Evaluation of Antiamnesic Activity of Ayurvedic Formulation Saraswatha Grita in Scopolamine Induced Rat Model

Selective damage to a number of brain regions has been associated with amnesia, including a circuit comprising the hippocampus, the diencephalon and the fibers connecting them. One of the most promising approaches to treat amnesia is enhancing the acetylcholine level in the brain using acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. Classical drugs having side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, decreased appetite, muscle weakness, muscle cramps, fatigue, dizziness and headache Therefore, the search for new AChE inhibitors especially from plants with less side effects has great interest. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the anti amnesia activity of ayurvedic formulation Saraswatha ghrita (SG)in scopolamine induced rat model. For induction of amnesia, scopalamine was injected i.p ( single dose of 2 mg/kg ) in rats .1 hr before induction various doses of SG (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) were administrated (p.0). To find out its Anti amnesic activity various behavioral studies, biochemical estimations, neurotransmitter evaluations and histopathalological studies have been performed. The results were promising like, in water maze the high dose SG treated group ( 400mg/kg ) escape latency time (6.167 ± 0.601sec) was significantly increased compared to scopolamine induced group (31.667 ± 1.174). Treatment with SG results in regains the levels of endogenous antioxidant levels to normal values. In case of acetyl cholinesterase activity SG treated group there was a significantly decrease level of acetyl cholinesterase (0.611 ±0.027) compared with scopolamine induced group (1.142 ±0.049) especially neuroprotective effect of SG was confirmed by histopathology. The inflammatory cells were absent, glial and astrocytes possess proper morphological features in SG treated group. So this study concludes the Anti amnesic activity of saraswatha gritha

Preliminary assessment, restoration and aquaculture support for a small wetland

In line with the strategy of regional wetland datasets integration to a common national digital platform, map of small wetlands less than 2.2 ha in Kochi Taluk was prepared. A representative small wetland at Edakochi village of Kerala was selected through maps and field visits for preliminary assessment and restoration. Shuttle Radar Topography Mission’s Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used to assess the general elevation, slope and flow accumulation pattern of the selected wetland along with assessment of the catchment area and drainage pattern. Restoration works of the selected wetland was carried out vis-a-vis side bund strengthening and sluice gate fortification. The comparative analysis of water quality assessment of wetland before and after restoration revealed improvement in water quality parameters as well as increase in water level. The Dissolved Oxygen level of the aquatic system was found to have increased substantially along with other several favourable changes in water parameters due to the restoration activities. The restored wetland at Edakochi was further utilised for multispecies farming of prawns, Pearl spot, Milk fish and Grey mullet and the harvest indicated sustainable yield. Aquaculture practice in wetlands with real time scientific advisories could ensure continuous data generation and village level climate resilience

Identification of the Transcriptional Regulator NcrB in the Nickel Resistance Determinant of Leptospirillum ferriphilum UBK03

The nickel resistance determinant ncrABCY was identified in Leptospirillum ferriphilum UBK03. Within this operon, ncrA and ncrC encode two membrane proteins that form an efflux system, and ncrB encodes NcrB, which belongs to an uncharacterized family (DUF156) of proteins. How this determinant is regulated remains unknown. Our data indicate that expression of the nickel resistance determinant is induced by nickel. The promoter of ncrA, designated pncrA, was cloned into the promoter probe vector pPR9TT, and co-transformed with either a wild-type or mutant nickel resistance determinant. The results revealed that ncrB encoded a transcriptional regulator that could regulate the expression of ncrA, ncrB, and ncrC. A GC-rich inverted repeat sequence was identified in the promoter pncrA. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) and footprinting assays showed that purified NcrB could specifically bind to the inverted repeat sequence of pncrA in vitro; this was confirmed by bacterial one-hybrid analysis. Moreover, this binding was inhibited in the presence of nickel ions. Thus, we classified NcrB as a transcriptional regulator that recognizes the inverted repeat sequence binding motif to regulate the expression of the key nickel resistance gene, ncrA

Dietary iron intake in the first 4 months of infancy and the development of type 1 diabetes: a pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>To investigate the impact of iron intake on the development of type 1 diabetes (T1DM).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Case-control study with self-administered questionnaire among families of children with T1DM who were less than 10 years old at the time of the survey and developed diabetes between age 1 and 6 years. Data on the types of infant feeding in the first 4 months of life was collected from parents of children with T1DM (n = 128) and controls (n = 67) <10 years old. Because some cases had sibling controls, we used conditional logistic regression models to analyze the data in two ways. First we performed a case-control analysis of all 128 cases and 67 controls. Next, we performed a case-control analysis restricted to cases (n = 59) that had a sibling without diabetes (n = 59). Total iron intake was modeled as one standard deviation (SD) increase in iron intake. The SD for iron intake was 540 mg in the total sample and 539 mg in the restricted sample as defined above.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median (min, max) total iron intake in the first 4 months of life was 1159 (50, 2399) mg in T1DM cases and 466 (50, 1224) mg among controls (<it>P </it>< 0.001). For each one standard deviation increase in iron intake, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for type 1 diabetes was 2.01 (1.183, 3.41) among all participants (128 cases and 67 controls) while it was 2.26 (1.27, 4.03) in a restricted sample of T1 D cases with a control sibling (59 cases and 59 controls) in models adjusted for birth weight, age at the time of the survey, and birth order.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this pilot study, high iron intake in the first 4 months of infancy is associated with T1DM. Whether iron intake is causal or a marker of another risk factor warrants further investigation.</p

The Effect of Iron Limitation on the Transcriptome and Proteome of Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf-5

One of the most important micronutrients for bacterial growth is iron, whose bioavailability in soil is limited. Consequently, rhizospheric bacteria such as Pseudomonas fluorescens employ a range of mechanisms to acquire or compete for iron. We investigated the transcriptomic and proteomic effects of iron limitation on P. fluorescens Pf-5 by employing microarray and iTRAQ techniques, respectively. Analysis of this data revealed that genes encoding functions related to iron homeostasis, including pyoverdine and enantio-pyochelin biosynthesis, a number of TonB-dependent receptor systems, as well as some inner-membrane transporters, were significantly up-regulated in response to iron limitation. Transcription of a ribosomal protein L36-encoding gene was also highly up-regulated during iron limitation. Certain genes or proteins involved in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), orfamide A and pyrrolnitrin, as well as a chitinase, were over-expressed under iron-limited conditions. In contrast, we observed that expression of genes involved in hydrogen cyanide production and flagellar biosynthesis were down-regulated in an iron-depleted culture medium. Phenotypic tests revealed that Pf-5 had reduced swarming motility on semi-solid agar in response to iron limitation. Comparison of the transcriptomic data with the proteomic data suggested that iron acquisition is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels

An empirical examination of investor sentiment and stock market volatility: Evidence from India

Understanding the irrational sentiments of the market participants is necessary for making good investment decisions. Despite the recent academic effort to examine the role of investors' sentiments in market dynamics, there is a lack of consensus in delineating the structural aspect of market sentiments. This research is an attempt to address this gap. The study explores the role of irrational investors' sentiments in determining stock market volatility. By employing monthly data on market-related implicit indices, we constructed an irrational sentiment index using principal component analysis. This sentiment index was modelled in the GARCH and Granger causality framework to analyse its contribution to volatility. The results showed that irrational sentiment significantly causes excess market volatility. Moreover, the study indicates that the asymmetrical aspects of an inefficient market contribute to excess volatility and returns. The findings are crucial for retail investors as well as portfolio managers seeking to make an optimum portfolio to maximise profits

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Criteria of Ultrasonographic Parameters In The Prediction of Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic criteria of Ultrasonographic parameters to predict intrauterine growth restriction. Methods: Normal pregnant females at different gestational ages that come for normal ultrasonography for routine check were recruited for the study. The USG markers to identify IUGR were assessed. Results: The umbilical artery indices such as S/D ratio decreased from 2.63 to 1.96. In addition, PI (Pulsatility Index) decreased from 1.24 to 0.60 amp RI decreased from 0.62 to 0.48 from 32 weeks onwards respectively. Doppler indices of MCA decrease after 32 weeks. The middle cerebral artery indices such as PI decreased from 2.16 to 1.36 and RI decreased from 0.89 to 0.62 from 32 weeks onwards. In control group Cerebro Placental Ratio (CPR) was more than 1. Out of 50 cases of the study group, 25 cases shows PI of Umbilical artery more than 2 SD, 23 cases with SDR of umbilical artery gt 3, 20 cases with SDR gt 95th percentile whereas in middle cerebral artery 15 cases with SDR gt 95th percentile and 27 cases with CPR lt 1. The prevalence of IUGR among the study group was 51.5%. The best cut-off value of the TCD/AC ratio for predicting IUGR was 15.4%, giving the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 73.26%, 80.25%, 79.75%, and 73.86%, respectively and overall diagnostic accuracy was 92.4%. Conclusions We conclude that, no single non-Doppler sonographic parameter permits the confident diagnosis of IUGR. Multiple Doppler and conventional sonographic parameters shows increase sensitivity and predictivity than single parameter in the study group. Low Estimated Fetal Weight combined with Umbilical (Systolic Diastolic Ratio) SDR gt2 SD and HC/AC ratio combined with SDR gt2 SD parameters shows increased predictivity and sensitivity. Considering that C/U RI (Cerebral/Uterine Resistivity Index) reflects not only the circulatory insufficiency of the placenta by alteration in the umbilical resistance index, but also the adaptive changes resulting in modification of the middle cerebral resistance index, it seemed to be a potentially useful tool in predicting adverse perinatal outcome in high risk cases. Our results support the correlation between abnormal fetal C/U RI and adverse perinatal outcome in patients with IUGR

Role of site-specific binding to plasma albumin in drug availability to

ABSTRACT Many studies have reported greater drug uptake into brain than that predicted based upon existing models using the free fraction (f u ) of drug in arterial serum. To explain this difference, circulating plasma proteins have been suggested to interact with capillary membrane in vivo to produce a conformational change that favors net drug dissociation and elevation of f u . Albumin, the principal binding protein in plasma, has two main drug binding sites, Sudlow I and II. We tested this hypothesis using drugs that bind selectively to either site I (warfarin) or site II (ibuprofen), as well as mixed ligands that have affinity for both sites (tolbutamide and valproate). Brain uptake was determined in the presence and absence of albumin using the in situ rat brain perfusion technique. Unidirectional brain uptake transfer constants (K in ) were measured and compared with those predicted using the modified Kety-Crone-Renkin model: Ϫfu ϫ PSu/F ), where F is perfusion flow and PS u is the permeability-surface area product to free drug of brain capillaries. The results demonstrated good agreement between measured and predicted K in over a 100-fold range in perfusion fluid albumin concentration using albumin from three different species (i.e., human, bovine, and rat), as well as whole-rat serum. K in decreased in the presence of albumin in direct proportion to perfusion fluid f u with constant PS u . The results show that brain uptake of selected Sudlow site I and II ligands matches that predicted by the modified Kety-Crone-Renkin model with no evidence for enhanced dissociation

Encephalopathy-causing mutations in G beta(1) (GNB1) alter regulation of neuronal GIRK channels

Mutations in the GNB1 gene, encoding the Gβ(1) subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins, cause GNB1 Encephalopathy. Patients experience seizures, pointing to abnormal activity of ion channels or neurotransmitter receptors. We studied three Gβ(1) mutations (K78R, I80N and I80T) using computational and functional approaches. In heterologous expression models, these mutations did not alter the coupling between G protein-coupled receptors to G(i/o), or the Gβγ regulation of the neuronal voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel Ca(V)2.2. However, the mutations profoundly affected the Gβγ regulation of the G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRK, or Kir3). Changes were observed in Gβ(1) protein expression levels, Gβγ binding to cytosolic segments of GIRK subunits, and in Gβγ function, and included gain-of-function for K78R or loss-of-function for I80T/N, which were GIRK subunit-specific. Our findings offer new insights into subunit-dependent gating of GIRKs by Gβγ, and indicate diverse etiology of GNB1 Encephalopathy cases, bearing a potential for personalized treatment