Increased Levels of Serum Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Is Associated with Activated Peripheral Dendritic Cells in Type 2 Diabetes Subjects (CURES-99)

Background: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with growth factor–like properties for monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs). In the present study, serum GM-CSF levels and the activation status of DCs were studied in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects. Methods: Study subjects were recruited from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study. Healthy controls (n = 45) and T2DM patients (n = 45) were included in the study. Serum levels of GM-CSF, interleukin-1b, interleukin- 6, and tumor necrosis factor-a were measured. Enumeration of circulating DCs (myeloid [m] and plasmocytoid [p]) and its surface antigen expression were quantified by flow cytometry. Results: The serum GM-CSF levels were significantly higher among diabetes subjects compared with subjects without diabetes and showed a positive correlation with glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.208, P = 0.018). The serum GM-CSF levels were lower in subjects on combined insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) treatment (1.09 pg/mL) compared with those taking OHA alone (1.9 pg/mL). The increased GM-CSF levels were associated with the activated phenotype of mDCs and pDCs, as determined by up-regulation of the lineage markers. Conclusion: The activated state of mDCs and pDCs seen among diabetes subjects might be due to the increased levels of GM-CSF and other pro-inflammatory cytokines

(E)-2-({2-[(E)-(Hy­droxy­imino)­meth­yl]phen­oxy}meth­yl)-3-p-tolyl­acrylonitrile

In the title compound, C18H16N2O2, the hy­droxy­ethanimine group is essentially coplanar with the ring to which it is attached (C—C—N—O torsion angle = −176.9°). Mol­ecules are linked into cyclic centrosymmetric R 2 2(6) dimers via O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds

(Z)-4-{1-[(2-Hy­droxy­ethyl)­amino]­ethyl­idene}-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one

In the title compound C14H17N3O2, the dihedral angle between the rings is 16.68 (13)°. Although the compound crystallizes in the keto form, the possibility of keto-enamine–enol-imine tautomerism is explained by a strong intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond

2-Hy­droxy­ethyl 4-hy­droxy­benzoate

In the title compound, C9H10O4, the dihedral angle between the benzene ring and the –CO2 unit is 11.93 (8)° and the conformation of the 2-hy­droxy­ethyl side chain is gauche [O—C—C—O = −71.91 (17)°]. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Methyl (E)-2-({2-[(E)-(hy­droxy­imino)­meth­yl]phen­oxy}meth­yl)-3-phenyl­acrylate

In the title compound, C18H17NO4, the hy­droxy­ethanimine group is essentially coplanar with the ring to which it is attached [C—C—N—O torsion angle = 179.94 (14)°]. The mol­ecules are linked into cyclic centrosymmetric R 2 2(6) dimers via O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and the crystal packing is further stabilized by C—H⋯O inter­actions

Effect of Filarial Infection on Serum Inflammatory and Atherogenic Biomarkers in Coronary Artery Disease (CURES-121)

Helminth infections can potentially confer protection against metabolic disorders, possibly through immunomodulation. In this study, the baseline prevalence of lymphatic filariasis (LF) among subjects without (N = 236) and with (N = 217) coronary artery disease (CAD) was examined as part of the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological Study (CURES). The prevalence of LF was not significantly different between CAD− and CAD+ subjects. The LF antigen load and antibody levels indicated comparable levels of infection and exposure between the groups. Within the CAD group, LF+ and LF− subjects had no significant difference in the intimal medial thickness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein values. However, LF infection was associated with augmented levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 among CAD+ subjects. The LF infection had no effect on serum adipocytokine profile. In conclusion, unlike type-2 diabetes, there is no association between the prevalence of LF and CAD and also no evidence of protective immunomodulation of LF infection on CAD in the Asian Indian population

Investigation of performance and emission characteristics of a biogas fuelled electric generator integrated with solar concentrated photovoltaic system

Integration of renewable energy systems with the appropriate technology plays a pivotal role in resolving the problem of sustainable energy supply. This paper is aimed to describe the concept of integration of biomass and solar concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) energy system. The present study focused particularly on the investigation of performance and emission from a 1.4 kVA Spark Ignition, constant speed generator using raw biogas integrated in hybrid energy system. The experiments are conducted at different fuel flow rates under varying electric loading conditions. Comparing with LPG as fuel, the power deterioration is observed to be 32% on raw biogas, due to its low calorific value. The maximum power output and brake thermal efficiency using biogas is witnessed to be 812W and 19.50% respectively. The exhaust emission analysis of generator using biogas displays considerably reduced carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons whereas there is no significant difference in nitrogen oxides concentration levels while comparing with LPG, ascertaining it to be an eco-friendly fuel. The biogas fuelled electric generator integration with CPV system can attain sustainable rural energy supply.Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of IndiaEngineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC

1-Acetyl-c-3,t-3-dimethyl-r-2,c-6-diphenyl­piperidin-4-one

In the title compound, C21H23NO2, the piperidine ring adopts a distorted boat conformation. The two phenyl rings form dihedral angles of 64.6 (1) and 87.8 (1)° with the best plane through the piperidine ring. The crystal packing is governed by inter­molecular C—H⋯O inter­actions