Influence of Physical Raking and Biological Process in the Mud-water Exchange Dynamics of P in Fish Culture Ponds

Experiment was conducted in the laboratory using radioactive 32P for ascertaining the dynamics and quantifying the exchangeable amount of P between sediment and water phase under the influence of physicalraking and biological processes. Collected sediment (100 g) was dispensed in a glass beaker and treated with radioactive 32P after reaction with CaCO3. Each beaker filled with 250 ml tap water. Four different treatments: physical raking once (RO), repeated raking (RR), bacteria (Bacillus, 167 X 102 ml-1) inoculum (BI) and bacteriainoculum (Bacillus, 167 X 102 ml-1) plus repeated raking (BI + RR) were used in the study. Water samples were collected and tested for specific activity of radioactive 32P, concentration of orthophosphate and count of heterotrophic bacterial (HB) population. The 32P value of BI+RR treatment was 20, 25, 37 and 56% higher than BI,RR, RO and control, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that synergistic effect of bacteria inoculum plus repeated raking (BI + RR) released maximum amount of phosphorus than the rest three treatments. Critical appraisal of data clearly revealed four states of dynamic of 32P between sediment and overlaying water: initial rapid increase of 32P level in water - rapid desorption period (RDP) from day 0 to 12, slow increase of 32P level of water - slow desorption period (SDP) from day >12 to 55, the 32P moves to sediment resulting in decrease 32P level in water - absorption period (AP) from day >55 to 90 and steady period (SP) from day >90 to 124, when 32P concentration of water and sediment supposed to be equal indicating no movement of 32P occurred between the water and sedimentphase

Chronic ringworm infestation and Marjolin’s ulcer, an association unknown in the literature

We report here a case of Marjolin’s ulcer developing in a long-standing, inadequately treated, chronic ringworm infestation of the lower limb. A 35-year-old female patient with a ten-year history of a chronic ringworm infestation had developed a nonhealing ulcer in an area of infestation on the right leg. A biopsy revealed well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma associated with the ringworm infection. A below-knee amputation by an inguinal block dissection was performed. We conclude that proper and timely treatment of fungal infections of the skin is needed to allow for healing of dermal infections and thus the prevention of the disastrous consequences that recurrent mechanical trauma from scratching of the affected area, leading to occult malignancy, which may occur in a small number of patients

Blur-Robust Face Recognition via Transformation Learning

Abstract. This paper introduces a new method for recognizing faces degraded by blur using transformation learning on the image feature. The basic idea is to transform both the sharp images and blurred im-ages to a same feature subspace by the method of multidimensional s-caling. Different from the method of finding blur-invariant descriptors, our method learns the transformation which both preserves the mani-fold structure of the original shape images and, at the same time, en-hances the class separability, resulting in a wide applications to various descriptors. Furthermore, we combine our method with subspace-based point spread function (PSF) estimation method to handle cases of un-known blur degree, by applying the feature transformation correspond-ing to the best matched PSF, where the transformation for each PSF is learned in the training stage. Experimental results on the FERET database show the proposed method achieve comparable performance a-gainst the state-of-the-art blur-invariant face recognition methods, such as LPQ and FADEIN.

The chemopreventive polyphenol Curcumin prevents hematogenous breast cancer metastases in immunodeficient mice

Dissemination of metastatic cells probably occurs long before diagnosis of the primary tumor. Metastasis during early phases of carcinogenesis in high risk patients is therefore a potential prevention target. The plant polyphenol Curcumin has been proposed for dietary prevention of cancer. We therefore examined its effects on the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 in vitro and in a mouse metastasis model. Curcumin strongly induces apoptosis in MDA- MB- 231 cells in correlation with reduced activation of the survival pathway NF kappa B, as a consequence of diminished I kappa B and p65 phosphorylation. Curcumin also reduces the expression of major matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) due to reduced NF kappa B activity and transcriptional downregulation of AP-1. NF kappa B/p65 silencing is sufficient to downregulate c-jun and MMP expression. Reduced NF kappa B/AP-1 activity and MMP expression lead to diminished invasion through a reconstituted basement membrane and to a significantly lower number of lung metastases in immunodeficient mice after intercardiac injection of 231 cells (p=0.0035). 68% of Curcumin treated but only 17% of untreated animals showed no or very few lung metastases, most likely as a consequence of down-regulation of NF kappa B/AP-1 dependent MMP expression and direct apoptotic effects on circulating tumor cells but not on established metastases. Dietary chemoprevention of metastases appears therefore feasible. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

t10c12 Conjugated Linoleic Acid Suppresses HER2 Protein and Enhances Apoptosis in SKBr3 Breast Cancer Cells: Possible Role of COX2

BACKGROUND: HER2-targeted therapy with the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin) has improved disease-free survival for women diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancers; however, treatment resistance and disease progression are not uncommon. Current data suggest that resistance to treatment in HER2 cancers may be a consequence of NF-kappaB overexpression and increased COX2-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)). Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to have anti-tumor properties and to inhibit NF-kappaB activity and COX2. METHODS: In this study, HER2-overexpressing SKBr3 breast cancer cells were treated with t10c12 CLA. Protein expression of the HER2 receptor, nuclear NF-kappaB p65, and total and phosphorylated IkappaB were examined by western blot and immunofluorescence. PGE(2) levels were determined by ELISA. Proliferation was measured by metabolism of 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), and apoptosis was measured by FITC-conjugated Annexin V staining and flow cytometry. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: We observed a significant decrease in HER2 protein expression on western blot following treatment with 40 and 80 microM t10c12 CLA (p<0.01 and 0.001, respectively) and loss of HER2 protein in cells using immunoflourescence that was most pronounced at 80 microM. Protein levels of nuclear NF-kappaB p65 were also significantly reduced at the 80 microM dose. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in PGE(2) levels (p = 0.05). Pretreatment with t10c12 CLA significantly enhanced TNFalpha-induced apoptosis and the anti-proliferative action of trastuzumab (p = 0.05 and 0.001, respectively). These data add to previous reports of an anti-tumor effect of t10c12 CLA and suggest an effect on the HER2 oncogene that may be through CLA mediated downregulation of COX2-derived PGE(2)

Bio-nanotechnology application in wastewater treatment

The nanoparticles have received high interest in the field of medicine and water purification, however, the nanomaterials produced by chemical and physical methods are considered hazardous, expensive, and leave behind harmful substances to the environment. This chapter aimed to focus on green-synthesized nanoparticles and their medical applications. Moreover, the chapter highlighted the applicability of the metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the inactivation of microbial cells due to their high surface and small particle size. Modifying nanomaterials produced by green-methods is safe, inexpensive, and easy. Therefore, the control and modification of nanoparticles and their properties were also discussed

Evaluation of antiarthritic activity of Strychnos potatorum Linn seeds in Freund's adjuvant induced arthritic rat model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Strychnos potatorum </it>Linn (Loganiaceae) is a moderate sized tree found in southern and central parts of India, Sri Lanka and Burma. In traditional system of medicine, <it>Strychnos potatorum </it>Linn seeds were used for various ailments including inflammation, diabetes etc. To investigate the folkloric use of the seeds the present study was carried out on Freund's adjuvant induced arthritic rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The present study states the effect of the aqueous extract (SPE) and the whole seed powder (SPP) of <it>Strychnos potatorum </it>Linn seeds on the Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritic rat paw edema, body weight changes and alterations in haematological and biochemical parameters in both developing and developed phases of arthritis. Histopathology of proximal interphalangeal joints and radiology of hind legs were studied.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In FCA induced arthritic rats, there was significant increase in rat paw volume and decrease in body weight increment, whereas SPP and SPE treated groups, showed significant reduction in paw volume and normal gain in body weight. The altered haematological parameters (Hb, RBC, WBC and ESR) and biochemical parameters (blood urea, serum creatinine, total proteins and acute phase proteins) in the arthritic rats were significantly brought back to near normal by the SPP and SPE treatment at the dose of 200 mg/kg/p.o in both developing and developed phases of arthritis. Further the histopathological and radiological studies revealed the antiarthritic activity of SPP and SPE by indicating fewer abnormalities in these groups when compared to the arthritic control group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, both SPP and SPE at the specified dose level of 200 mg/kg, p.o. showed reduction in rat paw edema volume and it could significantly normalize the haematological and biochemical abnormalities in adjuvant induced arthritic rats in both developing and developed phases of FCA induced arthritis. Further the histopathological and radiological studies confirmed the antiarthritic activity of SPP and SPE.</p

The level of CD147 expression correlates with cyclophilin-induced signalling and chemotaxis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous studies identified CD147 as the chemotactic receptor on inflammatory leukocytes for extracellular cyclophilins (eCyp). However, CD147 is not known to associate with signal transducing molecules, so other transmembrane proteins, such as proteoglycans, integrins, and CD98, were suggested as receptor or co-receptor for eCyp. CD147 is ubiquitously expressed on many cell types, but relationship between the level of CD147 expression and cellular responses to eCyp has never been analyzed. Given the role of eCyp in pathogenesis of many diseases, it is important to know whether cellular responses to eCyp are regulated at the level of CD147 expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we manipulated CD147 expression levels on HeLa cells using RNAi and investigated the signalling and chemotactic responses to eCypA. Both Erk activation and chemotaxis correlated with the level of CD147 expression, with cells exhibiting low level expression being practically unresponsive to eCypA.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results provide the first demonstration of a chemotactic response of HeLa cells to eCypA, establish a correlation between the level of CD147 expression and the magnitude of cellular responses to eCypA, and indicate that CD147 may be a limiting factor in the receptor complex determining cyclophilin-induced Erk activation and cell migration.</p

BH3-only proteins BIM and PUMA in the regulation of survival and neuronal differentiation of newly generated cells in the adult mouse hippocampus

Neurogenesis persists in the adult hippocampus, where several thousand neurons are born every day. Most of the newly generated cells are eliminated by apoptosis, possibly because of their failure to integrate properly into neural networks. The BH3-only proteins Bim and Puma have been shown to mediate trophic factor withdrawal- and anoikis-induced apoptosis in various systems. We therefore determined their impact on proliferation, survival, and differentiation of adult-generated cells in the mouse hippocampus using gene-deficient mice. Wild-type, bim-, and puma-deficient mice showed similar rates of precursor cell proliferation, as evidenced by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-incorporation. Deficiency in either bim or puma significantly increased the survival of adult-born cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) after 7 days. Consistently, we detected increased numbers of doublecortin (DCX)-positive and fewer terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labelled-positive cells in the DG of bim- and puma-deficient mice. Bim and puma deficiency did not change early markers of neuronal differentiation, as evidenced by BrdU/DCX double-labelling. However, BrdU/NeuN double-labelling revealed that deficiency of bim, but not puma, accelerated the differentiation of newly generated cells into a neuronal phenotype. Our data show that Bim and Puma are prominently involved in the regulation of neuronal progenitor cell survival in the adult DG, but also suggest that Bim has an additional role in neuronal differentiation of adult-born neural precursor cells