A collaborative environment for distributed Web-based CAD

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, June 1999.Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-69).by Gangadhar Konduri.S.M

Depletion of glutathione and enhanced lipid peroxidation in the CSF of acute psychotics following haloperidol administration

Haloperidol administration for 2 weeks results in significant reduction in the concentration of GSH in the CSF. Concomitantly, the levels of lipid peroxidation products increased as evidenced by increased malondialdehyde levels. The malondialdehyde levels in the CSF prior to haloparidol administration were not significantly higher than that seen in CSF from normal controls (data not shown) suggesting that increased oxidative stress did not exist in these patients prior to haloperidol administration. All the patients included in the present study were drug naive and hence the changes observed in the glutathione and malon6ialdehyde levels in the CSF were indeed mediated by haloperidol administration. The only other medication that was administered namely, anticholinergic drug, trihexyphenidyl is not known to cause any oxidative stress. The present study thus demonsuates that haloperidol administration results in significant oxidative stress. The generation of the oxidative stress is probably due to the increased turnover of dopemine caused by typical neuroleptics. Increased dopamine turnover is also observed in Parkinson's disease and the combination therapy consisting of antioxidant vitamin E and monoamine oxidase inhibitor, deprenyl has been shown to offer limited protection against the progression of the disease (Parkinson Disease Study Group 1989). In the present study, all the 15 patients exhibited extrapyramidal symptoms although the time of onset, the duration and the severity of the side effects differed between patients. On the presumption that the oxidative stress generated by haloperidel may cause extrapyramidal symptoms, the present study in humans taken together with the evidence provided in our earlier studies on rats (Shivakumar and Ravindranath 1992,1993) may justify experimental coadministration of antioxidanls (e.g., vitamin E) with typical neuroleptics like haloperidol to prevent the acute side effects

Toxic Effects of Glyphosate on Environment and Human Health

Globally, massive amounts of pesticides are manufactured and used both in agriculture and households to get rid of various pests, some of which reach soils and aquatic systems through various pathways. Glyphosate-based herbicides (GlyBH), including Roundup, are the most widely used pesticides worldwide. Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide that is effective against all types of weeds and has been used for many years. Their uses have increased exponentially since their introduction into the market. Residue levels in food or water, as well as human exposures, are escalating including in the environmental segments. It can, therefore, be found as a contaminant in water, and procedures are required for its removal. This work investigates the toxic effects associated with the use of Glyphosate on environmental and human health. © 2020 Author(s).Dr. BGR is highly thankful to UGC for the award of Post Doctoral Fellowship, File No. F./PDFSS-2014-15-SCAND-7541

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF TRAUMEEL (A HOMEOPATHIC PREPARATION) IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS-RATS

 Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of traumeel on acute and chronic inflammatory experimental animal models (rats).Methods: The traumeel, a homeo medicinal preparation was tested for its efficacy in acute and chronic inflammatory rats. In acute models: Rat pawedema method was used. In this model, rats were divided into four groups, six rats each. Group-I (NC), received 2% GA 2 ml, Group-II (PC) receivedaspirin (200 mg/kg), Group-III, intravenous received low dose (6CH) and high dose (300CH) of traumeel, preparation orally. Edema was developed ininjected paw. Immediately the foot edema volume was measured at 0 hr and at the end of 3rd hr with a plethysmograph. The percentage of inhibitionof edema by drugs was measured and compared between the test, control and standard groups. In chronic models: Granuloma method was used,and test drugs were given for 7 days. The animals were divided and treated same as in the acute model. After 7 days treatment, on 8th day animalswere sacrificed each implanted pellet was extracted with adherent granulation tissue. These pellets were dried and weighed. The known weight wasdeducted from granulation tissue weight. The mean weight of granulation tissue and difference in weight of granulation tissue for each group wascalculated, and the percentage of inhibition of inflammation was calculated.Results: The percentage of inhibition of edema in the acute model with 6CH, 300CH after 3 hrs is 51%, 76% respectively and with aspirin is 79%. Inchronic models, the percentage of inhibition of granulation tissue with 6CH, 300CH after 7 days is 19.5%, 32.85%, respectively and with aspirin is41.95%. The reduction of inflammation was statistically significant in each group is (p<0.001).Conclusion: Traumeel, a homeo preparation is a best alternative drug for the treatment of acute inflammatory conditions with no side effects.Keywords: Inflammation, Traumeel preparation, Carrageenan, Aspirin.Â

Marker detection and genetic analysis for rust resistance of recombinant and backcross inbred lines in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

The present work was conducted to study the genetic variation and identification of microsatellite markers linked to rust resistance in groundnut. An F6 mapping population and three backcross populations (BC1F4, BC2F3 and BC3F2) were developed from a cross between the susceptible parent GPBD-5 and resistant parent GPBD-4. There were highly significant differences among recombinants for reaction to rust. A little difference was observed between PCV and GCV for reaction to rust. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for reaction to rust in F6, and backcross populations. Bulk segregant analysis in the segregating population of GPBD-5 x GPBD-4 indicated TC5A06 to be putatively linked to rust resistance i.e., single marker analysis (SMA). This marker can be used in marker assisted selection for rust resistance in groundnut improvement program

Isolation of a euryhaline microalgal strain, Tetraselmis sp CTP4, as a robust feedstock for biodiesel production

Bioprospecting for novel microalgal strains is key to improving the feasibility of microalgae-derived biodiesel production. Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 (Chlorophyta, Chlorodendrophyceae) was isolated using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) in order to screen novel lipid-rich microalgae. CTP4 is a robust, euryhaline strain able to grow in seawater growth medium as well as in non-sterile urban wastewater. Because of its large cell size (9-22 mu m), CTP4 settles down after a six-hour sedimentation step. This leads to a medium removal efficiency of 80%, allowing a significant decrease of biomass dewatering costs. Using a two-stage system, a 3-fold increase in lipid content (up to 33% of DW) and a 2-fold enhancement in lipid productivity (up to 52.1 mg L-1 d(-1)) were observed upon exposure to nutrient depletion for 7 days. The biodiesel synthesized from the lipids of CTP4 contained high levels of oleic acid (25.67% of total fatty acids content) and minor amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids with >= 4 double bonds (< 1%). As a result, this biofuel complies with most of the European (EN14214) and American (ASTM D6751) specifications, which commonly used microalgal feedstocks are usually unable to meet. In conclusion, Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 displays promising features as feedstock with lower downstream processing costs for biomass dewatering and biodiesel refining

A Comprehensive Patient-Derived Xenograft Collection Representing the Heterogeneity of Melanoma

Therapy of advanced melanoma is changing dramatically. Following mutational and biological subclassification of this heterogeneous cancer, several targeted and immune therapies were approved and increased survival significantly. To facilitate further advancements through pre-clinical in vivo modeling, we have established 459 patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and live tissue samples from 384 patients representing the full spectrum of clinical, therapeutic, mutational, and biological heterogeneity of melanoma. PDX have been characterized using targeted sequencing and protein arrays and are clinically annotated. This exhaustive live tissue resource includes PDX from 57 samples resistant to targeted therapy, 61 samples from responders and non-responders to immune checkpoint blockade, and 31 samples from brain metastasis. Uveal, mucosal, and acral subtypes are represented as well. We show examples of pre-clinical trials that highlight how the PDX collection can be used to develop and optimize precision therapies, biomarkers of response, and the targeting of rare genetic subgroups