Comparison of patient controlled epidural infusion versus physician controlled epidural infusion for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing major abdominal surgeries.

Background and Aims: For effective patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) without many systemic effects after major intra-abdominal surgeries, optimal analgesic solution, background infusion rates, and settings need to be determined. The primary aim was to compare the efficacy of PCEA versus physician-controlled epidural analgesia (PhCEA) in terms of pain relief after major intra-abdominal surgeries. The secondary aim was, to establish an acceptable PCEA regime, to compare the vitals, amount of drug used, acute pain service (APS) interventions, rescue analgesics, and side effects. Material and Methods: This prospective randomized study was conducted on consenting 102 adult patients undergoing major intra-abdominal surgeries. The study drug was levobupivacaine 0.125% with fentanyl 2 ug mL-1. Trained nursing staff assessed patients and data were collected at fixed intervals (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h) till 24 hours post-surgery. Chi-square test, independent 't' test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used and P value < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Pain scores were comparable in between the groups. Patients in the PCEA group had significantly (P = 0.000) fewer APS interventions (2.2 vs. 1.4 times) and need for rescue analgesics (1.8 vs. 0.8 times). There was no incidence of deep sedation, pruritus, hypotension, numbness, or complete motor block in either group. Conclusion: PCEA with background infusion is better than PhCEA after major intra-abdominal surgeries as it requires lesser pain team interventions and rescue analgesics. Epidural administration of lower concentration of opioid and local anesthetic gives adequate pain relief without any untoward side effects.

Identification of substrates of MBL Associated Serine Protease-1 (MASP-1) from human plasma using N-terminomics strategy.

MBL Associated Serine Protease-1 (MASP-1) is an abundant enzyme of the lectin complement pathway. MASP-1 cleaves numerous substrates like MASP-2, MASP-3, C2, C3i, fibrinogen, FXIII and prothrombin. It has thrombin-like specificity and can cleave thrombin substrates. Owing to its high concentration and relaxed substrate specificity, MASP-1 has substrates outside the complement system and can influence other proteolytic cascades and physiological processes. The unidentified substrates may assist us to ascertain the role(s) of MASP-1. In this study, we used a high-throughput N-terminomics method to identify substrates of MASP-1 from human plasma. We have identified 35 putative substrates of MASP-1. Among the identified proteins, alpha 2-antiplasmin, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, antithrombin III, and siglec-6 were demonstrated to be cleaved by MASP-1. We have discussed the physiological relevance of cleavage of these substrates by MASP-1. The expression of Siglec-6 and MASP-1 has been reported in the B cells. Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein cleavage by MASP-1 may occur in the acute phase as it is known to be an inhibitor of platelet aggregation, whereas MASP-1 triggers platelet aggregation. The cleavage alpha2 antiplasmin by MASP-1 implies that MASP-1 may be promoting plasmin-mediated fibrinolysis. Our study supports that MASP-1 may be implicated in thrombosis as well as thrombolysis.

Mannose-binding lectin-associated serine protease-1 cleaves plasminogen and plasma fibronectin: prefers plasminogen over known fibrinogen substrate.

Mannose-binding lectin-associated serine protease-1 (MASP-1) is known to interact with complement and coagulation pathways. Recently it was reported that MASP-1 interacts with the fibrinolytic system but details remain unclear. The objective of the study is to find MASP-1 substrates that participate in the fibrinolytic system. Commercially available fibrinogen might contain some impurities. Fibrinogen was treated with MASP-1 followed by analysis on SDS-PAGE and the obtained cleaved fragments were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight/time of flight. Functional analysis of identified substrate was confirmed by fluorogenic and turbidimetric assay. Statistical analysis was done by using the Student t test. This study reports that plasminogen and plasma fibronectin are two hitherto unknown substrates of MASP-1. Conversion of plasminogen to plasmin like molecule by MASP-1 was confirmed by cleavage of plasmin specific substrate and digestion of fibrin clot. The role of MASP-1 in clot dissolution was confirmed by turbidity assay. Our study shows that MASP-1 selects plasminogen over fibrinogen to be a preferable substrate. MASP-1 promotes the fibrinolytic activity by the generation of plasmin like molecule from plasminogen and further destabilizes the clot by digestion of plasma fibronectin.

Spatiotemporal ecological vulnerability analysis with statistical correlation based on satellite remote sensing in Samara, Russia.

In the present global situation, when everywhere ecology is degraded due to the extreme exhaustion of natural resources. Therefore spatiotemporal ecological vulnerability analysis is necessary for the current situation for sustainable development with protection of fragile eco-environment. Remote sensing is a unique tool to provide complete and continuous land surface information at different scales, which can use for eco-environment analysis. A methodology constructed on the principal component analysis (PCA) to identify satellite remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) for ecological vulnerability analysis and distribution based on four land surface parameters (dryness, greenness, temperature and moisture) by using Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI/TIRS data in the Samara region Russia. The results were verified by the following four methods: location-based, categorization-based, correlation-based and city center to outwards distance-based comparisons. Results indicate that ecological condition was improved from 2010 to 2015 as RSEI increased from 0.79 to 0.98 and from 2015 to 2020 the ecological condition was degraded as RSEI decreased from 0.98 to 0.82 but overall it was improved in this decade. RSEI distribution curve shows moderate to good and excellent ecological conditions and degraded ecological condition was basically characterized by high human interference and socioeconomic activities in the study area. Such a technique is a baseline for highly accurate ecological conditions mapping, monitoring and can use for decision making, management and sustainable development.

Mannose-binding lectin and associate serine protease complex modulates neutrophil respiratory burst and gene expression in Capra hircus.

Neutrophils are an essential cellular component of the innate immune system, responsible for multiple effector mechanisms and aspects of inflammation. Neutrophil priming results in a rapid elevation in antimicrobial activities and can be measured by reactive oxygen species production, bacterial endocytosis, and de-novo synthesis of components such as interleukins. Mannose binding lectin (MBL), a C-type lectin pathogen recognition receptor is associated with immune functions including complement activation, opsonization and modulating immune responses. Whether MBL opsonization of pathogen can induce neutrophil priming has not been studied so far. Hence, studies were performed using MBL and neutrophils of Capra hircus (domestic goat) to evaluate the effects of MBL + MASPs interactions on neutrophil functions. It was found that MBL + MASPs opsonization of zymosan stimulates neutrophil functions including increased oxidative burst, enhanced endocytosis and modulates the expression level of NCF4, XBP1, CCL2, and CR1 genes. The results suggest that MBL-MASP complex can regulate neutrophil functioning.

Quercetin and Coumarin Inhibit Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV and Exhibits Antioxidant Properties: In Silico, In Vitro, Ex Vivo.

Quercetin and coumarin, two naturally occurring phytochemicals of plant origin, are known to regulate hyperglycemia and oxidative stress. The present study was designed to evaluate the inhibitory activity of quercetin and coumarin on dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and their antioxidant potential. DPP-IV inhibition assays were performed, and evaluated IC50 values of diprotin A, quercetin, coumarin, and sitagliptin were found to be 0.653, 4.02, 54.83, and 5.49 nmol/mL, respectively. Furthermore, in silico studies such as the drug-likeliness and docking efficiency of quercetin and coumarin to the DPP-IV protein were performed; the ex vivo antiperoxidative potential of quercetin and coumarin were also evaluated. The results of the present study showed that the DPP-IV inhibitory potential of quercetin was slightly higher than that of sitagliptin. Virtual docking revealed the tight binding of quercetin with DPP-IV protein. Quercetin and coumarin reduced oxidative stress in vitro and ex vivo systems. We report for the first time that both compounds inhibited the DPP-IV along with antioxidant activity and thus may be use as function food ingredients in the prevention of diabetes.

Identification of unexplored substrates of the serine protease, thrombin, using N-terminomics strategy.

The function and regulation of thrombin is a complex as well as an intriguing aspect of evolution and has captured the interest of many investigators over the years. The reported substrates of thrombin are coagulation factors V, VIII, XI, XIII, protein C and fibrinogen. However, these may not be all the substrate of thrombin and therefore its functional role(s), may not have been completely comprehended. The purpose of our study was to identify hitherto unreported substrates of thrombin from human plasma using a N-terminomics protease substrate identification method. We identified 54 putative substrates of thrombin of which 12 are already known and 42 are being reported for the first time. Amongst the proteins identified, recombinant siglec-6 and purified serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein were validated by cleavage with thrombin. We have discussed the probable relevance of siglec-6 cleavage by thrombin in human placenta mostly because an upregulation in the expression of siglec-6 and thrombin has been reported in the placenta of preeclampsia patients. We also speculate the role of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein cleavage by thrombin in the acute phase as alpha-1-acid glycoprotein is known to be an inhibitor of platelet aggregation whereas thrombin is known to trigger platelet aggregation.

Use of AMSR-E microwave satellite data for land surface characteristics and snow cover variation.

This data article contains data related to the research article entitled "Global land cover classification based on microwave polarization and gradient ratio (MPGR)" [1] and "Microwave polarization and gradient ratio (MPGR) for global land surface phenology" [2]. This data article presents land surface characteristics and snow cover variation information from sensors like EOS Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E). This data article use the HDF Explorer, Matlab, and ArcGIS software to process the pixel latitude, longitude, snow water equivalent (SWE), digital elevation model (DEM) and Brightness Temperature (BT) information from AMSR-E satellite data to provide land surface characteristics and snow cover variation data in all-weather condition at any time. This data information is useful to discriminate different land surface cover types and snow cover variation, which is turn, will help to improve monitoring of weather, climate and natural disasters.

Satellite data for Singapore, Manila and Kuala Lumpur city growth analysis.

This data article presents satellite data related to city growth of Singapore, Manila and Kuala Lumpur cities. The data were collected from NASA and USGS websites. A method has been developed for city built-up density from city center to outward till 50 km by using satellite data. These data sets consists three decade Landsat images. A detailed description is given to show how to use this data to produce urban growth maps. The urban growth maps have been used to know the changes and growth pattern in the Southeast Asia Cities.

Urbanization data of Samara city, Russia.

A method has been developed for urbanization by using satellite data and socio-economic data. These datasets consists three decade Landsat images and population data. A detailed description using flow chart is given to show how to use this data to produce land use/cove maps. The land use/cove maps were used to know the urban growth in Samara City, Russia.