ADVANCED MOTION DETECTION ALGORITHM FOR PATIENT MONITORING USING CELL PHONE WITH VIDEO DISPLAY

Proposed is a smart, reliable and robust algorithm for motion detection, tracking and activity analysis. Background subtraction is considered intelligent algorithms for the same. We use this to track the motion and monitor the movements of the subject in question. Mount the web camera focused to the patient. PC should have a unique external Internet IPAddress. Android mobile phone should be GPRS enabled. GSM technology is used for sending SMS. It is a client-server technology wherein client captures the images, checks for motion if any, discards the packets until motion is detected. Use background subtraction algorithm to check the motion. The surveillance camera does not move and has a capture of the static background it is facing. It uses image subtraction to determine object motion. It provides more reliable information about moving object, but it is so sensitivity to the dynamic changes such as lighting. Once motion is detected, camera stops monitoring further motion. Instead, it starts capturing the video. Simultaneously, SMS alert is sent to the responsible doctors and also alerting the medical staff with audio speaker in the hospital. Java mail API is used to mail the captured video to the entered e-mail IDs. Once the doctor demands for video, socket is established between the PC and the mobile phone and video (series of images) are streamed to the doctor’s mobile phone. Save live video of first few seconds at the server end for future use. Activate alert at the remote end

Determinants of smallholder farmers’ participation in microfinance markets in Huye district, Southern Province, Rwanda

Microfinance markets play a significant role in enhancing socio-economic development of developing countries. In Rwanda, access to microfinance  in financing agriculture is very important for future development. Despite this development, smallholder farmers still have limited access to  institutional financial services. This study assessed factors that affect smallholder farmers’ participation in microfinance markets in three sectors of  Maraba, Mukura and Ngoma in Huye district in Southern province of Rwanda. Primary data were collected using questionnaires and personal  interviews. A total of 300 respondents were selected using a simple random sampling technique from participants and non-participants in  microfinance markets. Data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Probit regression model. Results from descriptive statistics  revealed that major sources of income were farming and business activities. Findings revealed also that each household had an average of about  five members with standard deviation of 1.901 and mean value of household land size of 1.87 ha with standards deviation of 0.758. Findings from  Probit analysis revealed that household size, education, total annual income, cooperative membership, and household savings had a positive and  significant effect on smallholder farmers’ participation in microfinance markets. Distance from microfinance institutions negatively influenced  participation in microfinance markets. Households that were located far from to the microfinance institutions were less likely to participate in  microfinance markets compared to those nearer to the institutions. This study recommends microfinance institutions in Rwanda to expand their  financial systems to enable smallholder farmers access affordable agricultural finance. Further, there is need for microfinance institutions to create  more awareness programs to help smallholder farmers get key information related to microfinance services. This is expected to influence  smallholder farmers’ willingness to apply for microcredits for agricultural development. This will in the long-run help the smallholder farmers to  adopt new practices and technologies thus increasing their agricultural production.&nbsp

Tubulysin Synthesis Featuring Stereoselective Catalysis and Highly Convergent Multicomponent Assembly

A concise and modular total synthesis of the highly potent N14-desacetoxytubulysin H (1) has been accomplished in 18 steps in an overall yield of up to 30%. Our work highlights the complexity-augmenting and route-shortening power of diastereoselective multicomponent reaction (MCR) as well as the role of bulky ligands to perfectly control both the regioselective and diastereoselective synthesis of tubuphenylalanine in just two steps. The total synthesis not only provides an operationally simple and step economy but will also stimulate major advances in the development of new tubulysin analogues

Nuclear annexin II negatively regulates growth of LNCaP cells and substitution of ser 11 and 25 to glu prevents nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of annexin II

BACKGROUND: Annexin II heavy chain (also called p36, calpactin I) is lost in prostate cancers and in a majority of prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). Loss of annexin II heavy chain appears to be specific for prostate cancer since overexpression of annexin II is observed in a majority of human cancers, including pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and brain tumors. Annexin II exists as a heterotetramer in complex with a protein ligand p11 (S100A10), and as a monomer. Diverse cellular functions are proposed for the two forms of annexin II. The monomer is involved in DNA synthesis. A leucine-rich nuclear export signal (NES) in the N-terminus of annexin II regulates its nuclear export by the CRM1-mediated nuclear export pathway. Mutation of the NES sequence results in nuclear retention of annexin II. RESULTS: Annexin II localized in the nucleus is phosphorylated, and the appearance of nuclear phosphorylated annexin II is cell cycle dependent, indicating that phosphorylation may play a role in nuclear entry, retention or export of annexin II. By exogenous expression of annexin II in the annexin II-null LNCaP cells, we show that wild-type annexin II is excluded from the nucleus, whereas the NES mutant annexin II localizes in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Nuclear retention of annexin II results in reduced cell proliferation and increased doubling time of cells. Expression of annexin II, both wild type and NES mutant, causes morphological changes of the cells. By site-specific substitution of glutamic acid in the place of serines 11 and 25 in the N-terminus, we show that simultaneous phosphorylation of both serines 11 and 25, but not either one alone, prevents nuclear localization of annexin II. CONCLUSION: Our data show that nuclear annexin II is phosphorylated in a cell cycle-dependent manner and that substitution of serines 11 and 25 inhibit nuclear entry of annexin II. Aberrant accumulation of nuclear annexin II retards proliferation of LNCaP cells

Sulfur-Switch Ugi Reaction for Macrocyclic Disulfide-Bridged Peptidomimetics

A general strategy is introduced for the efficient synthetic access of disulfide linked artificial macrocycles via a Ugi four-component reaction (U4CR) followed by oxidative cyclization. The double-mercapto input is proposed for use in the Ugi reaction, thereby yielding all six topologically possible combinations. The protocol is convergent and short and enables the production of novel disulfide peptidomimetics in a highly general fashion

Annexin A2 expression in prostate cancer cells

Background: Metastasis is a major cause of morbidity in prostate cancer patients, the primary mortality in this disease is metastasis to the bone tissue. Despite substantial efforts to understand prostate cancer metastasis, the mechanisms that are involved in preparing the metastatic niche for colonizing the prostate cancer cells are still not known. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify essential regulators of bone metastasis in prostate cancer for therapeutic targets.Purpose: Annexin A2 (AnxA2), a calcium-dependent phospholipid binding protein, is overexpressed in the poorly differentiated high-grade adenocarcinomas of prostate cancer. AnxA2 exists as a monomer in the cytosol and as a heterotetrameric complex with S100A10 [(AnxA2)2-(S100A10)2] at the cell surface. Phosphorylation of AnxA2 at tyrosine 23 (pAnxA2-Y23) is an important event for the localization of AnxA2 to the cell surface. At the cell surface, AnxA2 heterotetramer complex provides binding site for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and converts plasminogen into plasmin, which plays an important role in invasion and metastasis of cancer. The cell surface AnxA2 also plays an important role in hematopoietic stem cell localization to the marrow niche and regulates osteogenic differentiation. However, the cell surface expression of AnxA2 in prostate cancer is unknown. Therefore, in the present study, we have demonstrated the cell surface expression of AnxA2 in prostate cancer cells to delineate the mechanism of bone metastasis.Methods: Prostate cancer cell lines, PC3 and DU145 were grown in RPMI-1640 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum, in a humidified incubator at 37ºC with 5% CO2. The RWPE1, and PWR-1E cells were cultured in keratinocyte growth medium supplemented with 5 ng/ml human recombinant epidermal growth factor and 0.05 mg/ml bovine pituitary extract (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and maintained in an incubator under the conditions described above. Immunoblotting was used to detect the expression of pAnxA2-Y23 and AnxA2 proteins in cells.Results: Our results demonstrated that the expression of pAnxA2-Y23 is very high in prostate cancer cells (PC3 and DU145 cells) compared to normal prostate epithelial (PWR1E, and RWPE1 cells). However, the expression of total AnxA2 in both prostate normal and cancer cell lines is comparable. In addition, our membrane wash experiment showed that a large amount of AnxA2 is present at the cell surface of the PC3 and DU145 cell lines. In normal prostate epithelial cells, even though the expression of total AnxA2 is comparable to PC3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells, membrane localization of AnxA2 is very low.Conclusion: Our results clearly suggest that the cell surface expression of AnxA2 is high in prostate cancer cells due to increased phosphorylation of AnxA2 at tyrosine 23.Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation ProgramMicrobiology, Immunology and GeneticsBiolog

Expression of biomarkers modulating prostate cancer angiogenesis: Differential expression of annexin II in prostate carcinomas from India and USA

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) incidences vary with genetic, geographical and ethnic dietary background of patients while angiogenesis is modulated through exquisite interplay of tumor-stromal interactions of biological macromolecules. We hypothesized that comprehensive analysis of four biomarkers modulating angiogenesis in PCa progression in two diverse populations might explain the variance in the incidence rates. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis of 42 PCa biopsies reveals that though Anx-II expression is lost in both the Indian and American population with Gleason scores (GS) ranging between 6 and 10, up to 25 % of cells in the entire high grade (GS > 8) PD PCa samples from US show intense focal membrane staining for Anx-II unlike similarly graded specimens from India. Consistent with this observation, the prostate cancer cell lines PC-3, DU-145 and MDA PCa 2A, but not LNCaP-R, LNCAP-UR or MDA PCa 2B cell lines, express Anx-II. Transcriptional reactivation of Anx-II gene with Aza-dC could not entirely account for loss of Anx-II protein in primary PCa. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was moderately expressed in most of high grade PIN and some MD PCa and surrounding stroma. COX-2 was not expressed in PD PCa (GS ~7–10), while adjacent smooth muscles cells stained weakly positive. Decorin expression was observed only in high grade PIN but not in any of the prostate cancers, atrophy or BPH while stromal areas of BPH stained intensively for DCN and decreased with advancing stages of PCa. Versican expression was weak in most of the MD PCa, moderate in all of BPH, moderately focal in PD PC, weak and focal in PIN, atrophy and adjacent stroma. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of pro- and anti-angiogenic modulators changes with stage of PCa but correlates with angiogenic status. Focal membrane staining of Anx-II reappears in high grade PCa specimens only from US indicating differential expression of Anx-II. COX-2 stained stronger in American specimens compared to Indian specimens. The sequential expression of DCN and VCN in progressive stages was similar in specimens from India and USA indicating no population-based differences. The mechanistic and regulatory role of Anx-II in PCa progression warrants further investigation

Novel Survivin Inhibitor for Suppressing Pancreatic Cancer Cells Growth via Downregulating Sp1 and Sp3 Transciption Factors

Background/Aims: Targeting survivin, an anti-apoptotic protein and mitotic regulator, is considered as an effective therapeutic option for pancreatic cancer (PaCa). Tolfenamic acid (TA) showed anti-cancer activity in pre-clinical studies. A recent discovery demonstrated a copper(II) complex of TA (Cu-TA) can result in higher activity. In this study, the ability of Cu-TA to inhibit survivin and its transcription factors, Specificity protein (Sp) 1 and 3 in PaCa cell lines and tumor growth in mouse xenograft model were evaluated. Methods: Cell growth inhibition was measured in MIA PaCa-2 and Panc1 cells for 2 days using CellTiter-Glo kit. Sp1, Sp3 and survivin expression (by Western blot and qPCR), apoptotic cells and cell cycle phase distribution (by flow cytometry) were evaluated. A pilot study was performed using athymic nude mice [treated with vehicle/Cu-TA (25 or 50 mg/kg) 3 times/week for 4 weeks. Results: The IC50 value for Cu-TA was about half than TA. Both agents repressed the protein expression of Sp1/Sp3/survivin, Cu-TA was more effective than TA. Especially effect on survivin inhibition was 5.2 (MIA PaCa-2) or 6.4 (Panc1) fold higher and mRNA expression of only survivin was decreased. Apoptotic cells increased with Cu-TA treatment in both cell lines, while Panc1 showed both effect on apoptosis and cell cycle (G2/M) arrest. Cu-TA decreased the tumor growth in mouse xenografts (25 mg/kg: 48%; 50 mg/kg: 68%). Additionally, there was no change observed in mice body weights, indicating no overt toxicity was occurring. Conclusion: These results show that Cu-TA can serve as an effective survivin inhibitor for inhibiting PaCa cell growth

AN APPROACH ISOLATION,SCREENING AND PRODUCTION OF PROTEASE FROM ASPERGILLUS ORYZAE

This study investigates the production of extracellular protease synthesis were carried out by using Aspergillusoryzae was evaluated under different fermentation parameters by employing submerged fermentation method. The protease producers detected by the clear zone (casein hydrolysis) around the colony by simple plate assay method. AspergillusoryzaeKS 5 is the potential strain among the fungal isolates. The Proteasesynthesis were increased their yield after the optimization of fermentation parameters. The optimum pH 6.0, temperature 350C and inoculum size 1.0 ml and it showed 1.7 IU.Key words: Protease, Plate assay, Optimization and Aspergillusoryza