40 research outputs found
Outcome of posterior cruciate ligament-retaining primary total knee arthroplasty in arthritic patients
Background: The incidence of arthritis is rising in India due to increase in the proportion of ageing population and obesity. Cruciate retaining total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a promising mode of treatment for end stage arthritis, with excellent functional outcome. Hence, we have evaluated the functional outcome of posterior cruciate ligament retaining TKA and the problems related to the procedure at our institute.Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 30 patients who underwent posterior cruciate ligament retaining primary TKA at a tertiary health care centre between December 2012 and May 2014. Patients were evaluated using Knee society score (knee score and function score) at regular follow up visits.Results: The study included TKA for 42 knees in 30 patients. Indications for TKA were osteoarthritis in 37 knees and rheumatoid arthritis in 5 knees. The average follow-up period was 24 weeks. All the 42 knees had poor knee score (<60) and poor functional score (<60) preoperatively. Postoperatively 37 knees had excellent (80-100) and 5 knees had good knee score (70-79) whereas 22 patients had excellent (80-100), 5 patients had good (70-79), 2 patients had fair (60-69) and 1 patient had poor functional score (<60). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that posterior cruciate retaining TKA is a reliable procedure with excellent functional outcome, pain relief and early return of patients to their daily activities. Posterior cruciate retaining TKA provided excellent knee society score and functional score in majority of patients
Inherited polymorphisms in the RNA-mediated interference machinery affect microRNA expression and lung cancer survival
BACKGROUND:
MicroRNAs (miRs) have an important role in lung carcinogenesis and progression. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in miR biogenesis may affect miR expression in lung tissue and be associated with lung carcinogenesis and progression.
METHODS:
we analysed 12 SNPs in POLR2A, RNASEN and DICER1 genes in 1984 cases and 2073 controls from the Environment And Genetics in Lung cancer Etiology (EAGLE) study. We investigated miR expression profiles in 165 lung adenocarcinoma (AD) and 125 squamous cell carcinoma tissue samples from the same population. We used logistic and Cox regression models to examine the association of individual genotypes and haplotypes with lung cancer risk and with lung cancer-specific survival, respectively. SNPs-miR expression associations in cases were assessed using two-sample t-tests and global permutation tests.
RESULTS:
a haplotype in RNASEN (Drosha) was significantly associated with shorter lung cancer survival (hazard ratio=1.86, 95% CI=1.19-2.92, P=0.007). In AD cases, a SNP within the same haplotype was associated with reduced RNASEN mRNA expression (P=0.013) and with miR expression changes (global P=0.007) of miRs known to be associated with cancer (e.g., let-7 family, miR-21, miR-25, miR-126 and miR15a).
CONCLUSION:
inherited variation in the miR-processing machinery can affect miR expression levels and lung cancer-specific survival
Regulation of MicroRNA Biogenesis: A miRiad of mechanisms
microRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that influence diverse biological functions through the repression of target genes during normal development and pathological responses. Widespread use of microRNA arrays to profile microRNA expression has indicated that the levels of many microRNAs are altered during development and disease. These findings have prompted a great deal of investigation into the mechanism and function of microRNA-mediated repression. However, the mechanisms which govern the regulation of microRNA biogenesis and activity are just beginning to be uncovered. Following transcription, mature microRNA are generated through a series of coordinated processing events mediated by large protein complexes. It is increasingly clear that microRNA biogenesis does not proceed in a 'one-size-fits-all' manner. Rather, individual classes of microRNAs are differentially regulated through the association of regulatory factors with the core microRNA biogenesis machinery. Here, we review the regulation of microRNA biogenesis and activity, with particular focus on mechanisms of post-transcriptional control. Further understanding of the regulation of microRNA biogenesis and activity will undoubtedly provide important insights into normal development as well as pathological conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer
Designing a broad-spectrum integrative approach for cancer prevention and treatment
Targeted therapies and the consequent adoption of "personalized" oncology have achieved notablesuccesses in some cancers; however, significant problems remain with this approach. Many targetedtherapies are highly toxic, costs are extremely high, and most patients experience relapse after a fewdisease-free months. Relapses arise from genetic heterogeneity in tumors, which harbor therapy-resistantimmortalized cells that have adopted alternate and compensatory pathways (i.e., pathways that are notreliant upon the same mechanisms as those which have been targeted). To address these limitations, aninternational task force of 180 scientists was assembled to explore the concept of a low-toxicity "broad-spectrum" therapeutic approach that could simultaneously target many key pathways and mechanisms. Using cancer hallmark phenotypes and the tumor microenvironment to account for the various aspectsof relevant cancer biology, interdisciplinary teams reviewed each hallmark area and nominated a widerange of high-priority targets (74 in total) that could be modified to improve patient outcomes. For thesetargets, corresponding low-toxicity therapeutic approaches were then suggested, many of which werephytochemicals. Proposed actions on each target and all of the approaches were further reviewed forknown effects on other hallmark areas and the tumor microenvironment. Potential contrary or procar-cinogenic effects were found for 3.9% of the relationships between targets and hallmarks, and mixedevidence of complementary and contrary relationships was found for 7.1%. Approximately 67% of therelationships revealed potentially complementary effects, and the remainder had no known relationship. Among the approaches, 1.1% had contrary, 2.8% had mixed and 62.1% had complementary relationships. These results suggest that a broad-spectrum approach should be feasible from a safety standpoint. Thisnovel approach has potential to be relatively inexpensive, it should help us address stages and types ofcancer that lack conventional treatment, and it may reduce relapse risks. A proposed agenda for futureresearch is offered
Bromoacetone: a new protective group for 1,2-diols cleavable with zinc
Bromoacetone has been utilized for the first time as an excellent protective group for 1,2-diols that can be cleaved under neutral conditions viz., refluxing in Zn-MeOH
Scar sarcoidosis - Sparing Post surgical Scar
Infiltration of old scars by sarcoidal granuloma is not uncommon. However, pathogenesis of scar sarcoid is not clear. Peculiar involvement of road traffic accident scars with sparing of postoperative scar by granulomatous infiltrate in our patient suggests that foreign body contamination is essential in the evolution of scar sariod. Scar sarcoid can have systemic involvement at the outset in contradistinction to earlier reports as illustrated in our patient. Corticosteroids are effective in the treatment of these patients
A new scalarane sesterterpene from a marine sponge Hyatella cribrifomis Hyatt of the Indian ocean
325-328A new scalarane sesterterpene, 24-β-methoxyscalarolide 4, along with known scalaranes- 12-epi-deoxoscalarin 1, 12-epi-12-deacetyl-25-deoxyscalarin 2 and scalarolide 3 has been isolated from a marine sponge, Hyatella cribriformis, of the Indian ocean. The structure of compound 4 has been determined on the basis of ¹H and ¹³C NMR, DEPT, ¹H-¹H COSY and EIMS experiments
Not Available
Not AvailableImpact assessment of an integrated watershed development project located
in a low rainfall zone (417 mm) in semi-arid Karnataka was carried out.
Rainfall distribution during the project period (2008-15) was erratic with
four years out of seven receiving less than normal rainfall which led to
changes in cropping patterns. Share of area allocated to maize and sorghum
increased by 2.8% and 3%, respectively since these crops provide much
needed fodder. Due to in-situ soil moisture conservation practices like
bunding, yield of groundnut, sorghum, maize and onions in rainfed areas
increased by 19.4, 9, 16 and 2.8%, respectively. Recharge of groundwater due to
land based interventions in initial years led to an increase of 320% in number of
bore wells and irrigated area increased by 22%, but extraction of water
continuously along with low rainfall years led to failure of 75% of bore wells
by end of the project period. Water quality also deteriorated over time and
concentration of salts (Na , Mg and HCO ) increased. Direct employment of
5998 man days was generated over three years in different activities. Economic
analysis indicated that the project was viable even under low rainfall condition
and had a B:C ratio of 1.17 with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 11.92% and
payback period of 10 years.Not Availabl