Analysis of Intraoperative Squash Cytology of Central Nervous System Lesions and its Correlation with Immunohistopathology and Radiology.

Context: Central nervous system lesions are diverse and remain one of the most challenging domains for neuropathologists. Intraoperative cytological diagnosis is now a universally accepted technique in diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) lesions. Aims: 1) To analyze and compare cytomorphological features of CNS lesions in intraoperative squash smears with histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and preoperative radiological diagnosis and 2) to determine the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of intraoperative squash cytology. Settings and Design: Prospective study conducted at a tertiary healthcare centre over a period of two years. Methods and Material: All biopsy materials which underwent squash cytology and histopathological examination were collected, evaluated, classified, and graded according to WHO classification of CNS Tumors, 2016. The squash cytosmear diagnosis was compared with histopathological features and radiological diagnosis. Discordances were evaluated. Statistical Analysis Used: The cases were categorized into true positives, false positives, true negatives, and false negatives. Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated from 2*2 table. Results: A total of 190 cases were included in the study. A total of 182 cases (95.70%) were neoplastic of which 87.36% were primary CNS neoplasms. Diagnostic accuracy in non-neoplastic lesions was 88.8%. Most common neoplastic lesions were glial tumors (35.7%), meningioma (17.3%), tumors of cranial and spinal nerves (12%), and metastatic lesions (12%). Diagnostic accuracy of squash cytology was higher in glial tumors (93.8%), meningioma (96.7%), and metastatic lesions (95.45%). Diagnostic accuracy of radiological modalities was 85.78%. Conclusions: A good familiarity with cytomorphological features of CNS lesions, clinical details, radiological findings, and intraoperative impression of neurosurgeon enables the pathologist to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce errors.

Vibrational spectra and optical properties of Fe1-xCrxVO4 solid solutions: With a group theory analysis.

The present manuscript reports vibrational spectra and optical studies of polycrystalline Fe1-xCrxVO4 solid solutions through FT-IR spectroscopy augmented with a group theory (G.T.) analysis and UV-Visible DRS spectroscopy. Full set of IR and Raman modes are determined by G. T. for various crystal symmetries in FeVO4-CrVO4 solid solutions where Triclinic, Monoclinic and Orthorhombic structures evolve with increasing Cr concentration. Experimentally obtained vibrational modes support the structural phase transitions and confirm formation of continuous solid solutions in Fe1-xCrxVO4. The Diffuse Reflectance Spectra (DRS) of Fe1-xCrxVO4 depicts the electronic structure and different optical transitions due to absorption of photon energy. The d-d transitions are manifested for all compounds in terms of crystal field stabilization energy (CFSE) caused by distorted lattice sites. The band gap energy of Fe1-xCrxVO4 is calculated using Tauc formula. It shows a red shift initially within triclinic structure then blue shift with the increase of Cr concentration. Urbach energy (Eu) tails in the spectra show the electronic structural disorder in Fe1-xCrxVO4 due to impurity energy levels of Cr ions within band gap region. It is observed that Eu decreases with the doping concentration due to the increase in crystal symmetry corresponding to the structural phase transitions in Fe1-xCrxVO4.

Comparison of ethanol yield from pretreated lignocellulo-starch biomass under fed-batch SHF or SSF modes.

The ethanol yields from lignocellulo-starch biomass (peels of sweet potato, elephant foot yam, tannia, greater yam and beet root) by fed-batch separate hydrolysis and fermentation (F-SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (F-SSF) using Saccharomyces cerevisiae were compared. Fed-batch saccharification of steam or dilute sulphuric acid pretreated biomass enhanced the reducing sugar yield which resulted in high RS consumption, volumetric ethanol productivity and ethanol yield during the first 24 h fermentation under F-SHF mode, while continuous production and utilization of reducing sugars occurred up to 72 h in F-SSF. Dilute sulphuric acid pretreated residues under F-SHF gave higher ethanol yield (34-43 g/L) and productivity (274-346 ml/kg dry biomass) than steam pretreatment (27-36 g/L and 223-295 ml/kg respectively), while F-SSF was superior for steam pretreated peels of sweet potato, elephant foot yam and tannia giving ethanol yields from 281 to 302 ml/kg. Glucose and xylose were present in all the hydrolysates with a preponderance of glucose and fermentation resulted in significant reduction in glucose levels in both F-SHF and F-SSF. Higher levels of total soluble phenolics and hydroxymethyl furfural were observed in the hydrolysates from dilute sulphuric acid pretreatment and yeast assimilated/detoxified part of the inhibitors, while only trivial amounts of furfural were present due to the low xylose content in the hydrolysates. Continuous formation led to higher accumulation of inhibitors in F-SSF despite supplementation with the detoxification mix comprising Tween 20, polyethylene glycol and sodium borohydride. F-SHF of dilute sulphuric acid pretreated biomass could be considered as a comparatively advantageous process where only one time feeding of enzyme cocktail and yeast was adopted compared to multiple feeds of enzymes and yeast along with other additives such as detoxification mix or nutrient solution in F-SSF.

Bioethanol production from microwave-assisted acid or alkali-pretreated agricultural residues of cassava using separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF).

The effect of microwave (MW)-assisted acid or alkali pretreatment (300 W, 7 min) followed by saccharification with a triple enzyme cocktail (Cellic, Optimash BG and Stargen) with or without detoxification mix on ethanol production from three cassava residues (stems, leaves and peels) by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. Significantly higher fermentable sugar yields (54.58, 47.39 and 64.06 g/L from stems, leaves and peels, respectively) were obtained after 120 h saccharification from MW-assisted alkali-pretreated systems supplemented (D+) with detoxification chemicals (Tween 20 + polyethylene glycol 4000 + sodium borohydride) compared to the non-supplemented (D0) or MW-assisted acid-pretreated systems. The percentage utilization of reducing sugars during fermentation (48 h) was also the highest (91.02, 87.16 and 89.71%, respectively, for stems, leaves and peels) for the MW-assisted alkali-pretreated (D+) systems. HPLC sugar profile indicated that glucose was the predominant monosaccharide in the hydrolysates from this system. Highest ethanol yields (YE, g/g), fermentation efficiency (%) and volumetric ethanol productivity (g/L/h) of 0.401, 78.49 and 0.449 (stems), 0.397, 77.71 and 0.341 (leaves) and 0.433, 84.65 and 0.518 (peels) were also obtained for this system. The highest ethanol yields (ml/kg dry biomass) of ca. 263, 200 and 303, respectively, for stems, leaves and peels from the MW-assisted alkali pretreatment (D+) indicated that this was the most effective pretreatment for cassava residues.

Strategies for enzyme saving during saccharification of pretreated lignocellulo-starch biomass: effect of enzyme dosage and detoxification chemicals.

Two strategies leading to enzyme saving during saccharification of pretreated lignocellulo-starch biomass (LCSB) was investigated which included reducing enzyme dosage by varying their levels in enzyme cocktails and enhancing the fermentable sugar yield in enzyme-reduced systems using detoxification chemicals. Time course release of reducing sugars (RS) during 24-120 h was significantly higher when an enzyme cocktail containing full dose of cellulase (16 FPU/g cellulose) along with half dose each of xylanase (1.5 mg protein/g hemicelluloses) and Stargen (12.5 µl/g biomass) was used to saccharify conventional dilute sulphuric acid (DSA) pretreated biomass compared to a parallel system where only one-fourth the dose of the latter two enzymes was used. The reduction in RS content in the 120 h saccharified mash to the extent of 3-4 g/L compared to the system saccharified with full complement of the three enzymes could be overcome considerably by supplementing the system (half dose of two enzymes) with detoxification chemical mix incorporating Tween 20, PEG 4000 and sodium borohydride. Microwave (MW)-assisted DSA pretreated biomass on saccharification with enzyme cocktail having full dose of cellulase and half dose of Stargen along with detoxification chemicals gave significantly higher RS yield than DSA pretreated system saccharified using three enzymes. The study showed that xylanase could be eliminated during saccharification of MW-assisted DSA pretreated biomass without affecting RS yield when detoxification chemicals were also supplemented. The Saccharification Efficiency and Overall Conversion Efficiency were also high for the MW-assisted DSA pretreated biomass. Since whole slurry saccharifcation of pretreated biomass is essential to conserve fermentable sugars in LCSB saccharification, detoxification of soluble inhibitors is equally important as channelling out of insoluble lignin remaining in the residue. As one of the major factors contributing to the cost of ethanol production from LCSB is the cost of enzymes, appropriate modification of enzyme cocktail based on the composition of the pretreated biomass coupled with effective detoxification of the slurry would be a promising approach towards cost reduction.

Gluten-free starch noodles from sweet potato with reduced starch digestibility and enhanced protein content.

Sweet potato starch (SPS) noodles despite being gluten-free, has low nutritional value as it lacks proteins, minerals, vitamins etc. The objective of this study was to develop gluten-free starch noodles from sweet potato with enhanced protein content through fortification with whey protein concentrate (WPC) and to study the effect of protein fortification and blending SPS with banana (BS), cassava (CS) and mung bean (MBS) starches and annealed cassava starch (ACS) in reducing the starch digestibility. The highest protein retention in cooked noodles was obtained for 20 % WPC fortification, while the lowest starch digestibility was observed for 40 % BS fortified noodles followed by 50 % ACS fortified noodles. The highest resistant starch (RS) retention was for BS and ACS fortified noodles, which also had medium glycemic index of 66.3 (BS) and 67.2 (ACS). High sensory scores were obtained for the BS and 20 % WPC fortified noodles. The study showed that protein and/or BS fortification with SPS could enhance the acceptability as well as functional value of SPS noodles.

Cooking behavior and starch digestibility of NUTRIOSE® (resistant starch) enriched noodles from sweet potato flour and starch.

The effect of a resistant starch source, NUTRIOSE® FB06 at 10%, 15% and 20% in sweet potato flour (SPF) and 5% and 10% in sweet potato starch (SPS) in reducing the starch digestibility and glycaemic index of noodles was investigated. While NUTRIOSE (10%) significantly reduced the cooking loss in SPF noodles, this was enhanced in SPS noodles and guar gum (GG) supplementation reduced CL of both noodles. In vitro starch digestibility (IVSD) was significantly reduced in test noodles compared to 73.6g glucose/100g starch in control SPF and 65.9 g in SPS noodles. Resistant starch (RS) was 54.96% for NUTRIOSE (15%)+GG (1%) fortified SPF noodles and 53.3% for NUTRIOSE (5%)+GG (0.5%) fortified SPS noodles, as against 33.8% and 40.68%, respectively in SPF and SPS controls. Lowest glycaemic index (54.58) and the highest sensory scores (4.23) were obtained for noodles with 15% NUTRIOSE+1% GG.

Antitumour Effects of Isocurcumenol Isolated from Curcuma zedoaria Rhizomes on Human and Murine Cancer Cells.

Curcuma zedoaria belonging to the family Zingiberaceae has been used in the traditional system of medicine in India and Southwest Asia in treating many human ailments and is found to possess many biological activities. The rationale of the present study was to isolate, identify, and characterize antitumour principles from the rhizomes of Curcuma zedoaria, to assess its cytotoxic effects on human and murine cancer cells, to determine its apoptosis inducing capacity in cancer cells, and to evaluate its tumour reducing properties in in vivo mice models. Isocurcumenol was characterized as the active compound by spectroscopy and was found to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells without inducing significant toxicity to the normal cells. Fluorescent staining exhibited the morphological features of apoptosis in the compound-treated cancer cells. In vivo tumour reduction studies revealed that a dose of 35.7 mg/kg body weight significantly reduced the ascitic tumour in DLA-challenged mice and increased the lifespan with respect to untreated control mice.

Production of high fructose syrup from cassava and sweet potato flours and their blends with cereal flours.

Despite being a rich source of starch, root crops such as cassava and sweet potato have not been widely exploited for the production of high fructose syrup (HFS), which is a highly valued sweetener for the food and beverage industries. The major factors contributing to the cost of production of HFS are the cost and labor-intensive steps in the production of starch, different processing temperatures and pH for the enzyme reactions, poor extractability of starch, etc. With the objective of overcoming the cost associated with the preparation of starch, the feasibility of using native cassava/sweet potato flours and their blends with rice flour and wheat flour, as the raw material for HFS production was investigated. The saccharified slurry from cassava--rice flour blends contained 70-72 g reducing sugars/100 g, which was higher than that released from native cassava flour (~69%). Blends of sweet potato with rice or wheat yielded saccharified mash with lower content of reducing sugars (60-66%). Although the percentage conversion to fructose after isomerization was similar for cassava/sweet potato or their blends with cereal flours (42-43%), fructose yield was higher in native cassava flour and cassava-rice blends (28-29 g/100 g) than the other flour blends.

Infrared and Raman spectroscopic studies on alkali borate glasses: evidence of mixed alkali effect.

A lithium-potassium-borate glass system containing manganese and iron cations has been thoroughly investigated in order to obtain information about the mixed alkali effect and the structural role of both the manganese and iron in such glass hosts. Mixed alkali borate glasses of the (30 - x)Li(2)O - xK(2)O - 10CdO/ZnO - 59B(2)O(3) (x = 0, 10, 15, 20, and 30) doped with 1MnO(2)/1Fe(2)O(3) system were prepared by a melt quench technique. The amorphous phase of the prepared glass samples was confirmed from their X-ray diffraction. The spectroscopic properties of glass samples were studied using infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopic techniques. The density of all the prepared glasses was measured using Archimedes principle. Molar volumes were estimated from the density data. IR spectra of these glasses revealed a dramatic variation of three- and four-coordinated boron structures as a function of mixed alkali concentration. The vibrations due to Li-O, K-O, and MnO(4)/FeO(4) arrangements are consistent in all the compositions and show a nonlinear variation in the intensity with alkali content. Raman spectra of different alkali combinations with CdO and ZnO present drastic changes in the intensity of various Raman bands. The observation of disappearance and reappearance of IR and Raman bands as a function of various alkali concentrations is an important result pertaining to the mixed alkali effect in borate glasses. Acting as complementary spectroscopic techniques, both types of measurements, IR and Raman, revealed that the network structure of the studied glasses is mainly based on BO(3) and BO(4) units placed in different structural groups, the BO(3) units being dominant. The measured IR and Raman spectra of different glasses are used to clarify the optical properties of the present glasses correlating them with their structure and composition.

Oxidative stress in cardiovascular disease.

Over the last two decades, it has become increasingly clear that reactive oxygen species (ROS), including free radicals are involved in cardiovascular disease. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the clinical implications of these oxidants. The ROS are common by-products of many oxidative biochemical and physiological processes. They can be released by xanthine oxidase, NAD(P)H oxidase, lipoxygenases, mitochondria, or the uncoupling of nitric oxide synthase in vascular cells. ROS mediate various signaling pathways that underlie vascular inflammation in atherogenesis. Various animal models of oxidative stress support that ROS have causal role in atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. They are too reactive to be tolerated in living tissue, and aerobic organisms use sophisticated defense system, both enzymatic and non-enzymatic for prevention of overload of free radicals. In a number of pathophysiological conditions, the delicate equilibrium between free-radical production and antioxidant capability can be altered in favor of the former, thus leading to oxidative stress and increased tissue injury. This review focuses on the biochemical evidences concerning involvement of ROS in several cardiovascular diseases, namely atherosclerosis, heart failure, hypertension and ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Inactivation of trypsin inhibitors in sweet potato and taro tubers during processing.

In order to understand the extent of elimination of trypsin inhibitors during processing of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and taro (Colocasia esculenta) tubers, a detailed study was conducted using tubers processed by oven drying, cooking, and microwave baking. Between 80 and 90% trypsin inhibitor (TI) activity was retained in sweet potato chips up to 2h at 70 degrees C. Among the four cultivars of sweet potatoes, RS-III-2 trypsin inhibitors were more heat labile. Heating at 100 degrees C led to rapid inactivation of TI of sweet potatoes. Varietal differences in thermal stability were more pronounced for the trypsin inhibitors of taro than sweet potatoes. Taro inhibitors were also more rapidly inactivated than sweet potato TI. Between 17 and 31% TI activity was retained in cooked tuber pieces of sweet potatoes, while only 3-10% were retained in taro cultivars. Very effective inactivation of trypsin inhibitors of sweet potatoes and taro could be obtained through microwave baking. Flour prepared from taro was devoid of TI activity, while 5-12% TI activity was retained in the flour prepared from sweet potatoes. The study clearly established that among the four techniques used, microwave baking and flour preparation were the best methods to eliminate TI from sweet potatoes and taro.

Alpha-amylase inhibitor changes during processing of sweet potato and taro tubers.

Alpha-amylase inhibitor changes during processing of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) and taro (Colocasia esculenta) indicated that varietal differences profoundly influence the thermal inactivation profile. The alpha-amylase inhibitors of taro were almost totally inactivated during oven drying of the chips at 90 degrees C and 100 degrees C for 24 h, while 0.8-10% activity was retained in sweet potato chips under the same conditions. Relatively better thermal stability was exhibited by the sweet potato amylase inhibitors at lower temperatures (70 and 80 degrees C) as well. Cooking by boiling the tuber pieces in water resulted in retention of 29-59% amylase inhibitor in sweet potato and 11-16% in taro. Microwave baking was a better method for inactivation of amylase inhibitors in these tubers. Flour prepared from the tubers retained only trivial amounts of the inhibitor.

Breeding biology of Megalops cyprinoides from Visakhapatnam coast.

Studies on stages of maturity, gonado-somatic indices and breeding cycle from two different habitats viz., the polluted Harbour Waters and the unpolluted Yerragedda Mouth revealed that M. cyprinoides breeds twice a year i.e., during Jan-Jul and Dec-Jan. Size at first maturity was 18 cm. in females and 19 cm. in males at both the stations. Sex ratio was 1:1 at the polluted station and 1:1.1 at the unpolluted station indicating a slight domination of females.

Cyanide detoxification in cassava for food and feed uses.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important tropical root crop providing energy to about 500 million people. The presence of the two cyanogenic glycosides, linamarin and lotaustralin, in cassava is a major factor limiting its use as food or feed. Traditional processing techniques practiced in cassava production are known to reduce cyanide in tubers and leaves. Drying is the most ubiquitous processing operation in many tropical countries. Sun drying eliminates more cyanide than oven drying because of the prolonged contact time between linamarase and the glucosides in sun drying. Soaking followed by boiling is better than soaking or boiling alone in removing cyanide. Traditional African food products such as gari and fufu are made by a series of operations such as grating, dewatering, fermenting, and roasting. During the various stages of gari manufacture, 80 to 95% cyanide loss occurs. The best processing method for the use of cassava leaves as human food is pounding the leaves and cooking the mash in water. Fermentation, boiling, and ensiling are efficient techniques for removing cyanide from cassava peels.

Intermediary metabolic changes in rabbits administered linamarin or potassium cyanide.

Since cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple food item of several million people in the tropics, its toxicity cannot be underestimated. Therefore an attempt has been made to understand the metabolic changes caused by the chronic administration of sublethal doses linamarin, the principal cyanoglucoside of cassava, to rabbits. A significant rise in lactic acid and total cholesterol in liver and brain and a highly significant depletion of phospholipids of brain tissue was observed. There were also significant variations in the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme pattern of treated animals as compared with the control rabbits. The findings suggest that some of the biological effects of linamarin are similar to those of free cyanide.

Pattern of enzyme changes in rabbits administered linamarin or potassium cyanide.

Diseases like tropical ataxic neuropathy and endemic goitre have been reported to have definite correlation with a chronic ingestion of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). The toxicity of cassava has been attributed to its two cyanogenic glycosides, linamarin and lotaustralin. In this study, an attempt has been made to understand the pattern of changes in certain clinically significant enzymes brought about by the chronic administration of sublethal doses of linamarin to rabbits. The profound elevation in rhodanese activity observed in the linamarin and cyanide treated rabbits indicated the attempt of the tissues to detoxify cyanide. That intact linamarin could be hydrolysed in vivo was a significant finding from the study. The mode of toxicity of linamarin was similar to that of cyanide by producing a gradual shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism.

Insulin and metabolism of glycosaminoglycans in rabbits.

The effect of insulin on the concentration of different glycosaminoglycan (CG) fractions was different in different segments of aorta. Chondroitin sulphate A and heparin were increased in the aortic arch, thoracic and abdominal aorta, while chondroitin sulphate B and C were increased only in the aortic arch and abdominal aorta. Heparin sulphate and hyalutonic acid were increased only in the abdominal aorta. In the liver, significant increases occurred in all GG fractions. All enzymes studied which are involved in the biosynthesis of GG precursors, i.e. glucosaminphosphate isomerase, UDP glucose dehydrogenase and glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, were increased in the animals of the insulin group, while all enzymes involved in the degradation of GG, i.e. hyalurono glucosidase, beta-glucosaminidase, arylsulphatase, and cathepsin D, were decreased. Concentration of hepatic PAPS, activity of the sulphate-activiting system and sulphotransferase increased on administration of insulin.