Capturing Acidic CO2 Using Surface-Active Difunctional Core-Shell Composite Polymer Particles via an Aqueous Medium.

Multifunctional surface-active polymeric composites are attractive materials for the adsorption of various small molecules. Herein, dual-functionalized micron-sized surface-active composite polymer particles were prepared by a three-step process for CO2 adsorption. First, polystyrene (PS) seed particles were prepared via the dispersion polymerization of styrene. PS/P(MMA-AAm-EGDMA) composite polymer particles were then synthesized by aqueous seeded copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and acrylamide (AAm) in the presence of an ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) cross-linker. Finally, the amide moieties of PS/P(MMA-AAm-EGDMA) composite particles were converted into an amine-functionalized composite by using the Hofmann degradation reaction. The presence of primary amine groups on the surface of aminated composite particles was confirmed by some conventional chemical routes, such as diazotization and Schiff's base formation reactions. The formation and functionality of the PS seed, PS/P(MMA-AAm-EGDMA), and aminated PS/P(MMA-AAm-EGDMA) composite polymer particles were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra analyses. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed spherical shape, size, and surface morphologies of the PS seed, reference composite, and aminated composites. The elemental surface compositions, surface porosity, pore volume, pore diameter, and surface area of both composite particles were evaluated by energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) analyses. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and ζ-potential measurements confirmed the pH-dependent surface properties of the functionalized particles. The amount of the adsorbed anionic emulsifier, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), on the surface of aminated PS/P(MMA-AAm-EGDMA) is higher at pH 4 than that at pH 10. A vice versa result was found in the case of cationic surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTABr), adsorption. Synthesized aminated composite particles were used as an adsorbent for CO2 adsorption via bubbling CO2 in an aqueous medium. The changes in dispersion pH were monitored continuously during the adsorption of CO2 under various conditions. The amount of CO2 adsorption by aminated composite particles was found to be 209 mg/g, which is almost double that of reference composite particles.

Trend of Carcinoma of the Stomach in Relation to Site, Age and Aetiology: Study of 112 Cases in a Tertiary Level Hospital.

Stomach cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide, but due to its poor prognosis, it is the second most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The incidence of carcinoma of gastric cardia is found to be increasing, while that of the antrum is seen to be decreasing. Data from Bangladesh is lacking on this aspect. The objective of this study was to understand the trends of frequency and localization of gastric cancers arising from the gastric cardia, body and antrum of the stomach in population of Bangladesh, which may enable us to identify important high risk populations, prevention strategies, and ultimately best treatment strategies. This cross sectional descriptive hospital record based study was conducted in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital during the period of June 2010 to January 2011. Data were collected from hospital records of 112 cases with carcinoma of stomach, confirmed by histopathology, admitted in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital during January 2007 to June 2010. Data collection, compilation, statistical analyses were performed manually. In this study 54.46% cases are in the age group of 50-60 year, mean age was 57.23 year and standard deviation was 57.37 and the second highest (31.25%) was in the age group of 61-70 year. Incidence of gastric carcinoma predominates in male. In this study 81(72.32%) patients were male and 31(27.68%) patients were female. Male to female ratio is 2.61:1. Majority 80(71.43%) of patients were smoker and 32(28.57%) patients were nonsmoker. Majority of the patients 90(80.36%) came from lower socioeconomic group, 19(16.96%) patients were from middle socioeconomic group and 3(2.68%) patients were from high socio-economic group. There is a link between diet and carcinoma stomach, suggested in various study. Here, 112(100%) took carbohydrate as the staple food. Salt preserved dried fish also was present in a significant number of patients 100(89.29%). Vegetables and fresh fruits were taken by 80(71.42%) patients. Antral region was involved in 65(58.03%) cases. In 28(25%) cases the lesion was in the body of the stomach. Cardiac end of the stomach was involved in only 19(16.97%) cases. Following histopathology, poorly differentiated carcinoma was found in 68(60.71%) patients well differentiated carcinoma in 24(21.43%) and moderately differentiated carcinoma in 20(17.86%) patients. This study found that stomach cancer in Bangladesh showed characteristics which are similar to other nations. As carcinoma stomach is one of the important causes of cancer mortality, and as there is no population based study in our country, further study needed and therefore it remains a major public health concern in need of prevention strategies.

Epsin deficiency promotes lymphangiogenesis through regulation of VEGFR3 degradation in diabetes.

Impaired lymphangiogenesis is a complication of chronic complex diseases, including diabetes. VEGF-C/VEGFR3 signaling promotes lymphangiogenesis, but how this pathway is affected in diabetes remains poorly understood. We previously demonstrated that loss of epsins 1 and 2 in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) prevented VEGF-C-induced VEGFR3 from endocytosis and degradation. Here, we report that diabetes attenuated VEGF-C-induced lymphangiogenesis in corneal micropocket and Matrigel plug assays in WT mice but not in mice with inducible lymphatic-specific deficiency of epsins 1 and 2 (LEC-iDKO). Consistently, LECs isolated from diabetic LEC-iDKO mice elevated in vitro proliferation, migration, and tube formation in response to VEGF-C over diabetic WT mice. Mechanistically, ROS produced in diabetes induced c-Src-dependent but VEGF-C-independent VEGFR3 phosphorylation, and upregulated epsins through the activation of transcription factor AP-1. Augmented epsins bound to and promoted degradation of newly synthesized VEGFR3 in the Golgi, resulting in reduced availability of VEGFR3 at the cell surface. Preclinically, the loss of lymphatic-specific epsins alleviated insufficient lymphangiogenesis and accelerated the resolution of tail edema in diabetic mice. Collectively, our studies indicate that inhibiting expression of epsins in diabetes protects VEGFR3 against degradation and ameliorates diabetes-triggered inhibition of lymphangiogenesis, thereby providing a novel potential therapeutic strategy to treat diabetic complications.

Clinicopathological Assessment of Colorectal Carcinoma in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh.

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the US. It is mainly a disease of the developed countries with a western culture, yet the disease is not uncommon in developing countries. There is substantial geographical variation in the incidence and demographic characteristics of the disease. Variations are also observed in the risk factors, mode of presentation, sub site distribution and stage of the disease at presentation. This cross-sectional, descriptive study was intended to explore the age and sex distribution, pattern of presentation, sites and histological types of colorectal carcinoma. This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in the department of surgery, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from October 2011 to September 2012. Purposively selected sixty patients irrespective of age and sex with histologically proven colorectal cancer were included in the study. A pre-tested, structured case record form was used for collection of data. Most of the patients (80.0%) were above 50 years of age. Mean age was 60.83 years with an SD of 11.2 years. Male to female ratio was almost equal (1.3:1). Positive family history was present in 3.3% cases. More than half of the patients (53.3%) were smokers, 76.7% patients had the history of taking fresh fruits irregularly. Pain in abdomen was the leading symptom followed by alteration of bowel habit and weight loss. Anaemia was found in 71.6% patients followed by wasting in 70.0% cases. Proctosigmoidoscopy was the principal diagnostic modality (61.7%) followed by double contrast barium enema (30.0%). Patients with rectal growth were detected by digital rectal examination (23.3%). Rectum was the principal site of cancer (36.7%) followed by sigmoid colon (33.3%). Cancer in caecum and ascending colon were in 15.0% and 6.7% patients respectively. Adenocarcinoma was the principal histological type (88.0%) and 36.7% were well differentiated carcinoma. Majority of the patients (63.3%) were in advanced stage (stage III and stage IV). Some forms of palliative surgical treatment were offered to all colorectal cancer patients in the study. Postoperative outcome was uneventful in most of the patients. However, there was wound infection in (13.3%) patients. Colorectal cancer was found mainly in elderly. Male and females were affected almost equally. Smoking was the most commonly found risk factor. Colorectal carcinoma involved rectum and sigmoid colon in majority of the patients. Adenocarcinoma was the principal histological type and the most of which were well differentiated. Majority of the patients were diagnosed at an advanced stage and palliative treatment was offered to them. Postoperative period was uneventful in most of them. Policies should be taken to promote health education & screening programmes which will lead to early diagnosis, affordable and effective treatment and better prognosis.

A Comparative Study between FNAC and Histopathology in Diagnosis of Breast Lump.

Worldwide a large number of patients have been suffering from breast lump and this trend is gradually increasing. It is difficult to determine whether a lump is benign or malignant from clinical assessment. Thus the need for microscopic tissue analysis arises. This study was designed to determine the value of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of breast lumps and to compare the result of FNAC with histopathological diagnosis to assess its accuracy. A prospective study in the period of January 2009 to December 2010 was done. One hundred and ten (110) patients who came to the Department of Surgery in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh in two years for their palpable breast masses were chosen for the study. There were 70(63.63%) benign, 33(30.00%) malignant and 07(6.36%) suspicious smears in FNAC. Inadequate samples were repeated. The number of repeats increased the diagnostic accuracy of aspirates which is statistically significant when compared with histopathology. In histopathology Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most commonly reported lesion with maximum incidence in the 4th, 5th, and 6th decades followed by invasive lobular carcinoma and other malignant lesions. FNAC serves as a rapid, economical and reliable tool for the diagnosis of palpable breast lesions and its reliability is influenced by the skillness of the aspirator. So physician should use this tool with clinical experience.

Evolution of phytoplankton cultures after ultraviolet light treatment.

Introducing invasive species in new environments through ballast water is a specific problem of contamination and has recently become one of the main concerns of Maritime Organizations. Ultraviolet-C radiation (UV-C) is a technological alternative to prevent this maritime pollution. This study addresses the effect of UV-C on different phytoplankton cultures and also the ability to recover following exposure to damage. A UV-C low-pressure lamp irradiates the cultures. The distance from the source and the thickness of the layer prevent part of the energy from reaching the culture and the disinfective process is diminished. Some cultures such as Chlorella autotrophica and Chaetoceros calcitrans can easily recover from UV-C damage. However, Phaeocystis globosa does not have this ability. C. calcitrans forms cysts and exhibits two different behaviours depending on the dose applied.

Drop-out and admission cancel rate among the students in a selected medical college.

A record based descriptive type of study was carried out among the under-graduate students of Mymensingh Medical College from the session 1966-67 to 2006-07. The academic years were divided into four decades and admission was followed into three categories such as retained, cancellation and drop-out. Total number of the students was 5892. Among them 3848(65.30%) were male and 2044(34.69%) were female. Out of 5892 students drop-out was 282(4.78%) and admission cancel was 304(5.15%). It was also found that drop-out in male was 232(6.02%) and in female was 50(2.44%) and admission cancel in male was 266(5.87%) and in female was 78(3.81%). The difference was found statistically significant (p<0.001). It was observed that gradually the drop-out and admission cancel rate is decreasing from the very beginning to till now. It was also observed that all drop-out and admission cancellation were in first & second year students. There was no continuation of their class roll numbers in third year registration.

Jejunogastric intussusception.

Retrograde Jejunogastric Intussusception (RJGI) is a rare but potentially very serious complication of gastrectomy or gastrojejunostomy. It was first described by Bozzi in 1914 in a patient with gastrojejunostomy. Clinically it is of two types acute and chronic. Anatomically it is of three types. The acute form is a surgical emergency. In the acute form there is chance of strangulation of the intussuscepted loop if early intervention is not done. To avoid mortality, early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention is mandatory. There is no medical treatment for jejunogastric intussusception and surgical intervention is required for the definite treatment. It usually presents with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, haematemesis and a palpable diffuse lump in the upper abdomen. A history of gastric surgery can help in making a diagnosis. X-ray can occasionally be diagnostic. Endoscopy performed by someone familiar with this rare entity, is certainly diagnostic. We herein report a case of jejunogastric intussusception who presented with acute abdomen, haematemesis and abdominal lump.

PCR for mecA gene of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The study was under taken to detect mecA gene of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by PCR. It was carried out in the department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College in collaboration with the Department of Medicine under the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh between the periods from July 2006 to June 2007. A total of 40 S. aureus strains were used in this study. Isolates of S. aureus were identified by standard microbiology technique and their antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by disk diffusion method according to NCCLS. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of oxacillin was determined for all isolates by standard agar plate dilution method. All strains were tested for mecA gene by PCR. Out of 40 S. aureus strains 15(37.5%) were detected as MRSA by disk diffusion and agar dilution method but 10(25%) yielded mecA gene by PCR. Detection rate of MRSA by disk diffusion and agar dilution test showed significant difference to that by PCR (p<0.001).

Persistence of low serum iron and high total iron binding capacity in pregnant women.

A cross sectional descriptive type of study was done in 98 women of reproductive age. Among them 25 were in control group of non pregnant women and 73 were pregnant women of 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy with and without iron supplementation. The period of study was July 2004 to June 2005. The main objective of our study was to compare serum iron and total iron binding capacity in pregnant and non pregnant women. In present study serum iron was significantly increased in 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy that was supplemented with iron when compared with the same category of women who were not supplemented with iron. On the other hand serum total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was significantly increased in 3rd trimester of pregnancy that was not supplemented with iron when compared with the same category of women who were supplemented with iron. It is evident that the significantly low serum iron and high TIBC in pregnant women is due in part to dietary iron deficiency. Therefore, iron therapy in pregnancy is helpful to maintain the serum iron and TIBC nearer to that of non pregnant normal women.

Major limb amputations in Seremban Hospital: a review of 204 cases from 1997-1999.

We conducted a retrospective study of 3 years duration beginning from the 1st January 1997 to the 31st December 1999 in order to identify the epidemiology of major limb amputations in Seremban Hospital. Two hundred and four patients were included in this study out of which 65.7% were male and 34.3% were female. The mean age of the amputees was 39.7 years old. Non traumatic amputations constitute 85.8% of the cases mainly due to diabetic ulcers or gangrene (91%) followed by peripheral vascular disease (7%) and malignancy (2%). Traumatic amputations represent 14.2% of the cases with road-traffic accident as the major cause (82.8%) followed by industrial accident (17.2%). Lower limb amputations were performed in 97.5% of the cases with below knee amputations as the commonest procedure (72%), followed by above knee amputations (27%) and Syme amputations (1%). Five patients had upper limb amputations done. Four of them were below elbow amputations while one had forequarter amputation done of the left shoulder. Of note, there were increasing number of amputations done over the last three years with alarming increasing trends of traumatic amputation. The three main risk factors for major limb amputations are diabetes mellitus, male gender and road traffic accident.