Diagnostic Relevance of Primary Investigations in Early Referral and Management of Colorectal Cancer Patients

Aim: Colorectal cancers are largely considered as curable yet the high mortality rates associated with it points out at deficiency in early management of the disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnostic potential of routine primary investigations with an attempt to categorize symptoms for early referral of colorectal cancers patients.Methods: This study involved retrospective analysis of a cohort of 85 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer that underwent surgery in a period of one year. The patients were arranged into different age-groups to analyze the relative incidence and prognosis of the disease with respect to generalized symptoms and clinicopathological details. Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis was employed to predict the most effective set of parameter combinations for primary prognosis of the diseased state.Results: Abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and change in bowel habits were predominantly reported symptoms; however, these were imprecise with age, sex or stage of cancer. Interestingly, almost 85% of the patients were reported anemic, with a majority of them (41.7%) having Hb 10. Anaemic patients showed significantly higher frequency of symptoms viz. change in bowel habits (p 0.023), rectal bleeding (p 0.035) and/or abdominal pain (p 0.039) compared to non-anaemic ones. The co-occurrence of any two of the symptoms further increased the likelihood of the disease in anaemic patients.Conclusion: A substantial decrease in hemoglobin count with concomitant change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, and/or abdominal pain could be considered as potential referral markers for early management of suspected colorectal cancers patients

Variability in stigma length and apocarotenoid content in Crocus sativus L. selections of Kashmir

Identification of high yielding selections using the existing gene pool of saffron shows promise and potential for improving the productivity of this crop. The present study was conducted at Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) with 31 saffron selections. Variations in respect to stigma length was observed. Apocarotenoid content was correlated with stigma length of saffron. Stigma size vis-a-vis quality evaluation confirmed that saffron of Kashmir is of intrinsically high quality with respect to colouring, aroma and taste. Variability in stigma characteristics observed in saffron selections can be utilized for saffron crop improvement. &nbsp

Variability in stigma length and apocarotenoid content in Crocus sativus L. selections of Kashmir

Identification of high yielding selections using the existing gene pool of saffron shows promise and potential for improving the productivity of this crop. The present study was conducted at Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) with 31 saffron selections. Variations in respect to stigma length was observed. Apocarotenoid content was correlated with stigma length of saffron. Stigma size vis-a-vis quality evaluation confirmed that saffron of Kashmir is of intrinsically high quality with respect to colouring, aroma and taste. Variability in stigma characteristics observed in saffron selections can be utilized for saffron crop improvement. &nbsp

Systematic studies on genus Nepeta L. (Lamiaceae) in Kashmir Himalaya.

The past century has witnessed compilation of Floras of most of the regions of the World. The taxonomists have documented and communicated a better understanding of the floristic resources, as they are indispensable for the botanical progress of a country or a region. Over the same period, much information on the constituent taxa of Floras has been documented: the information pertaining to their taxonomy, nomenclature, distribution, variation, pollen and seed morphology, economic utility, and many other aspects. Kashmir, naturing beauty on the Earth, has also been a witness to this scenario, the main aim having been to have a thorough insight into and documentation of the overall floristic diversity of the Valley. The floras of several important regions/areas in the Kashmir Himalaya have been worked out. A number of genera in Lamiaceae have been revised/monographed, both on World basis and at regional levels, such as Bentham (1834), Labiatarum Genera Et Species; Bentham (1848), in Candolle, Prodromus ystematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis; Hooker (1885), in Flora of British India; Briquet (1896), in Engler and Prantel, Die Naturlichen P flanzenfamilien; Boissier (1879), in Flora Orientalis; Pojarkova (1954), in Flora of USSR; Turner (1972), in Flora Europaea; Hedge and Lamond (1982), in Flora of Turkey; and Rechinger (1982), in Flora Iranica.Digital copy of Thesis.University of Kashmir

Staurosporine augments EGF-mediated EMT in PMC42-LA cells through actin depolymerisation, focal contact size reduction and Snail1 induction – A model for cross-modulation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A feature of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) relevant to tumour dissemination is the reorganization of actin cytoskeleton/focal contacts, influencing cellular ECM adherence and motility. This is coupled with the transcriptional repression of E-cadherin, often mediated by Snail1, Snail2 and Zeb1/δEF1. These genes, overexpressed in breast carcinomas, are known targets of growth factor-initiated pathways, however it is less clear how alterations in ECM attachment cross-modulate to regulate these pathways. EGF induces EMT in the breast cancer cell line PMC42-LA and the kinase inhibitor staurosporine (ST) induces EMT in embryonic neural epithelial cells, with F-actin de-bundling and disruption of cell-cell adhesion, via inhibition of aPKC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>PMC42-LA cells were treated for 72 h with 10 ng/ml EGF, 40 nM ST, or both, and assessed for expression of E-cadherin repressor genes (Snail1, Snail2, Zeb1/δEF1) and EMT-related genes by QRT-PCR, multiplex tandem PCR (MT-PCR) and immunofluorescence +/- cycloheximide. Actin and focal contacts (paxillin) were visualized by confocal microscopy. A public database of human breast cancers was assessed for expression of Snail1 and Snail2 in relation to outcome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When PMC42-LA were treated with EGF, Snail2 was the principal E-cadherin repressor induced. With ST or ST+EGF this shifted to Snail1, with more extreme EMT and Zeb1/δEF1 induction seen with ST+EGF. ST reduced stress fibres and focal contact size rapidly and independently of gene transcription. Gene expression analysis by MT-PCR indicated that ST repressed many genes which were induced by EGF (EGFR, CAV1, CTGF, CYR61, CD44, S100A4) and induced genes which alter the actin cytoskeleton (NLF1, NLF2, EPHB4). Examination of the public database of breast cancers revealed tumours exhibiting higher Snail1 expression have an increased risk of disease-recurrence. This was not seen for Snail2, and Zeb1/δEF1 showed a reverse correlation with lower expression values being predictive of increased risk.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ST in combination with EGF directed a greater EMT via actin depolymerisation and focal contact size reduction, resulting in a loosening of cell-ECM attachment along with Snail1-Zeb1/δEF1 induction. This appeared fundamentally different to the EGF-induced EMT, highlighting the multiple pathways which can regulate EMT. Our findings add support for a functional role for Snail1 in invasive breast cancer.</p

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Not AvailableCrocus sativus is a triploid sterile plant characterized by its red stigmas, which produce significant quantities of carotenoid derivatives formed from the oxidative cleavage of β-carotene and zeaxanthin. The accumulation of three major carotenoid derivatives- crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal- is responsible for the color, bitter taste, and aroma of saffron, which is obtained from the dried stigma of Crocus. Maximum apocarotenoid accumulation occurs during fully developed scarlet stage of stigma development. Zeaxanthin is the precursor for biosynthesis of apocarotenoids. Crocus zeaxanthin 7, 8 (7, 8)-cleavage dioxygenase gene (CsZCD) encodes a chromoplast enzyme that initiates the biogenesis of these apocarotenoids by cleaving zeaxanthin. The Reverse Transcription-PCR analysis revealed that CsZCD gene expression followed different patterns during stigma development. Highest levels of CsZCD gene expression was observed in fully developed scarlet stage of stigma. Real Time PCR analysis showed that there is a sharp increase in gene expression from yellow to orange and orange to scarlet stages of stigma development. Increase in CsZCD gene expression parallels with the apocarotenoid content during the development of stigma, suggesting its regulatory role for apocarotenoid biosynthesis and stigma development in saffron.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableIdentification of high yielding selections using the existing gene pool of saffron shows promise and potential for improving the productivity of this crop. The present study was conducted at Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) with 31 saffron selections. Variations in respect to stigma length was observed. Apocarotenoid content was correlated with stigma length of saffron. Stigma size vis-a-vis quality evaluation confirmed that saffron of Kashmir is of intrinsically high quality with respect to colouring, aroma and taste. Variability in stigma characteristics observed in saffron selections can be utilized for saffron crop improvement.Not Availabl