Primary intracranial myxoma - Report of a rare case and review of literature

Myxomas are benign primary tumors of the heart of mesenchymal origin. Neurological complications attributed to atrial myxoma occurs in 10% to 12% of  patients, with ischemic presentation due to cerebral infarct in 83%-89% of cases. Few case reports are available of multiple metastatic myxomas from primary inthe heart, despite its slow growing and innocuous histological appearance. Primary intracranial myxomas are extremely rare and only six cases have been reported in literature till date, out of which four were supratentorial in location. As on account of its benign nature, complete surgical resection of the tumor is the recommended treatment

Not Available

Not AvailableQuantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) is the most sensitive and advanced method to quantify the expression of target genes of animals including fish. However, the broad variation in the expression patterns of housekeeping genes (HKGs) among tissues and different developmental stages makes it necessary to conduct studies for the selection of the suitable internal control. There is no report available on the reference genes for normalization of gene expression studies in Pterophyllum scalare. In the present study, four reference genes, viz. alpha-actin (α-actin), beta-actin (β-actin), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and elongation factor-alpha 1 (EF1α), were first characterized and then screened for their efficacy as a suitable HKG at different developmental stages and tissue types of P. scalare. The different statistical algorithms such as Delta-cT, NormFinder, and geNorm portray β-actin to be the most suitable gene among the four genes, whereas BestKeeper revealed EF1α as the most stable reference gene during different developmental stages and tissue types. However, comprehensive gene stability method demonstrated β-actin to be the most stable gene for conducting any gene expression studies. In conclusion, β-actin is recommended as the most suitable reference gene among the four selected genes for qPCR data normalization during different developmental stages and tissue types of P. scalare.Not Availabl

Aquaculture International

Not AvailableQuantitative real - time RT - PCR (qRT - PCR) is the most sensitive and advanced method to quantify the expression of target genes of animals including fish. However, the broad variation in the expression patterns of housekeeping genes (HKGs) among tissues and different developmental stages makes it necessary to conduct studies for the selection of the suitable internal control. There is no report available on the reference genes for normalization of gene expression studies in Pterophyllum scalare. In the present study, four reference genes, viz. alpha - actin ( - actin), beta - actin ( - actin), glyceraldehyde - 3 - phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and elongation factor - alpha 1 (EF1), were first characterized and then screened for their efficacy as a suitable HKG at different developmental stages and tissue types of P. scalare. The different statistical algorithms such as Delta - cT, NormFinder, and geNorm portray - actin to be the most suitable gene among the four genes, whereas BestKeeper revealed EF1 as the most stable reference gene during different developmental stages and tissue types. However, comprehensive gene stability method demonstrated - actin to be the most stable gene for conducting any gene expression studies. In conclusion, - actin is recommended as the most suitable reference gene among the four selected genes for qPCR data normalization during different developmental stages and tissue types of P. scalare

ANTIOXIDATIVE AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF LENTINULA EDODES

Objective: Aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the edible mushroom species, Lentinula edodes.Methods: Presence of potential antioxidant compounds, such as, ascorbic acid, β carotene, lycopene, phenolics and flavonoids were tested. To understand the antioxidant potentiality like scavenging of superoxide radical, chelating of ferrous ion, scavenging capacity of DPPH radicals and reducing power of the extract were investigated.Results: The extraction yield achieved from L. edodes extraction was 2.4%. Total phenolic content was 25.5 mg GAE/g and total flavonoids content was 2 mg CE/g. The EC50 value for superoxide radical scavenging activity was found to be at a concentration of 0.64 mg/ml.Conclusion: The results obtained reveal that L. edodes can be a potential source of natural antioxidant which may be used to treat various oxidative stress related diseases.Key words: Ascorbic acid, edible mushroom, Lentinula edodes, flavonoids, phenols, reactive oxygen specie

Not Available

Not AvailableEarly larval developmental stages of fish are highly susceptible to opportunistic pathogens until the complete maturation of the lymphoid organs. Knowledge of the expression pattern of important markers of adaptive immune system during the ontogenetic development is essential before vaccinating the fish. In the present study, Pterophyllum scalare (angelfish) was taken to explore the relative expression profile of developmental markers of adaptive immunity, recombination activating gene-2 (RAG-2) and immunoglobulin M (IgM). The fishes were bred and early developmental stages (0–45 days post-hatched) were used to assess the expression profile. The genes, RAG-2 and IgM were cloned and sequenced with the base pair lengths of 1958 bp and 225 bp respectively. The mRNA expression of RAG-2 appeared at insignificant level at the first day of hatching, but the expression was significantly increased from 24 dph (days post-hatching) onwards and reached its peak at 27 dph. The results proved that the maturation of lymphoid organs was completed at 27 dph as the respective protein is involved in the V(D)J recombination, important for the maturation of lymphoid organs. A similar trend was also observed in the mRNA transcript levels of IgM gene and a significantly high expression was detected from 27 dph onwards. The present study suggested that the suitable time for vaccination in P. scalare could be taken at 27 dph, as the maturation and development of lymphoid organs is completed thus helps in stimulating the adaptive response of immunity against any pathogenNot Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThe early larval stages of fish are susceptible to microbial infections until the maturation of lymphoid organs. Fishes are capable of responding the pathogens specifically by activating the adaptive immune system. During the maturation of lymphoid organs, phenomenon of V(D)J recombination is mediated by recombination activating genes (RAGs), which act as the marker of physiological maturity of the adaptive immune system. In the present study, the RAG-1 nucleotide sequence was partially cloned (272bp) in order to assess its pattern of mRNA expression in different tissues and during the larval developmental stages of Pterophyllum scalare. The RAG-1 mRNA expression was detected in early larvae right from the first day after hatching. Later, an up-regulation in the expression was observed upto 30 dph followed by a declined trend till the end of experiment. Moreover, the tissue distribution of RAG1 revealed a significantly high expression level in kidney than other tissues which demonstrate it to be a major lymphoid organ. Hence, the current study concludes that the complete maturation and development of lymphoid organs based on the mRNA expression of RAG-1 occurs at 27 to 30 DPH in P. scalare.Not Availabl

Structure based drug discovery and in vitro activity testing for DNA gyrase inhibitors of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi

[Display omitted] The emerged resistance in Typhoidal Salmonella has limited the treatment options for typhoid fever. In this scenario, there is a need to find alternate treatment modalities against this pathogen. Amongst the therapeutic agents currently being used to treat enteric fever, quinolones have enjoyed considerable success since past three decades. These drugs act upon DNA gyrase and the acquired resistance is due to mutations at Ser83 and Asp87 of gyrase A subunit. In the present study DNA gyrase enzyme was targeted to seek out potential new inhibitors which are not affected by these mutations. Molecular modelling and docking studies were performed in Schrödinger’s molecular modelling software. Homology model of DNA gyrase-DNA complex was built using templates 1AB4 and 3LTN. Molecular dynamic simulations were performed in SPC solvent for 100 ns. Total 17,900,742 drug like molecules were downloaded from ZINC library of chemical compounds. The Glide XP score of the compounds ranged from −5.285 to −13.692. All the ligands bound at the four base pair staggered nick in the DNA binding groove of DNA gyrase enzyme with their aromatic rings intercalating between the bases of two successive nucleotides stabilized by π - π stacking interactions. The binding pocket of DNA gyrase B comprising conserved residues Lys 447, Gly 448, Lys 449, Ile 450, Leu 451, Gln 465 and Val 467 interacts with the ligand molecules through van der Waals interactions. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration), MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) and IC50 of the tested compounds ranged from 500 to 125 mg/L, 750 to 500 mg/L and 100 to 12.5 mg/L, respectively. The selected hits bind to quinolone binding pocket, but their mode of binding and conformation is different to fluoroquinolones, and hence, their binding is not affected by mutations at Ser83 or Asp87 positions. These lead compounds can be further explored as a scaffold to design inhibitors against DNA gyrase to bypass quinolone resistance

Not Available

Not AvailableEarly larval developmental stages of fish are highly susceptible to opportunistic pathogens until the complete maturation of the lymphoid organs. Knowledge of the expression pattern of important markers of adaptive immune system during the ontogenetic development is essential before vaccinating the fish. In the present study, Pterophyllum scalare (angelfish) was taken to explore the relative expression profile of developmental markers of adaptive immunity, recombination activating gene-2 (RAG-2) and immunoglobulin M (IgM). The fishes were bred and early developmental stages (0–45 days post-hatched) were used to assess the expression profile. The genes, RAG-2 and IgM were cloned and sequenced with the base pair lengths of 1958 bp and 225 bp respectively. The mRNA expression of RAG-2 appeared at insignificant level at the first day of hatching, but the expression was significantly increased from 24 dph (days post-hatching) onwards and reached its peak at 27 dph. The results proved that the maturation of lymphoid organs was completed at 27 dph as the respective protein is involved in the V(D)J recombination, important for the maturation of lymphoid organs. A similar trend was also observed in the mRNA transcript levels of IgM gene and a significantly high expression was detected from 27 dph onwards. The present study suggested that the suitable time for vaccination in P. scalare could be taken at 27 dph, as the maturation and development of lymphoid organs is completed thus helps in stimulating the adaptive response of immunity against any pathogen.Not Availabl

Pefloxacin as a surrogate marker for quinolone susceptibility in Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi & Paratyphi A in India

Background & objectives: The emergence of resistance to fluoroquinolones in enteric fever despite the pathogen being susceptible by in vitro laboratory results, led to repeated changes in Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines for this class of antibiotics to have specific and sensitive interpretative criteria. In 2015, CLSI added pefloxacin disk diffusion criteria as a surrogate marker for fluoroquinolone susceptibility. This study was carried out to evaluate the use of pefloxacin as a surrogate marker for ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and levofloxacin susceptibility in clinical isolates of Salmonella Typhi and S. Paratyphi A. Methods: A total of 412 strains of S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A were studied for pefloxacin disk diffusion test as a surrogate marker for susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and levofloxacin as per CLSI and the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) guidelines. Molecular mechanisms of resistance to fluoroquinolones were also determined and correlated with pefloxacin susceptibility breakpoints. Results: Of the total 412 strains, 34 were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and 33 each to levofloxacin and ofloxacin using CLSI minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) breakpoints. There was a positive correlation between MICs with correlation coefficients 0.917, 0.896 and 0.958 for the association between ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin and ofloxacin and levofloxacin, respectively (P <0.001). The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of pefloxacin as a surrogate marker using ciprofloxacin MIC as a gold standard were 100, 99.5 and 94.4 per cent, while 100, 99.2 and 91.7 per cent taking ofloxacin and levofloxacin MIC as gold standard. Mutations in target genes correlated with the pefloxacin susceptibility results. Interpretation & conclusions: Our results showed that pefloxacin served as a good surrogate marker for the detection of susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and levofloxacin in S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A. Further studies are required to confirm these findings