We show that mechanical stiffness is a useful metric for characterizing complex collagen assemblies, providing insight about aggregation products and pathways in collagen-based materials.This study focuses on mechanically robust collagenous membranes produced by an electrochemical synthesis process. Changing the duration of the applied electric field, or adjusting the electrolyte composition (by adding Ca 2+ , K + , Na + or by changing pH), produces membranes with a range of Young's moduli as determined from force-displacement measurements with an atomic force microscope. The structural organization -characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy -correlates with the mechanical stiffness. These data provide insights into the relative importance of different aggregation pathways enabled by our multi-parameter electrochemically-induced collagen assembly process.

The present study aimed at the production, purification and characterization of fibrinolytic nattokinase enzyme from the bacteria isolated from natto food. For the purpose, a fibrinolytic bacterium was isolated and identified as Bacillus subtilis based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The strain was employed for the production and optimization of fibrinolytic enzyme. The strain showed better enzyme production during 72nd h of incubation time with 50 degrees C at the pH 9. The lactose and peptone were found to be increasing the enzyme production rate. The enzyme produced was purified and also characterized with the help of SDS-PAGE analysis. The activity and stability profile of the purified enzyme was tested against different temperature and pH. The observations suggesting that the potential of fibrinolytic enzyme produced by Bacillus subtilis RJAS 19 for its applications in preventive medicines.

Influenza patients with previous history of diabetes, who had treatment with corticosteroids during illness, and started with antivirals after 48 h of onset of symptoms, were at higher risk of adverse outcome. In order to reduce the risk of death during future waves of influenza in Tamil Nadu, the physicians need to be sensitised regarding (1) higher risk of adverse outcomes among A (H1N1) patients with diabetes; (2) adherence to the national protocol for categorisation of cases; (3) prompt initiation of antivirals for severe cases; and (4) avoidance of systemic corticosteroids during management.

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