Interleukin-6-Mediated-Ca2+ Handling Abnormalities Contributes to Atrial Fibrillation in Sterile Pericarditis Rats

Pre-existing Ca2+ handling abnormalities constitute the arrhythmogenic substrate in patients developing postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF), a common complication after cardiac surgery. Postoperative interleukin (IL)-6 levels are associated with atrial fibrosis in several animal models of POAF, contributing to atrial arrhythmias. Here, we hypothesize that IL-6-mediated-Ca2+ handling abnormalities contribute to atrial fibrillation (AF) in sterile pericarditis (SP) rats, an animal model of POAF. SP was induced in rats by dusting atria with sterile talcum powder. Anti-rat-IL-6 antibody (16.7 μg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally at 30 min after the recovery of anesthesia. In vivo electrophysiology, ex vivo optical mapping, western blots, and immunohistochemistry were performed to elucidate mechanisms of AF susceptibility. IL-6 neutralization ameliorated atrial inflammation and fibrosis, as well as AF susceptibility in vivo and the frequency of atrial ectopy and AF with a reentrant pattern in SP rats ex vivo. IL-6 neutralization reversed the prolongation and regional heterogeneity of Ca2+ transient duration, relieved alternans, reduced the incidence of discordant alternans, and prevented the reduction and regional heterogeneity of the recovery ratio of Ca2+ transient. In agreement, western blots showed that IL-6 neutralization reversed the reduction in the expression of ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) and phosphorylated phospholamban. Acute IL-6 administration to isolated rat hearts recapitulated partial Ca2+ handling phenotype in SP rats. In addition, intraperitoneal IL-6 administration to rats increased AF susceptibility, independent of fibrosis. Our results reveal that IL-6-mediated-Ca2+ handling abnormalities in SP rats, especially RyR2-dysfunction, independent of IL-6-induced-fibrosis, early contribute to the development of POAF by increasing propensity for arrhythmogenic alternans.

OPTIMIZED FAST DISINTEGRATING TABLETS, BOOSTED OSELTAMIVIR PHOSPHATE ORALLY FAST DISINTEGRATING TABLETS

Background Around 33% of the populace (fundamentally pediatric and geriatric) has gulping hardships, bringing about helpless consistence with oral tablet drug treatment which prompts decreased in general treatment viability. For this explanation, tablets that can quickly break down or deteriorate in the oral cavity have drawn in a lot of consideration. Objective research was designed to develop and evaluate boosted orally fast disintegrating tablets (OFDT) for oro-buccal drug delivery of oseltamivir phosphate. Methods In the present study six formulations of mouth dissolving tablet of oseltamivir were prepared by direct compression method using SSG as a super disintegrating agent with lactose, talcum, mannitol, SLS and starch. The prepared tablets were then subjected to various evaluation parameters. Results every one of the outcomes was observed to be inside satisfactory reaches. The formulation F6 manufacturing utilizing SSG 50mg and SLS 10mg showed the higher medication content (98%), while the formulation F2 showed the least medication content (92%). It was seen that with the increment in SSG concentration, the medication content was additionally increased. SEM concentrate on showed request of expanding unpleasantness of tablet surface is F1<F2<F3<F4<F5<F6. The expanding unpleasantness may be answerable for higher % of medication release. Formulation F1 showed the most elevated medication discharge (97.735%), while the formulation F5 showed the least medication discharge (56.24%). Finally, it was inferred that SSG, SLS, D-mannitol, starch, lactose, and talcum powder can be effectively utilized in the formulation of Oseltamivir phosphate mouth dissolving tablets. Conclusion: From the above work it was presumed that the formulation of the Oseltamivir Phosphate was observed to be more achievable than the regular one.

The use of Karelia’s finelyground mining waste and local clay for production of heatinsulating materials

The results of the study of fine-grained feldspathic and talcchlorite waste from Republic of Karelia’s mining companies as a new mineral product for heat-insulating materials and stationary heat accumulators (fireplaces and furnaces) are reported. The physico-mechanical and thermal-physical properties of the materials, based on finely ground waste and local clay, are appraised. The materials produced from pegmatite waste are highly strong, and can be used for lining furnaces and fireplaces. Heat-insulating materials based on talc-chlorite waste have low thermal expansion at 20‒900 °C, their thermal resistance increases 9 times (at 980 °C, water) and their mechanical strength is 2,6 times higher than that of samples containing talcum powder.

Development of next-generation formulation against Fusarium oxysporum and unraveling bioactive antifungal metabolites of biocontrol agents

Biocontrol agents serve as a sustainable means of controlling wilt caused by the widespread plant pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. The present study aimed to develop water dispersible granules (WDG) using response surface methodology (RSM) for Bacillus subtilis MTCC 2274 and Trichoderma harzianum MTCC 3928, and to compare their antifungal efficacy with other formulations. Further, characterization of the bioactive metabolites responsible for biocontrol was performed. A new microbial formulation, WDG, was developed in the present study with talcum powder (substrate), alginic acid (dispersing agent) and acacia gum (wetting agent) (suspensibility 82.23%; wetting time 2.5 min; dispersion time 10.08 min) that fulfilled the guidelines of Collaborative International Pesticides Analytical Council (CIPAC). In planta study demonstrated that WDG of B. subtilis showed maximum reduction in disease incidence (48%) followed by talc formulation of B. subtilis (44%) and WDG of T. harzianum (42%) with profound effect on plant growth promotion. B. subtilis and T. harzianum demonstrated protease (929 and 846 U ml−1 min−1), chitinase (33.69 and 154 U ml−1 min−1), and β-1,3-glucanase (12.69 and 21.47 U ml−1 min−1) activities. Culture filtrates of B. subtilis and T. harzianum exhibited significant inhibition against mycelial growth of pathogen. The compounds present in the culture filtrates were identified with GC–MS as fatty acids, alkanes, phenols, benzene, pyran derivatives etc. The major non-volatile compounds in bioactive antifungal fraction were identified as derivatives of morpholine and piperdine for T. harzianum and B. subtilis, respectively. The findings propose a multivariate biocontrol mechanism against phytopathogen by production of hydrolytic enzymes, volatile and non-volatile compounds, together with development of an efficient next-generation formulation.

Awareness of Toxicological Impact and Risk of using Talcum Powder as a Factor for Ovarian Cancer among Women in three Metropolitan Cities of Southwestern States, Nigeria

This study evaluated the public awareness level on the toxicological nature of talcum powder and the perceived risk of ovarian cancer among women in order to design effective interventions that will ultimately improve public health among all women in Nigeria. A risk perception survey was developed to capture the public awareness level about talcum powder as an emerging contaminant and risk of ovarian cancer, inquiring whether risk is viewed positively or negatively and the extent of worry or concern. A total of 300 questionnaires were administered and returned, analyzed and interpreted for policy decision making. Each questionnaire contains mostly Likert type questions featuring a set of risks with fixed response alternatives. Basic descriptive statistics was considered for explanatory variables: age, educational attainment and generalized risk sensitivity. Majority of respondents use talcum powder for different purposes. 28% of respondents use talcum powder for genital hygiene, out of which 42.86% use this cosmetic product on a daily basis. Poor level of awareness was generally observed as most respondents do not know whether talcum powder could be considered a potential risk factor for ovarian cancer. Majority (66.43%) were very concerned about the risk of ovarian cancer but perceived less risk for ovarian cancer when asked to compare risk with their respective age groups. Notably, poor level of awareness about the toxicological nature of talc and the relatively high level of perceived risk of developing ovarian cancer due to previous talc exposure was evident among respondents in our study.

Treatment of Coal Fly Ash And Its Environmentally Friendly Use In Rubber And Plastic Industry

Coal power plants are the major contributor of electricity but these power plants are also producing waste in the form of coal fly ash (CFA). However, it can cause high risk of environmental pollution and pulmonary diseases in humans. Plastic waste is also a problematic waste for many countries in terms of its reuse and recycling. Therefore, this study aims to reuse the waste product (CFA) of coal power plants in rubber conveyer belt instead of calcium carbonate or talcum powder and in recycling of plastic propylene as bonding filler material instead of barium sulfate to increase the durability of plastic products and reduce cost, CFA waste and plastic waste. For this purpose, CFA was treated by different pulverization techniques for the production of conveyor belt. The study found that the most favorable technique was shear based pulverization technique. Application of CFA with rubber was compared with two different chemicals (calcium carbonate and talcum powder) and found that the elongation at break of conveyor belt was 35% increased and abrasion volume was 64% reduced by using treated CFA. Furthermore, CFA was used in molten mass of plastic instead of barium sulfate and the results showed that the use of CFA has improved the dimensional stability of plastic material reducing the cost per ton by 2410 CNY. The study concluded that the performance was increased by applying CFA with a reduction in price as compared to other chemicals.

Nest Architecture and Animals Associated with Neoponera verenae (Forel) (Formicidae, Ponerinae)

The nests of ants Neoponera have chambers that can also be occupied by other species of organisms that can be tenants, visitors or prey. However, few studies have considered the assemblage of the associated species and described their composition. This study aimed to describe the architecture and catalog the visitors and prey species found in Neoponera verenae nests. Talcum powder was pumped inside eight nests to mark the chambers and tunnels. The nests were then excavated to describe the architecture and obtain measurements of chambers. The associated species encountered in the nests were collected and identified allowing us to obtain new records of visiting (Linepithema sp., cryptodesmid millipedes and Neotropacarus sp.) and prey taxa (membracids, apid bees and springtails) of N. verenae. Generally, nests had a single entrance hole and a depth of up to 42 cm. Nest chambers were found with three basic forms, elliptical, hangers and boot. Although studies show that this species can occupy abandoned nests of leaf-cutting ants, we found that the nests of N. verenae were more similar to those of Ectatomma ants. Indeed, we found one of the N. verenae nests was attached to a Ectatomma edentatum nest, leading us to suggest that N. verenae may occupy abandoned nests or displace other ants to occupy them.

Study of IBA Containing Rooting Powder on Root Induction Behavior of Hardwood Cutting of Grape (Vitis vinifera L.)

Background: Grapes are mostly propagated by hardwood cutting. Most of the time, auxin (Indole Butyric Acid) is used in liquid form. There are some problems associated with using auxin in liquid form viz. cell sap may exude from cutting end on dipping in solution that may lead to contamination, every time auxin solution should be freshly prepared etc. In order to address these problems, auxin hormone is used in powder form by using Talcum powder. Methods: In the present investigation, rooting powders containing different concentration of auxin were tried for root induction behavior. Approximately 15-20 cm long and 1-1.5 cm thick hardwood cuttings of grapes were taken. Result: The results indicates that grape cuttings treated with Indole Butyric Acid @ 3000 ppm in powder form was found to be best for root induction behavior. However, in most of the cases observations were at par with Indole Butyric Acid @ 2000 ppm (powder form) and with treatment @ 2000 ppm in liquid form but if we consider other benefits like long shelf life, no contamination etc. It can be concluded the rooting hormone in powder form should be considered better alternative to liquid form for root induction.

The association between douching, genital talc use, and the risk of prevalent and incident cervical cancer

While human papillomavirus is the primary cause of cervical cancer, other factors may influence susceptibility and response to the virus. Candidates include douching and talcum powder applied in the genital area. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate confounder-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in the Sister Study (2003–2009), a US cohort of women aged 35–74. We considered pre-baseline (n = 523) and incident (n = 31) cervical cancers. Douching at ages 10–13 was positively associated with pre-baseline cervical cancer (HR 1.32, 95% CI 0.86–2.03), though the association was not statistically significant. We did not observe an association between adolescent talc use and pre-baseline cervical cancer (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.76–1.19). Douching in the year before enrollment was positively associated with incident cervical cancer (HR 2.56, 95% CI 1.10–5.99). The association between recent genital talc use and incident cervical cancer was positive, but not statistically significant (HR 1.79, 95% CI 0.78–4.11). The observed positive association between douching and incident cervical cancer is consistent with previous retrospective case–control studies. In the first study to examine genital talc use and cervical cancer, we did not see evidence of an association.