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In this study, pure hydroxyapatite (HAP) and lithium substituted hydroxyapatite (Li-HAP) nanoparticles were synthesized by a sonochemical synthesis process and investigated for their antimicrobial and hemolytic activities.

We have previously demonstrated that neonatal and transient neonatal hypothyroidism modulates Leydig, Sertoli, and germ cell numbers, sex steroids and androgen binding protein concentration. The present study was undertaken to study the effect of neonatal onset hypothyroidism on Leydig and peritubular myoid cell numbers, plasma and testicular interstitial fluid (TIF) sex steroid concentration at different age groups of Wistar rats. Hypothyroidism was induced by giving 0.05% methimazole (MMI) to lactating mothers or directly to the male pups from day 1 postpartum through days 10, 15, 30, 40 and 60 postpartum. To confirm hypothyroidism, plasma thyroid hormones and TSH were assayed. Plasma and TIF testosterone, progesterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol were assayed by radioimmunoassay. Leydig cell number in hypothyroid rats were less than the age-matched controls. The diameter of Leydig cells in hypothyroid rats was smaller than the controls but 10 days old hypothyroids alone had larger than control rats. A significant decrease of peritubular myoid cell number was observed in 30, 40 and 60 days hypothyroid rats and increased in 10 and 15 days hypothyroidism. Hypothyroid rats had elevated level of plasma LH and decreased GH (except day 10 postpartum). Plasma PRL level was increased in 10 and 15 days hypothyroid rats and an opposite effect was observed in 40 and 60 days hypothyroidism. Plasma testosterone, DHT and estradiol were decreased in all hypothyroid rats. However, plasma progesterone level in hypothyroid rats was significantly higher at days 10, 30, and 40 postpartum and an opposite effect was seen in 15 and 60 days experimental groups. TIF testosterone and progesterone titre showed a consistent decrease in hypothyroid rats irrespective of the duration. In hypothyroid rats, TIF DHT levels decreased significantly in days 10, 40 and 60 postpartum. However, it increased in days 15 and 30 postpartum. Except at day 10 postpartum, the level of TIF estradiol in hypothyroid rats was significantly less than their age matched controls. Our data clearly indicate that neonatal onset hypothyroidism adversely affect Leydig cell proliferation along with impaired steroidogenesis.

The study addresses how surface nanostructuring of AISI 304 stainless steel (SS) by surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) influences its characteristic properties and corrosion behavior in Ringer's solution. SMAT of 304 SS induced plastic deformation, enabled surface nanocrystallization, refined the grain size, transformed the austenite phase to strain induced α'-martensite phase, increased the surface roughness, induced defects/dislocations, imparted compressive residual stresses at the surface, decreased the contact angle, and increased surface energy. The change in properties of 304 SS following treatment using 5 and 8 mm ⌀ balls for 15, 30, 45, and 60 min has caused a deleterious influence on its corrosion resistance in Ringer's solution, while an improvement in corrosion behavior is observed for those treated using 2 mm ⌀ balls. The increase in surface roughness, transformation of the austenite to α'-martensite phase, a higher extent of deformation, and the presence of larger number of defects/dislocations are main factors responsible for the lower corrosion resistance observed for 304 SS treated using 5 and 8 mm ⌀ balls in Ringer's solution. In spite of having these attributes with a relatively lower extent, 304 SS treated using 2 mm ⌀ balls offered a better corrosion resistance and exhibits a better passivity. For those treated using 2 mm ⌀ balls, the ability of the nanocrystalline surface to promote passivation outweighs the deleterious influences caused by the limited amount of deformation and defects/dislocations. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommend that SMAT of 304 SS using 2 mm ⌀ balls for 15-30 min is the optimum condition to achieve the suitable surface profile, surface characteristics with better corrosion resistance.

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