Methylglyoxal Binding to Bovine Liver Catalase Results in Loss of Activity and Heme Dislocation

Glycation, the non-enzymatic attachment of glucose to protein, is one of the important events in the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other diseases. Methylglyoxal (MG), a dicarbonyl compound formed during glycation, monosaccharide autoxidation, and metabolism is elevated during diabetes mellitus. Among other antioxidant enzymes, catalase is important for the defense against oxidative damage. However, antioxidant enzymes including catalase can themselves become targets of non-enzymatic modification by methylglyoxal. In this study, catalase was incubated with increasing concentrations of MG for different time intervals. Structural and functional alterations to catalase were monitored by a variety of approaches, namely, assay of enzyme activity, staining of gels for activity as well as heme, measurement of protein carbonyls and Arg pyrimidine, which is a specific MG modification product. A progressive increase in electrophoretic mobility and detachment of heme from the monomer were observed with increasing concentrations of methylglyoxal. The MG-modified enzyme showed reduced affinity towards the substrate hydrogen peroxide. Molecular modeling studies revealed that MG can access the heme and arginine residues close to it. Thus, the decrease in activity of methylglyoxal-modified catalase may be important in aggravating the severity of secondary complications seen in diabetes mellitus.HIGHLIGHTS•Increase in concentration of methylglyoxal caused a progressive increase in electrophoretic mobility and detachment of heme from the monomer.•MG-modified enzyme showed reduced affinity towards the substrate hydrogen peroxide.•Molecular modeling studies showed that MG can access the heme and arginine residues close to it

Comparative evaluation of the sealing ability of a bioceramic sealer (iRoot SP) with AH plus sealer with root canal dentin using three different techniques of sealer application: a combined dye extraction and scanning electron microscope study

The adaptation of a sealer along with the periphery of the dentinal tubules of the root canal is studied. Various techniques have been used for the application of these sealers onto the canal wall for better adaptation but have not been compared to date. The purpose of the study was to comparatively evaluate the sealing ability of a bioceramic sealer with AH plus sealer with root canal dentin using three different techniques for the application of sealer. One hundred twenty extracted maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth were collected, disinfected, and decoronated at the cemento-enamel junction to maintain a standard working length for all samples. The establishment of the working length (40.10) and instrumentation was performed using a rotary instrument, along with a standard irrigation regimen. The teeth were then divided into two main groups according to the sealer used, i.e., Group A (AH Plus) and Group B (iRoot SP). These two main groups were categorized into three sub-groups depending on the technique of sealer placement, i.e., Subgroup 1 (master cone gutta-percha), Subgroup 2 (bidirectional spiral), and Subgroup 3 (passive ultrasonic activation). Out of the 20 samples, 15 samples were randomly allocated for the assessment of sealing ability using the routine dye extraction method, and to verify the results of the dye extraction method, a more advanced evaluation method, i.e., SEM evaluation, was utilized further. To this end, five random samples from each subgroup were allocated for SEM analysis. The obtained scores were then statistically analyzed using an ANOVA test and Post Hoc Tukey’s test. In the current study, statistical significance was seen among the three main groups and six subgroups with p-values < 0.005. Subgroup B3 performed significantly better than the other subgroups in both the dye extraction method as well as in SEM analysis. The highest microleakage was shown by subgroup A1; it also exhibited poor penetration of sealer in SEM evaluation. The bioceramic sealer (iRoot SP), when applied using passive ultrasonic activation, showed the best results in both the dye extraction method and the SEM evaluation

Implementation outcome instruments for use in physical healthcare settings: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Implementation research aims to facilitate the timely and routine implementation and sustainment of evidence-based interventions and services. A glaring gap in this endeavour is the capability of researchers, healthcare practitioners and managers to quantitatively evaluate implementation efforts using psychometrically sound instruments. To encourage and support the use of precise and accurate implementation outcome measures, this systematic review aimed to identify and appraise studies that assess the measurement properties of quantitative implementation outcome instruments used in physical healthcare settings. METHOD: The following data sources were searched from inception to March 2019, with no language restrictions: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, HMIC, CINAHL and the Cochrane library. Studies that evaluated the measurement properties of implementation outcome instruments in physical healthcare settings were eligible for inclusion. Proctor et al.'s taxonomy of implementation outcomes was used to guide the inclusion of implementation outcomes: acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, adoption, penetration, implementation cost and sustainability. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. Psychometric quality of the included instruments was assessed using the Contemporary Psychometrics checklist (ConPsy). Usability was determined by number of items per instrument. RESULTS: Fifty-eight publications reporting on the measurement properties of 55 implementation outcome instruments (65 scales) were identified. The majority of instruments assessed acceptability (n = 33), followed by appropriateness (n = 7), adoption (n = 4), feasibility (n = 4), penetration (n = 4) and sustainability (n = 3) of evidence-based practice. The methodological quality of individual scales was low, with few studies rated as 'excellent' for reliability (6/62) and validity (7/63), and both studies that assessed responsiveness rated as 'poor' (2/2). The psychometric quality of the scales was also low, with 12/65 scales scoring 7 or more out of 22, indicating greater psychometric strength. Six scales (6/65) rated as 'excellent' for usability. CONCLUSION: Investigators assessing implementation outcomes quantitatively should select instruments based on their methodological and psychometric quality to promote consistent and comparable implementation evaluations. Rather than developing ad hoc instruments, we encourage further psychometric testing of instruments with promising methodological and psychometric evidence. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 2017 CRD42017065348

Study of Hypothyroidism from the Perceptive of Agni, Kapha Dosha and Rasadi Dhatu

Thyroid gland is major endocrine gland which controls the cellular metabolism. Its secrets hormone mainly Tri-iodothyronine, Thyroxine and Calcitonin. Insufficient synthesis and release of thyroid hormones are term as hypothyroidism. References of hormone are not available in Ayurvedic compendia but that doesn’t make Ayurveda incomplete because Ayurveda has its own fundamental principles such as Dosha, Dhatu, Mala which control cellular metabolism. Balance state of Dosh, Dhatu, Mala and Agni along with balanced state of mind, soul and Indriya makes human being healthy. Root cause of all diseases according Ayurveda is decreased state of Agni which is called as Agnimandya (weak digestive fire). Agni regulates transformation and metabolism through Pitta dosha. Agni is categorized into three types - Jatharagni, Dhatvagni and Panchamahabhutagni. Though direct reference of thyroid gland and its hormone are not found in Ayurveda but Acharya Charaka has advised Vikaronama kushalo Na jivhiyat kadachana! nahi sarvavikaranam namatoasti druvha stheetihi..! Ch su.18/44. that’s name of disease is not important rather diagnosis of disease can be done on the basis of manifestation of symptoms. So, the symptoms of the hypothyroidism can be analysed on the basis of status of Agni, Kapha dosha and Rasadi Dhatu. Hypothyroidism involves impairment of various systems i.e., Strotasa. In this review article attempt has been made to unwind the unsaid condition like hypothyroidism by comparing with symptoms of vitiation of Rasadhatvagni and Kapha dosha with the help of Ayurvedic and modern literatures

Hydrolysis of Cyclic Ureas under Microwave Irradiation: Synthesis and Characterization of 7,8-Diaminopelargonic Acid

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of 7,8-diaminopelargonic acid, a key intermediate in the biotin biosynthesis pathway, is reported. The d-desthiobiotin powder was dissolved in concentrated hydrochloric acid, and the solution was exposed to microwave radiation of 2.45 GHz for varying lengths of time ranging from 60 s to 2 min. The product thus obtained was characterized by spectroscopic techniques and confirmed through bioassay. Further, the protocol was extended to the synthesis of several diamines from their corresponding cyclic ureas. The results show that the method is generally applicable and not only accelerates the hydrolysis reaction but also offers excellent yields

Inheritance of pod shattering in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]

Three parents viz., NRC7, EC 241780 and Kalitur were crossed in cyclic manner during Kharif 2012 with the objectives to study the inheritance of pod shattering in soybean. Among these NRC 7 and others were resistant and susceptible to pod shattering respectively. Six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, B1 and B2) were obtained by inter-mating three diverse parents. Pod shattering screening was done as per oven dry method. Inheritance of pod shattering was found to be governed by partial dominance of susceptibility over the resistance. Two major genes with inhibitory epistasis were involved in inheritance of pod shattering in soybean as evidenced from F2 ratio (13:3) and confirmed by test cross ratio (3:1) in resistance x susceptible and susceptible x resistance crosses