Structural characterization of UDP-galactopyranose mutase from eukaryotic pathogens

UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UGM) is a unique flavoenzyme that catalyzes the interconversion between UDP-galactopyranose (UDP-Galp) and UDP-galactofuranose (UDP-Galf), without any net transfer of electrons. UGM is a central enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of galactofuranose (Galf). Galf forms a major component of different glycoconjugate structures, lipids and polysaccharides of disease-causing fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus and protozoan parasites such as Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania major. Current treatments for diseases caused by these pathogens are limited and use compounds that are either highly toxic or expensive. Thus, new drug development strategies are required for combating these lethal diseases. The unique chemistry of UGMs and its implication in the virulence of pathogenic bacteria, fungi and protozoa and its absence in humans make it a potential drug target. Though bacterial UGMs have been somewhat characterized in detail using structural and biochemical methods, major questions about the catalytic and structural properties of eukaryotic UGMs remain unanswered. Thus, the determination of three-dimensional structures of eukaryotic UGMs might help us in elucidating the enzymatic mechanism of this class of enzymes and potential inhibitor design. The research described in this dissertation address these longstanding questions by providing the first three-dimensional structural details and biochemical characterization of eukaryotic UGMs

Placental mesenchymal dysplasia: a diagnostic dilemma

Placental mesenchymal dysplasia is a rare placental anomaly characterized by placental enlargement, dilatation and congestion of chorionic plate vessels, and villous edema without signs of trophoblastic proliferation. It is often confused with partial hydatidiform mole. It was first diagnosed in 1991 and the reported incidence is 0.02%. We hereby report a case of a 20 years PGR at a period of gestation 26 weeks 5 days with placental mesenchymal dysplasia. PMD is a rare entity that needs to be distinguished from molar pregnancy to prevent unnecessary termination of pregnancy. Once suspected, these patients should be treated as high-risk pregnancies as they are associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), intrauterine devices (IUD) and congenital anomalies

A comparative study on the effect of intravenous Ringer lactate at 125 ml/hour versus 250 ml/hour on the duration of labour in nulliparous pregnant women

Background: Several factors may influence the progression of normal labour. It has been postulated that the routine administration of intravenous fluids to keep women adequately hydrated during labour may reduce the period of contraction and relaxation of the uterine muscle, and may ultimately reduce the duration of the labour. However, the routine administration of intravenous fluids to labouring women has not been adequately studied although it is widely practiced, and there is no consensus on the type or volume of fluids that are required, or indeed, whether intravenous fluids are at all necessary. This study was conducted to study the effect of intravenous Ringer lactate at 125 ml/hour versus 250 ml/hour on the duration of labour. Methods: In the study, patients were divided in two groups of nulliparous pregnant women in spontaneous early labour (between 3-5 cm dilatation), at term with singleton pregnancy and cephalic presentation, where one group received intravenous Ringer lactate at 125 ml/hour and the other group received Ringer lactate at 250 ml/hour. The duration of labour, mode of delivery and caesarean rates were measured in both groups along with incidence of prolonged labour and need for oxytocin augmentation. Results: The incidence of prolonged labour and oxytocin augmentation were less in the group receiving intravenous RL at 250 ml/hour but was not statistically significant. Remaining outcomes were comparable in both the groups with no outcome reaching statistical significance. Conclusions: Rate of fluid administration is one of the many variables which affects the labour outcomes. The incidence of prolonged labour and oxytocin augmentation was less in the group which received intravenous RL 250 ml/hour. There was no statistically significant difference in both groups in respect of duration of labour, mode of delivery and caesarean rates

Association of trans fatty acids with lipids and other cardiovascular risk factors in an Indian industrial population.

OBJECTIVE: Trans-fat, an invariable component of industrial fat is considered as one of the major dietary factors associated with CVD. Although the use of trans-fat is completely banned in some of the high-income countries where the CVD epidemic is declining, it is widely used in LMIC. We aimed to investigate the association of trans fatty acid in serum with risk markers of CVD in an industrial population in India. Participants were randomly selected from a study conducted in an industrial setting among employees and their family members. Information related to their demographic profile, anthropometric measurements, oil intake were recorded. Fasting samples were collected and stored at - 80 °C for analysis. Their lipid profile and hs CRP were measured and fatty acids analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detector (FID). RESULTS: Complete data was available for 176 participants. Among trans fatty acids, mono trans fatty acid was significant predictor of serum triglycerides [Unadjusted β (95% CI) 22.9 (2.6, 43.2); Adjusted β (95% CI) 20.4 (3.5, 37.3)]. None of the other trans fatty acids either individually or in group correlated with any of the biochemical markers studied

Bioinformatics: Computational Approaches for Genomics and Proteomics

Bioinformatics is a fast evolving field that combines biology, computer science, and statistics to analyze and comprehend enormous volumes of biological data. As a result of the introduction of high-throughput technologies like next-generation sequencing and mass spectrometry, genomic and proteomics research has generated enormous volumes of data, necessitating the development of computational tools to process and extract useful insights from these datasets. This presentation presents a survey of computational approaches in bioinformatics with a particular emphasis on their application to genomics and proteomics. The study of the entire genome is a topic covered in the discipline of genomics, which also includes genome annotation, assembly, and comparative genomics. Proteomics focuses on the investigation of proteins, including their identification, quantification, structural analysis, and functional characterization. Consequently, the importance of the area of bioinformatics has increased

Use of dried blood for measurement of trans fatty acids

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Correction: Dhatwalia et al. Rubus ellipticus Sm. Fruit Extract Mediated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: A Green Approach for Dye Degradation and Biomedical Applications. Materials 2022, 15, 3470

In the original publication [...

Analyzing the Intersection of Flood Emergencies and Female Hygiene Care in Himachal Pradesh: Implications for Quality of life

Floods, particularly rapid-onset floods, lead to significant harm to infrastructure, disturb human routines, and can lead to irreversible consequences. Himachal Pradesh is prone to frequent natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides, cloudbursts, and flash floods, which occur with different degrees of intensity. Studies indicate that vulnerable groups, especially women and children, are disproportionately affected by catastrophic hazards, such as cyclones and floods. The critical challenges encountered by women during the flood primarily revolved around their reproductive and sexual health, matters that have received inadequate attention from global decision-makers up to the present day. To identify and analyze the unique problems and vulnerabilities encountered by women in terms of maintaining their hygiene and their general quality of life amid flood catastrophes. Between September 2023 and April 2024, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted to assess the impact of hygiene and quality of life on 358 flood-affected females in Himachal Pradesh. The study utilized a self-constructed Google Form questionnaire, distributed through social networks such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Gmail, with data analysis and visualization performed using Google Forms' built-in features. The study revealed that 87.3% of women in Himachal Pradesh struggled to maintain hygiene during floods, significantly affecting their health and social interactions. Over two-thirds reported health issues due to inadequate sanitation, highlighting a crucial link between cleanliness and well-being. Despite challenges, strong community support aided recovery, with 80.7% of participants receiving vital help. These findings underscore the need for improved disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience to better protect vulnerable populations during crises.The study highlights the need for improved sanitation, healthcare, and social support systems to protect and enhance the resilience of vulnerable populations in Himachal Pradesh during floods, addressing significant hygiene, health, and socioeconomic challenges.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV

Opium De-Addiction Camps In Rural Himachal Pradesh

Socio-demographic and drug related variables of 107 male tribal opium addicts of Himachal pradesh, who volunteered for treatment in rural de- addiction camps have been presented . Results of the study and reasons for the success of the de-addiction camps have been discussed