Prospect for UV observations from the Moon

Space astronomy in the last 40 years has largely been done from spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) for which the technology is proven and delivery mechanisms are readily available. However, new opportunities are arising with the surge in commercial aerospace missions. We describe here one such possibility: deploying a small instrument on the Moon. This can be accomplished by flying onboard the Indian entry to the Google Lunar X PRIZE competition, Team Indus mission, which is expected to deliver a nearly 30 kgs of payloads to the Moon, with a rover as its primary payload. We propose to mount a wide-field far-UV (130--180 nm) imaging telescope as a payload on the Team Indus lander. Our baseline operation is a fixed zenith pointing but with the option of a mechanism to allow observations of different attitudes. Pointing towards intermediate ecliptic latitude (50 deg or above) ensures that the Sun is at least 40 deg off the line of sight at all times. In this position, the telescope can cover higher galactic latitudes as well as parts of Galactic plane. The scientific objectives of such a prospective are delineated and discussed.Comment: 28 pages, 8 figure

Effect of Butyrate in the Healing of Colonic Anastomoses in Rats

BACKGROUND: The body’s ability to replace injured or dead cells and repair tissues following inflammation is critical to survival. The repair of tissues involves two distinct processes – replacement of injured or dead cells by cells of the same type or regeneration and replacement by connective tissue called fibroplasia or fibrosis. Both these processes are determined by essentially similar mechanisms involving cell migration, proliferation and differentiation as well as cell-matrix interactions. The orderly regeneration of epithelial tissue requires a specialised extracellular matrix called the basement membrane which acts as a scaffolding. These processes are the basis of the complex phenomenon of wound healing. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the effect of intraluminal butyrate on the healing of anastomoses in rat colon by testing mechanical strength. 2. To compare the differences in the mechanical strength of ascending and descending colon with and without treatment with butyrate. 3. To assess the expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases in the healing colon and study the effect of butyrate on this expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male albino rats of the Wistar strain weighing between 200 – 250 grams were used for the experiment. The animals were fed a fibre-free diet to minimise the production of SCFAs from the fibre in the colon. This was begun 2 days before the initial operation and continued till the end of the experiment. The diet used was a specially prepared purified fibre free diet based on the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN)-93M diet.105 The diet was prepared initially in a powder form and reconstituted every day with water to make a semi-solid diet. After 48 hours, the rats were anaesthetised using ether chamber and intra-peritoneal ketamine (50mg/kg) and a midline laparotomy was done. The colon was first washed out with normal saline and then transected in two places preserving the marginal vessels (Fig 6.1). The ascending colon was transected about 3 cms from the ileo-caecal junction and the descending colon about 3 cms from the peritoneal reflection. Specimens were taken from both areas, frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and stored at -70°C. An end-to-end anastomosis was carried out with a single layer of interrupted 6. 0 proline sutures (Fig 6.2, 6.3). A diversion caecostomy was carried out and the abdomen closed in layers. Statistical Analysis: The results were tabulated on a spreadsheet and statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. RESULTS: Of the 40 rats used, 9 died during the course of the experiment. Six rats died during anaesthesia or in the immediate post-operative period. Of these, 4 animals died in the ether chamber possibly due to a reaction to ether or a vasovagal attack. One animal did not wake up after the operation and another animal died of acute cardiac tamponade as the post operative dose of saline was injected into the thorax instead of subcutaneously. Three animals died during the post operative period. One died on the first post-operative day possibly due to aspiration and two died on the fifth post-operative day due to intestinal obstruction. There were no demonstrable anastomotic leaks during the study. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Local instillation of butyrate significantly strengthens colonic anastomoses as measured by the bursting wall tension. 2. The effect of butyrate increases both the bursting pressure and the circumference of the anastomosis. 3. There is a difference in the strength of proximal and distal colonic anastomoses. 4. There was an increase in the expression of Matrix metalloproteinases in all the post operative specimens. There was no difference in the expression of MMP2, but an increase in the expression of MMP9 between the butyrate and saline arms

Autoreactivity to Glucose Regulated Protein 78 Links Emphysema and Osteoporosis in Smokers

Rationale: Emphysema and osteoporosis are epidemiologically associated diseases of cigarette smokers. The causal mechanism(s) linking these illnesses is unknown. We hypothesized autoimmune responses may be involved in both disorders. Objectives: To discover an antigen-specific autoimmune response associated with both emphysema and osteoporosis among smokers. Methods: Replicate nonbiased discovery assays indicated that autoimmunity to glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78), an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone and cell surface signaling receptor, is present in many smokers. Subject assessments included spirometry, chest CT scans, dual x-ray absorptiometry, and immunoblots for anti-GRP78 IgG. Anti-GRP78 autoantibodies were isolated from patient plasma by affinity chromatography, leukocyte functions assessed by flow cytometry, and soluble metabolites and mediators measured by immunoassays. Measurements and Main Results Circulating anti-GRP78 IgG autoantibodies were detected in plasma specimens from 86 (32%) of the 265 smoking subjects. Anti-GRP78 autoantibodies were singularly prevalent among subjects with radiographic emphysema (OR 3.1, 95%CI 1.7–5.7, p = 0.003). Anti-GRP78 autoantibodies were also associated with osteoporosis (OR 4.7, 95%CI 1.7–13.3, p = 0.002), and increased circulating bone metabolites (p = 0.006). Among emphysematous subjects, GRP78 protein was an autoantigen of CD4 T-cells, stimulating lymphocyte proliferation (p = 0.0002) and IFN-gamma production (p = 0.03). Patient-derived anti-GRP78 autoantibodies had avidities for osteoclasts and macrophages, and increased macrophage NFkB phosphorylation (p = 0.005) and productions of IL-8, CCL-2, and MMP9 (p = 0.005, 0.007, 0.03, respectively). Conclusions: Humoral and cellular GRP78 autoimmune responses in smokers have numerous biologically-relevant pro-inflammatory and other deleterious actions, and are associated with emphysema and osteoporosis. These findings may have relevance for the pathogenesis of smoking-associated diseases, and development of biomarker immunoassays and/or novel treatments for these disorders

Dapsone, Danazol, and Intrapartum Splenectomy in Refractory ITP Complicating Pregnancy

Currently there is no consensus on the treatment of refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) complicating pregnancy. Our patient with chronic ITP complicating pregnancy, who was refractory to steroids, dapsone, and danazol, was treated successfully with intrapartum splenectomy

Bioanalytical method development and validation of simultaneous analysis of telmisartan and hydrochlorthiazide in human plasma using LC-MS/MS

A simple, sensitive, rapid and economic high performance thin layer chromatographic method and a mass spectroscopic assay method has been developed for the quantification of telmisartan and hydrochlorthiazide combination in human plasma. The internal standards and analytes were extracted from human plasma by solid-phase extraction with HLB Oasis1cc (30mg) catridges. The scanning and optimization for the samples are done using methanol: water (50:50). The samples were chromatographed using reverse phase chromatography with C-18 column of different manufacturers like Ascentis C18 (150×4. 6, 5µ) using the buffer system Acetonitrile: Buffer (80:20%v/v) which consist of 2±0. 1Mm ammonium format at a flow rate of 0. 7ml/min at a column oven temperature 35±10c. The internal standard used was hydrochlorthiazide13c1, d2 and telmisartand3. The extraction techniques include conditioning, loading, washing and elution, drying followed by reconstitution of the dried samples. The volume injected was 10µl with the retention time of 3-4 min for telmisartan, 1-2 min for hydrochlorthiazide and for the internal standards the retention time was 3-4 min for telmisartand3 and 1-2 min for hydrochlorthiazide c13d2. The rinsing solution was Acetonitrile: HPLC grade water in the ratio (50:50). The above developed method was validated using various parameters like selectivity and sensitivity, accuracy and precision, matrix effects, % recovery and various stability studies. The method was proved to be sensitive, accurate, precise and reproducible. The preparation showed high recovery for the quantitative determination of telmisartan and hydrochlorthiazide in human plasma.</jats:p

Rubber catheter eroding into the pelvic bone: An unusual complication of unsafe abortion

A majority of unsafe abortions are performed by untrained quacks leading to multiple complications which contribute to significant maternal morbidity and mortality. We report an unusual and late complication of unsafe abortion, where a red rubber tube which was believed to be left in the patient's body during an abortion conducted at home about 1 year ago, later got extruded out of the patient's body, through abdomen and eroding the pelvic bone, but fortunately causing no damage to any abdominal organs

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of the Study Cohort.

<p>All these subjects had ≥10 pack yr smoking histories. ICS  =  inhaled corticosteroid use; past oral steroids  =  oral steroid use within the preceding six months (none were currently taking oral steroids); FEV₁% predicted  =  forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration as percentages of predicted values; FEV₁/FVC  =  ratio of FEV₁ to forced vital capacity; DLCO% predicted  =  diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide as percentages of predicted values; Obstructed  =  subjects with spirometric findings of expiratory airflow obstruction (i.e., COPD); Emphysema  =  subjects with emphysema on CT scan; p values are for nonparametric comparisons of smokers who do not have anti-GRP78 IgG autoantibodies (GRP78⁻) vs. subjects who have these autoantibodies (GRP78⁺); NS  =  not significant. * denotes data are depicted as mean ± standard errors.</p><p>Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of the Study Cohort.</p