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Asian Journal of Psychiatry Nov 2023The paper describes the introduction, and early use of chemically and electrically induced convulsive therapies, at the Mysore Government Mental Hospital (MGMH), now the...
OBJECTIVE
The paper describes the introduction, and early use of chemically and electrically induced convulsive therapies, at the Mysore Government Mental Hospital (MGMH), now the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, India. Cardiazol and ammonium chloride were used at MGMH before the introduction of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The study examines the early history, clinical correlates and outcome of convulsive therapies and attempts to contextualize how local conditions influenced implementation.
METHOD
Three sets of archival case-records from 1938 to 1948, each of a period of 9 months following the implementation of a particular mode of convulsive therapy were reviewed.
RESULTS
During the examined timeframe, 40 patients received cardiazol, 95 ammonium chloride and 50 unmodified ECT. Schizophrenia was the commonest clinical indication for convulsive therapy across all modalities of treatment. When outcomes were examined, 45%, 48.4% and 62% of patients were clinically reported to have been either cured/improved after receiving cardiazol, ammonium chloride and ECT respectively. Those receiving cardiazol had a high mortality of 22.5%, compared to 3.1% for ammonium chloride and 4% with ECT.
CONCLUSIONS
Convulsive therapies were one of the first somatic psychiatric treatments, introduced around 1930s and 1940s all over the world, including in India. Our archival records suggest that many international ideas about somatic treatments were quickly adopted in India. Electroconvulsive therapy and other novel neuromodulatory interventions continue to be used and actively researched in India.
Topics: Humans; Hospitals, Psychiatric; Pentylenetetrazole; Ammonium Chloride; India; Convulsive Therapy; Electroconvulsive Therapy
PubMed: 37647785
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103747 -
Polymers Nov 2023New citrus pectin derivatives carrying pendant ,-dimethyl--alkyl--(2-hydroxy propyl) ammonium chloride groups were achieved via polysaccharide derivatization with a...
New citrus pectin derivatives carrying pendant ,-dimethyl--alkyl--(2-hydroxy propyl) ammonium chloride groups were achieved via polysaccharide derivatization with a mixture of ,-dimethyl--alkyl amine (alkyl = ethyl, butyl, benzyl, octyl, dodecyl) and epichlorohydrin in aqueous solution. The structural characteristics of the polymers were examined via elemental analysis, conductometric titration, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and 1D (H and C) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Capillary viscosity measurements allowed for the study of viscometric behavior as well as the determination of viscosity-average molar mass for pristine polysaccharide and intrinsic viscosity ([η]) values for pectin and its derivatives. Dynamic light scattering measurements (DLS) showed that pectin-based polymers formed aggregates in aqueous solution with a unimodal distribution. Critical aggregation concentration () for the hydrophobic pectin derivatives were determined using fluorescence spectroscopy. Atom force microscopy (AFM) images allowed for the investigation of the morphology of polymeric populations obtained in aqueous solution, consisting of flocs and aggregates for crude pectin and its hydrophilic derivatives and well-organized aggregates for lipophilic pectin derivatives. Antimicrobial activity, examined using the disc diffusion method, proved that all polymers were active against bacterium and yeast.
PubMed: 38231903
DOI: 10.3390/polym15234492 -
Autophagy Mar 2024PYCARD (PYD and CARD domain containing), a pivotal adaptor protein in inflammasome assembly and activation, contributes to innate immunity, and plays an essential role...
PYCARD (PYD and CARD domain containing), a pivotal adaptor protein in inflammasome assembly and activation, contributes to innate immunity, and plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and restenosis. However, its roles in microRNA biogenesis remain unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the roles of PYCARD in miRNA biogenesis and neointima formation using knockout () mice. Deficiency of reduced circulating miRNA profile and inhibited seed family maturation. The systemic knockout also selectively reduced the expression of AGO2 (argonaute RISC catalytic subunit 2), an important enzyme in regulating miRNA biogenesis, by promoting chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA)-mediated degradation of AGO2, specifically in adipose tissue. Mechanistically, knockout increased PRMT8 (protein arginine N-methyltransferase 8) expression in adipose tissue, which enhanced AGO2 methylation, and subsequently promoted its binding to HSPA8 (heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 8) that targeted AGO2 for lysosome degradation through chaperone-mediated autophagy. Finally, the reduction of AGO2 and family expression prevented vascular injury-induced neointima formation in -deficient conditions. Overexpression of AGO2 or administration of mimic of (a major member of the family) prevented deficiency-mediated inhibition of neointima formation in response to vascular injury. These data demonstrate that PYCARD inhibits CMA-mediated degradation of AGO2, which promotes microRNA maturation, thereby playing a critical role in regulating neointima formation in response to vascular injury independently of inflammasome activity and suggest that modulating PYCARD expression and function may represent a powerful therapeutic strategy for neointima formation. 6-AN: 6-aminonicotinamide; ACTB: actin, beta; aDMA: asymmetric dimethylarginine; AGO2: argonaute RISC catalytic subunit 2; CAL: carotid artery ligation; CALCOCO2: calcium binding and coiled-coil domain 2; CMA: chaperone-mediated autophagy; CTSB: cathepsin B; CTSD: cathepsin D; DGCR8: DGCR8 microprocessor complex subunit; DOCK2: dedicator of cyto-kinesis 2; EpiAdi: epididymal adipose tissue; HSPA8: heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 8; IHC: immunohistochemical; ISR: in-stent restenosis; KO: knockout; LAMP2: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; miRNA: microRNA; NLRP3: NLR family pyrin domain containing 3; N/L: ammonium chloride combined with leupeptin; PRMT: protein arginine methyltransferase; PVAT: peri-vascular adipose tissues; PYCARD: PYD and CARD domain containing; sDMA: symmetric dimethylarginine; ULK1: unc-51 like kinase 1; VSMCs: vascular smooth muscle cells; WT: wild-type.
Topics: Animals; Mice; MicroRNAs; Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy; Inflammasomes; Autophagy; Neointima; Vascular System Injuries; RNA-Binding Proteins; Heat-Shock Proteins; CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; GTPase-Activating Proteins; Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases
PubMed: 37963060
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2277610 -
PloS One 2023Bone disease is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to an increased risk of bone fractures. This is due in part to metabolic...
Bone disease is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to an increased risk of bone fractures. This is due in part to metabolic acid-induced bone dissolution. Bisphosphonates (BPPs) are a potential treatment for inhibiting bone dissolution; however, there are limited studies observing the use of BPPs on acidotic patients. We aimed to determine efficacy of BPPs on maintaining bone health and pH regulation in acid-exposed mice. Using a diet-induced murine model of metabolic acidosis, we examined bone structure, composition, and mechanics as well as blood gases for three groups: control, acidosis, and acidosis + bisphosphonates (acidosis+BPP). Acidosis was induced for 14 days and alendronate was administered every 3 days for the acidosis+BPP group. The administration of BPP had little to no effect on bone structure, mechanics, and composition of the acidosis bones. However, administration of BPP did cause the mice to develop more severe acidosis than the acidosis only group. Overall, we discovered that BPPs may exacerbate acidosis symptoms by inhibiting the release of buffering ions from bone. Therefore, we propose that BPP administration should be carefully considered for those with CKD and that alkali supplementation could help minimize acidifying effects.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Alendronate; Ammonium Chloride; Diphosphonates; Acidosis; Osteolysis; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
PubMed: 37713420
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291649 -
The Science of the Total Environment Sep 2023With the rapid development of industry and agriculture, excessive nitrogen and phosphorus released into natural surface water have caused eutrophication. Applying...
Effects of eutrophic water with ammonium chloride, urea, potassium dihydrogen phosphate and sodium-β-glycerophosphate on Myriophyllum verticillatum and epiphytic bacteria.
With the rapid development of industry and agriculture, excessive nitrogen and phosphorus released into natural surface water have caused eutrophication. Applying submerged plants to manage eutrophic water has attracted widespread attention. However, there are limited studies on the effects of different nitrogen and phosphorus in the water environment on submerged plants and their epiphytic biofilm. Therefore, this paper investigated the effects of eutrophic water with ammonium chloride (IN), urea (ON), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (IP), and sodium-β-glycerophosphate (OP) on Myriophyllum verticillatum and epiphytic biofilms. The results showed that Myriophyllum verticillatum exhibited a good purification effect on the eutrophic water with inorganic phosphorus, the removal rates of IP were 68.0%, and the plants grew best in this condition. The fresh weight of the IN group and ON group increased by 12.24% and 7.12%, and the shoot length of the IN group and the ON group increased by 17.71% and 8.33%; the fresh weight of the IP group and OP group increased by 19.19% and 10.83%, the shoot length of the IP group and the OP group increased by 21.09% and 18.23%. In addition, the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, nitrate reductase, and acid phosphatase in plant leaves were significantly changed in eutrophic water with different forms of nitrogen and phosphorus. Finally, the analysis of the epiphytic bacteria showed that different forms of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients could significantly alter the abundance and structure of microorganisms and microbial metabolism also had significant changes. This study provides a new theoretical basis for evaluating the removal of different forms of nitrogen and phosphorus by Myriophyllum verticillatum, and it also provides new insights for the subsequent engineering of epiphytic microorganisms to improve the capability of submerged plants to treat eutrophic water.
Topics: Water; Ammonium Chloride; Urea; Bacteria; Saxifragales; Phosphorus; Plants; Nitrogen
PubMed: 37268138
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164507 -
Carbohydrate Polymers Dec 2023Fruit rotting at the postharvest stage severely limits their marketing supply chains and shelf-life. Thus, developing a green and cost-effective approach to extend the...
Fruit rotting at the postharvest stage severely limits their marketing supply chains and shelf-life. Thus, developing a green and cost-effective approach to extend the shelf-life of perishable foods is highly desired. In this study, inspired by the mussel-adhesion strategy, a multifunctional fruit coating material has been developed using a quaternized catechol-functionalized chitosan (CQ-CS) grafted with 2, 3-epoxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and 3, 4-dihydroxy benzaldehyde. The as-prepared CQ-CS coating exhibited excellent mechanical properties, universal surface adhesion abilities, antimicrobial and antioxidant capacities without any potential toxicity effects. Using strawberry and banana as model fruits, we showed that the CQ-CS coating could effectively maintain the fruit's firmness and color, decrease the weight loss rate, and prevent microbial growth, thus finally extending their shelf- life when compared to uncoated samples, indicating the universal application of the as-prepared CQ-CS coating. These findings demonstrated that this novel conformal coating of CQ-CS has great potential for fruit preservation in the food industry.
Topics: Fruit; Chitosan; Edible Films; Ammonium Chloride; Antioxidants
PubMed: 37739502
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121293 -
PloS One 2023Nitrogen use efficiency is an important index in ruminants and can be indirectly evaluated through the N isotopic discrimination between the animal and its diet...
Nitrogen use efficiency is an important index in ruminants and can be indirectly evaluated through the N isotopic discrimination between the animal and its diet (Δ15Nanimal-diet). The concentration and source of N may determine both the extent of the N isotopic discrimination in bacteria and N use efficiency. We hypothesised that the uptake and release of ammonia by rumen bacteria will affect the natural 15N enrichment of the bacterial biomass over their substrates (Δ15Nbacteria-substrate) and thereby further impacting Δ15Nanimal-diet. To test this hypothesis, two independent in vitro experiments were conducted using two contrasting N sources (organic vs inorganic) at different levels either in pure rumen bacteria culture incubations (Experiment #1) or in mixed rumen cultures (Experiment #2). In Experiment #1, tryptone casein or ammonium chloride were tested at low (1 mM N) and high (11.5 mM N) concentrations on three rumen bacterial strains (Fibrobacter succinogenes, Eubacterium limosum and Xylanibacter ruminicola) incubated in triplicate in anaerobic batch monocultures during 48h. In Experiment #2 mixed rumen cultures were incubated during 120 h with peptone or ammonium chloride at five different levels of N (1.5, 3, 4.5, 6 and 12-mM). In experiment #1, Δ15Nbacteria-substrate was lowest when the ammonia-consumer bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes was grown on ammonium chloride, and highest when the proteolytic bacterial strain Xylanibacter ruminicola was grown on tryptone. In experiment #2, Δ15Nbacteria-substrate was lower with inorganic (ammonium chloride) vs organic (peptone) N source. A strong negative correlation between Δ15Nbacteria-substrate and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, a potential fibrolytic rumen bacterium, was detected. Together, our results showed that Δ15Nbacteria-substrate may change according to the balance between synthesis of microbial protein from ammonia versus non-ammonia N sources and confirm the key role of rumen bacteria as modulators of Δ15Nanimal-diet.
Topics: Animals; Nitrogen Isotopes; Ammonium Chloride; Peptones; Rumen; Bacteria; Nitrogen; Ammonia; Bacteroides
PubMed: 37703250
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291243 -
Urology Journal Dec 2023This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ziziphus jujuba (Z. jujuba) leaf hydroalcoholic extract on the prevention/treatment of kidney stones.
PURPOSE
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ziziphus jujuba (Z. jujuba) leaf hydroalcoholic extract on the prevention/treatment of kidney stones.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, Sham (kidney stone induction (KSI) by ethylene glycol 1% + ammonium chloride 0.25% through drinking water for 28 days), Prevention groups 1, 2 (KSI and Z. jujuba leaf (250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively) through gavage for 28 days), and Treatment groups 1, 2 (KSI and Z. jujuba leaf (250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively) from the 15th day). On the 29th day, the rats' 24-hour urine was assessed, the animals were weighed, and blood samples were taken. Finally, after nephrectomy and weighing the kidneys, tissue sections were prepared to examine the number of calcium oxalate crystals and tissue changes.
RESULTS
The results indicated a significant increase in kidney weight and index, tissue changes, and the number of calcium oxalate crystals in the Sham group compared to the control; using Z. jujuba leaf considerably reduced them in experimental groups compared to the Sham. Body weight decreased in the Sham and experimental groups (except the prevention 2 group) compared to the control, while this observed reduction was lower in all experimental groups compared to the Sham. The mean urinary calcium, uric acid, creatinine, and serum creatinine in Sham and experimental groups (except the prevention 2 group) indicated a substantial increase compared to the control and decreased significantly in all experimental groups compared to the Sham.
CONCLUSION
Hydroalcoholic extract of Z. jujuba leaf is effective in the reduction of calcium oxalate crystals forming, and its most effective dose was 500mg/kg.
Topics: Animals; Male; Rats; Ammonium Chloride; Calcium Oxalate; Creatinine; Ethylene Glycol; Kidney; Kidney Calculi; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Rats, Wistar; Ziziphus
PubMed: 37245086
DOI: 10.22037/uj.v20i.7347 -
Toxins Jul 2023Aluminosilicates are adsorbents able to bind mycotoxins, and their chemical modification increases their affinity to adsorb low-polarity mycotoxins. To further...
Aluminosilicates are adsorbents able to bind mycotoxins, and their chemical modification increases their affinity to adsorb low-polarity mycotoxins. To further investigate if the inclusion of salts in bentonite modifies its adsorptive capacity, we studied T-2 toxin adsorption in natural bentonite (NB) and when modified with quaternary ammonium salts differing in polarity and chain length: myristyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (B14), cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (B16) and benzyl dimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride (B18). The results showed that quaternary salts made bentonite: displace monovalent (Na, K) and divalent (Mg, Ca) ions; reduce its porosity; change its compaction and structure, becoming more crystalline and ordered; and modify the charge balance of sheets. T-2 adsorption was higher in all modified materials compared to NB ( ≤ 0.0001), and B16 (42.96%) better adsorbed T-2 compared to B18 (35.80%; = 0.0066). B14 (38.40%) showed no differences compared to B16 and B18 ( > 0.05). We described the T-2 adsorption mechanism in B16, in which hydrogen bond interactions, Van der Waals forces and the replacement of the salt by T-2 were found. Our results showed that interaction types due to the inclusion in B16 might be more important than the hydrocarbon chain length to improve the adsorptive capacity of bentonite.
Topics: Bentonite; T-2 Toxin; Adsorption; Salts; Cations; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 37505739
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15070470 -
Heliyon Nov 2023Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) caused by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) is a serious challenge in many industries, but biofilm greatly decreases the...
Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) caused by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) is a serious challenge in many industries, but biofilm greatly decreases the toxicity of bactericides to cell inside. d-amino acids are potential enhancers for bactericides due to their excellent performance on biofilm inhibition. However, the mechanism of d-amino acid cooperating with bactericides for MIC inhibition is still unknown. In this study, d-tyrosine(D-Tyr)and disoctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) were selected as the typical d-amino acid and bactericide, respectively, to evaluate their synergetic inhibition on the corrosion caused by . D-Tyr obviously enhanced the role of DDAC in inhibiting corrosion with high corrosion inhibition efficiency at 77.23 %. The attachment of EPS and live cells on the coupon surface decreased in the presence of D-Try, leading to more cells directly exposed to DDAC. Besides, D-Try decreased the amount of live cells on the surface and thus reduced the utilization of Fe by SRB and corrosion current. Moreover, dead cells settling to the coupon surface may form a protective lay to retard the contact between live SRB and Fe, leading to slow cathode reaction and less corrosion. Therefore, D-Tyr can reduce the coverage of biofilm, thereby reducing its protective effect on SRB and achieving better corrosion inhibition effect. This work provides a new strategy for improving bactericides and inhibiting MIC.
PubMed: 38027556
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21755