Ag@AgI, core@shell structure in agarose matrix as hybrid: synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial activity.

A novel in situ core@shell structure consisting of nanoparticles of Ag (Ag Nps) and AgI in agarose matrix (Ag@AgI/agarose) has been synthesized as a hybrid, in order to have an efficient antibacterial agent for repetitive usage with no toxicity. The synthesized core@shell structure is very well characterized by XRD, UV-visible, photoluminescence, and TEM. A detailed antibacterial studies including repetitive cycles are carried out on Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria in saline water, both in dark and on exposure to visible light. The hybrid could be recycled for the antibacterial activity and is nontoxic toward human cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells). The water insoluble Ag@AgI in agarose matrix forms a good coating on quartz, having good mechanical strength. EPR and TEM studies are carried out on the Ag@AgI/agarose and the bacteria, respectively, to elucidate a possible mechanism for killing of the bacteria.

Diuretic activity of the extract of vitis indica.

Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Vitis indica were tested for diuretic activity in rats. The parameters studied on individual rats were body weight before and after test period, total urine volume, urine concentration of Na+,Ka+ and Cr. In the present study, alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Vitis indica leaves (200 mg/kg body weight) shows increase in urine volume, cationic and anionic excretion. Fruosemide (100 mg/kg body weight) is used as a standard.

Clinical relevance of alphafetoprotein microheterogeneity in alphafetoprotein-secreting tumors.

The importance of the oncofetal glycoprotein antigen alphafetoprotein (AFP) as a tumor marker is well documented. Structural heterogeneity of AFP molecules due to its associated carbohydrate moieties has also been demonstrated. In the present study, molecular variants of AFP, Concanavalin A reactive (R Con A) and Concanavalin A nonreactive (NR Con A) were quantified in five cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), three cases of hepatoblastoma, five gonadal and two extragonadal germ cell tumors, and two suspected liver secondaries by employing crossed immunoaffino electrophoresis (CIAE). AFP peaks were localized using anti-AFP antibodies conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. Characteristic patterns of AFP R Con A and NR Con A fractions were obtained in different AFP-secreting malignancies. Serum samples of HCC and hepatoblastoma were predominantly composed of R Con A AFP, while gonadal and extragonadal germ cell tumors showed significant reduction of R Con A AFP and elevation of NR Con A AFP. Analysis of AFP variants in sera from two patients of suspected liver metastasis with elevated AFP confirmed liver secondaries arising from germ cell tumor in one patient and HCC in the other patient. The present study highlights the importance of AFP microheterogeneity analysis not only as diagnostic aid for the differential diagnosis of AFP-secreting tumors, but also in providing better management and prognosis.

Epidermoid cyst of the brain stem--a case report.

Epidermoid cysts occurring within the brain stem are extremely rare and only nine such cases are reported in the literature. In this report, we report a case of Intrapontine epidermoid cyst in a young female patient.