. 1 Piechart showing percentage and number of neonates with different diagnostic profiles in the study CONCLUSIONS: Certain specific considerations have to be born in mind while evaluating and managing neonatal dermatoses. Care has to be instituted to identify accurately infectious diseases and distinguish them from benign transient neonatal dermatoses. Some disorders first manifesting during the neonatal period may also represent harbingers of potential problems during adulthood. Finally, treatment modalities are instituted taking in account the actual diagnosis and judging if the treatment really is required or not.

Sexual dimorphism in developmental and diet-dependent circulating retinol binding protein 4.

OBJECTIVE: Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) transports vitamin A (Retinol) in the blood and contributes mechanistically to the linkage between obesity, insulin resistance and associated comorbidities including type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary artery and neoplastic diseases. Circulating RBP4 levels have variably been associated with body mass and gender differences. Many of these differences have been demonstrated after limited dietary interventions, and/or at single unique time points. This study investigated the impact of sex and age as biologic variables as well as high versus low fat diets on development of obesity, RBP4 levels and insulin resistance in C57BL/6J mice. METHODS: Male and female C57BL/6J mice were fed for 400 days with either low or high fat diets. Female mice were also evaluated on same diets after ovariectomy or sham ovariectomy. Mice were monitored for changes in weight, circulating levels RBP4, glucose and insulin at 100-day intervals and also by 2-hour glucose tolerance tests. RESULTS: All mice on low or high fat diets gained weight. Mice on high fat diets showed significantly greater weight gain than those on low fat. Male mice showed significantly greater weight gain compared with females on corresponding diet. Male mice compared with females already showed significantly higher RBP4 levels even before starting diets. Sex differences were maintained for more than 1 year. Gender differences in RBP4 were associated with significant differences in development of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Male compared with female C57BL/6J mice show significant gender differences in circulating RBP4 levels from 6 weeks of age, extending more than 1 year. Gender differences in RBP4 may be mechanistically associated with protection against glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Targeting RBP4 pathways could be useful to disrupt gender differences in insulin resistance and disparities in comorbidities.

Structural Evolution during Milling, Annealing, and Rapid Consolidation of Nanocrystalline Fe-10Cr-3Al Powder.

Structural changes during the deformation-induced synthesis of nanocrystalline Fe-10Cr-3Al alloy powder via high-energy ball milling followed by annealing and rapid consolidation by spark plasma sintering were investigated. Reduction in crystallite size was observed during the synthesis, which was associated with the lattice expansion and rise in dislocation density, reflecting the generation of the excess grain boundary interfacial energy and the excess free volume. Subsequent annealing led to the exponential growth of the crystallites with a concomitant drop in the dislocation density. The rapid consolidation of the as-synthesized nanocrystalline alloy powder by the spark plasma sintering, on the other hand, showed only a limited grain growth due to the reduction of processing time for the consolidation by about 95% when compared to annealing at the same temperature.

Macroglossia / Macroglosia

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Understanding the Behavior of Systems Pharmacology Models Using Mathematical Analysis of Differential Equations: Prolactin Modeling as a Case Study.

In this tutorial, we introduce basic concepts in dynamical systems analysis, such as phase-planes, stability, and bifurcation theory, useful for dissecting the behavior of complex and nonlinear models. A precursor-pool model with positive feedback is used to demonstrate the power of mathematical analysis. This model is nonlinear and exhibits multiple steady states, the stability of which is analyzed. The analysis offers insight into model behavior and suggests useful parameter regions, which simulations alone could not.