Ectopic Ureter: Spectrum of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the MRI findings of six patients with ectopic ureters in a tertiary care institute. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on six patients presenting to the Department of Radiodiagnosis at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, Jaipur, India, with ectopic ureters. Data were collected from the 3 Tesla (3T) Philips MRI scanner (Koninklijke Philips N.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands) from 2021 to 2023. RESULTS: The mean age was 21.6 years, with an equal male-to-female ratio (1:1). Most patients presented with urinary incontinence (50%, n = 3), followed by abdominal pain. Only 16.6% (n = 1) were associated with a duplex collecting system. In males, the most common site was the seminal vesicle, observed in 66.6% (n = 2), followed by the urethra in 33.4% (n = 1) of cases. One patient with an ectopic opening into the seminal vesicle had Zinner syndrome. In females, the ectopic site was found to be the vagina in all three patients. CONCLUSION: Ectopic ureter is a rare anomaly of the urinary system, often associated with other urinary system anomalies and a few syndromes. Clinical presentations range from the patient being asymptomatic to renal failure; therefore, a high index of suspicion and appropriate imaging are necessary for early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Slag and Bagasse Ash: Potential Binders for Sustainable Rigid Pavement.

The current study tries to cut carbon emissions by using various waste materials in place of cement, including sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), and ladle furnace slag (LFS), individually and in a combined form also, which has not been studied yet. In the same context, effort was made to utilize the maximum amount of waste materials as the replacement of cement to create a sustainable environment. Besides this, another aim is checking the performance of these waste materials as binding materials with respect to compressive strength for sustainable rigid pavement construction without activating them or using any activating solution. For this purpose, the compressive strength test is done for GGBFS, LFS, and SCBA, and later on, the artificial neural network (ANN) technique is also used to check the novelty of results in a broad way. For the same purpose, M40 grade concrete was made by incorporating different selected waste materials in a varying proportion ranging from 0 to 35%. Based on the results obtained from the compressive strength test for different curing periods, i.e., 7, 14, and 28 days, it was observed that the GGBFS, LFS, and SCBA can be utilized individually up to 15%, respectively. Another observation made from the findings was that the use of LFS and SCBA in the individual form up to 20% was found to be possible as the maximum reduction in strength was found to be up to 2.63%. However, the cumulative impact of all these waste products was also examined. Based on the data, it was concluded that the best outcomes would arise from using these additives in combination to replace cement in the mix by up to 30% (i.e., without compromising the required characteristics of concrete), which will be proved as an aid to the environment and the society also. Besides this, the fluctuation in the compressive strength value of concrete mixes after integrating various waste materials was also examined in order to construct a model using the ANN approach. The model's outcomes suggest that the ANN model does a good job of forecasting the compressive strength of concrete.

Correction: Multi-stimuli programmable FRET based RGB absorbing antennae towards ratiometric temperature, pH and multiple metal ion sensing.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D1SC05112A.].

Metal-free FRET macrocycles of perylenediimide and aza-BODIPY for multifunctional sensing.

Two multichromophoric FRET macrocycles M1 [1+1] and M2 [2+2] with red emission (λem ∼ 721 nm) composed of perylenediimide (PDI) as the energy donor and aza-BODIPY (ABDP) as the energy acceptor were synthesized by click reaction in a metal-free fashion. M1 and M2 exhibited distinct reversible ratiometric temperature responsive emission with temperature sensitivities of 0.09-0.14% °C-1 and owing to the redox active chromophores, they showed solution phase redox responsive reversible colour changes.

Protective effect of probiotic and prebiotic fermented milk containing Lactobacillus fermentum against obesity-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions, with major economic and health implications. The complex pathophysiology of obesity explains the difficulty provided to health policy for its clinical management. Increasing data show that obesity and metabolic abnormalities are intimately connected to differences in consumption of probiotics, its relevance to gut microbiota activity and composition. The goal of this investigation was to assess the effect of oral delivery of indigenous probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum NCDC 400 and prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) on obesity-associated hepatic steatosis and inflammation produced by a high-fat diet (HFD). C57BL/6 mice treated with L. fermentum NCDC 400 either independently or in conjunction with FOS demonstrated reduced body weight and abdominal obesity after 24 weeks of treatment. Also, the anti-oxidative enzyme activity went down, and the inflammatory profile got better, with less fat getting into the hepatocytes. The lipid profile changed, with HDL cholesterol going up and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels going down. Further, L. fermentum NCDC 400 and FOS combinations decreased fasting glucose, gHbA1c, gastric inhibitory peptide, and insulin levels in mice fed with HFD, thus improving glucose homeostasis. Overall, consumption of L. fermentum NCDC 400 alone or its combinational effects had a protective role on obesity-associated hepatic steatosis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The potential indigenous probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum NCDC 400 and prebiotic FOS had a preventive role in obesity-induced hepatic steatosis and improves anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in HFD-fed obese mice. Our finding would be helpful to prevent obesity-associated hepatic steatosis and inflammation upon supplementation of pre- and pro-biotics (synbiotics).

Actinobacteria Mediated Nanoparticles: A Pioneering Technology for Agriculture.

The induction of nanotechnology prevails against several issues threatening healthiness of plants and presents a powerful mean to defeat food crisis in a world of oversized inhabitants. Nanotechnology contributes numerous gadgets and constituents as nanostructures such as nano herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers and biosensors which play momentous roles in killing/suppression of weeds and pests, ingenious supply of nutrients and nourishing substances in soils. Actinobacteria, a class of microorganisms is known for production of antibiotics, growth promoting substances, hydrolytic enzymes and volatile compounds. Actinobacterial assisted synthesis of nanoparticles symbolizes an attractive technique as compared to traditional physico-chemical means as synthesis can be accomplished in assistance with bioremediation processes and can also diminish the utilization or manufacturing of hazardous matters having harmful effects on mankind and ecosystem as well. Therefore, this pioneering technology could carry out liable functions in agriculture by increasing food productivity in lucrative and environmental secured manner and could transfigure the agriculture system through employment of its tenets in adept ways.

Multi-stimuli programmable FRET based RGB absorbing antennae towards ratiometric temperature, pH and multiple metal ion sensing.

A red-green-blue (RGB) multichromophoric antenna 1 consisting of energy donors naphthalimides and perylenediimides and a central aza-BODIPY energy acceptor along with two subchromophoric red-blue (RB 6) and green-blue (GB 12) antennae was designed that showed efficient cascade Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). RGB antenna 1 showed pronounced temperature-dependent emission behaviour where emission intensities in green and red channels could be tuned in opposite directions by temperature giving rise to unique ratiometric sensing with a temperature sensitivity of 0.4% °C. RGB antenna 1 showed reversible absorption modulation selectively in the blue region (RGB ↔ RG) upon acid/base addition giving rise to pH sensing behaviour. Furthermore, RGB antenna 1 was utilized to selectively sense metal ions such as Co2+ and Fe3+ through a FRET turn-off mechanism induced by a redox process at the aza-BODIPY site that resulted in the selective spectral modulation of the red band (i.e., RGB → GB). Model antenna RB 6 showed white light emission with chromaticity coordinates (0.32, 0.33) on acid addition. Antennae 1, 6 and 12 also exhibited solution state electrochromic switching characterized by distinct colour changes upon changing the potential. Finally, antennae 1, 6 and 12 served as reversible fluorescent inks in PMMA/antenna blends whereby the emission colours could be switched or tuned using different stimuli such as acid vapour, temperature and metal ions.

Significance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Acacia: A Review.

Microbes play a vital role in ecosystem stability. Here, microbes-Acacia association is discussed with particular reference to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) which help in the establishment of crop-plants, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. The association helps to restore the structural composition of soil from the hazardous impact of agrochemicals, increase resistance against various pathogenic attack as well as several abiotic stresses. Further, a comparative account of microbes found in the rhizosphere of Acacia is illustrated. Among these, Rhizobia, Acetobacter, Bradyrhizobium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Trichoderma were described in detail. All these microbes can be regarded as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizospheric Microbes (PGPM), some of PGPM are Phosphate Solubilizing Microbe (PSM). Both of them help AMF for infecting mycorrhizal hyphae inside the plant cell. Overall, microbes can be used as biofertilizers along with other organic compounds, that can compensate for the nutrient's availability.

Molecular link between dietary fibre, gut microbiota and health.

Natural polysaccharides cellulose, hemicelluloses, inulin etc., galactooligosaccharides (GOS), and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) play a significant role in the improvement of gut microbiota balance and human health. These polysaccharides prevent pathogen adhesion that stimulates the immune system and gut barrier function by servicing as fermentable substrates for the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota plays a key role in the fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates (NDCs) fibres. Moreover, the gut microbiota is responsible for the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like acetate, propionate and butyrate. Acetate is the most abundant and it is used by many gut commensals to produce propionate and butyrate in a growth-promoting cross-feeding process. The dietary fibres affect the gut microbiome and play vital roles in signaling pathways. The SCFAs, acetate, butyrate, and propionate have been reported to affect on metabolic activities at the molecular level. Acetate affects the metabolic pathway through the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2/GPR43) while butyrate and propionate transactivate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorsγ (PPARγ/NR1C3) and regulate the PPARγ target gene Angptl4 in colonic cells of the gut. The FFAR2 signaling pathway regulates the insulin-stimulated lipid accumulation in adipocytes and inflammation, however peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PPY) and glucagon-like peptide 1 regulates appetite. The NDCs via gut microbiota dependent pathway regulate glucose homeostasis, gut integrity and hormone by GPCR, NF-kB, and AMPK-dependent processes.

Neuroanatomy of Cornudescoides kulkarnii n. sp., a gill parasite of Mystus vittatus in Meerut (UP), India.

Chemical named 5-bromo indoxyl acetate has been used to describe the nervous system of a viviparous monogenean Cornudescoides Kulkarni (1969), a gill parasite of Mystus vittatus. Central nervous system consists of paired cerebral ganglia from which anterior and posterior neuronal pathways arise. These neuronal pathways are interlinked by cross connectives and commissures. Paired dorsal, ventral and lateral nerve cords emanate from the cerebral ganglia, connected at intervals by transverse connectives. Huge arrangement of dorsal, ventral and lateral nerve cords and their innervations have been examined. Peripheral nervous system (PNS) includes innervations of the alimentary tract, reproductive organs and attachment organs (anterior adhesive areas and haptor). Both the CNS and PNS are bilaterally symmetrical, and better developed ventrally than laterally and dorsally.

On two new species of the genus Cornudescoides Kulkarni, 1969 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalinae) from a freshwater fish Mystus vittatus from Meerut (U.P.), India.

During study of freshwater monogeneans of Meerut region, we came across five infected specimen of fish Mystus vittatus, infected with monogeneans belonging to the genus Cornudescoides Kulkarni 1969. On subsequent study, the worms appear new to us and are described here in as such. C. kulkarnii n. sp. is characterized by four pairs of head organs, nut cracker shaped accessory piece of cirrus, capitulum or patches with proximal conical protruberance, longer inner root of dorsal anchor and difference in shape and extension of dorsal bars. While C. susanii n. sp. is characterized by presence of seven pairs of head organs, caliper like accessory piece of cirrus, longer and inwardly curved lateral hooks, prominently protruded outer roots and larger inner roots of dorsal anchor.

Management of a patient with a taurodont, single-rooted molars associated with multiple dental anomalies: a spiral computerized tomography evaluation.

Anomalies, though rare, are potential restorative and endodontic challenges. This case report presents a unique case with a bizarre combination of anomalies, including single conical unbifurcated posterior root forms, taurodontism, dens invaginatus, prominent labial lobes of the canines, pyramidal cusps of the premolars, dens evaginatii of the molar crowns, and localized reduction in tooth size involving the entire dentition without any other apparent systemic complication. On literature review, only 4 such cases were found to be reported. An accurate assessment of the presence of single conical unbifurcated posterior root forms was made with the help of spiral computerized tomography. This case report highlights the use of high-end diagnostic imaging modalities such as spiral computerized tomography in making a confirmatory diagnosis of the multiple morphologic abnormalities.