Relationship between Natural Dietary Intake of Tryptophan and Depression Severity

From the Washington University Senior Honors Thesis Abstracts (WUSHTA), Spring 2018. Published by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Joy Zalis Kiefer, Director of Undergraduate Research and Associate Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences; Lindsey Paunovich, Editor; Helen Human, Programs Manager and Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences Mentor: Deanna Barc

Grey Matter Volume and Functional Connectivity of the Frontoparietal Network in Schizophrenia

From the Washington University Office of Undergraduate Research Digest (WUURD), Vol. 12, 05-01-2017. Published by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Joy Zalis Kiefer, Director of Undergraduate Research and Associate Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences; Lindsey Paunovich, Editor; Helen Human, Programs Manager and Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences Mentor: Deanna Barc

Role of Apoptosis in Rabies Viral Encephalitis: A Comparative Study in Mice, Canine, and Human Brain with a Review of Literature

To evaluate the role of apoptosis in rabies encephalitis in humans and canines infected with wild-type street virus, in comparison with rodent model infected with street and laboratory passaged CVS strain, we studied postmortem brain tissue from nine humans, six canines infected with street rabies virus, and Swiss albino mice inoculated intramuscularly (IM) and intracerebrally (IC) with street and CVS strains. Encephalitis and high rabies antigen load were prominent in canine and human brains compared to rodents inoculated with street virus. Neuronal apoptosis was detectable only in sucking mice inoculated with CVS strain and minimal in street virus inoculated mice. In a time point study in suckling mice, DNA laddering was noted only terminally (7 days p.i.) following IC inoculation with CVS strain but not with street virus. In weanling and adult mice, apoptosis was restricted to inflammatory cells and absent in neurons similar to human and canine rabies-infected brains. Absence of neuronal apoptosis in wild-type rabies may facilitate intraneuronal survival and replication while apoptosis in inflammatory cells prevents elimination of the virus by abrogation of host inflammatory response

Spectroscopic probe for in vivo measurement of raman signals

An optical probe is disclosed which is suitable for rapidly measuring Raman spectra in vivo. The probe is designed to minimize interfering Raman and fluorescence signals generated within the probe itself. In addition, the probe design is compact, making it particularly suited for use in confined spaces such as body cavities. In one embodiment, the probe is employed to detect tissue abnormalities such as cervical cancers and precancers.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

The Green Souvenir Industry of Kerala – A Comprehensive Analysis

Handicrafts and souvenirs have a long and glorious tradition behind them. They represent the culture of the people and from a great heritage of art. Souvenirs are a manifestation of the creative impulse of people. The specialty of the handicraft is that it reflects the craftsmanship of each and every part of the country. Souvenirs always remind a traveller of a particular place that it was purchased from. Souvenir trade improves the local economy and even serves as a brand image or icon of the destination visited by tourists while providing easy visibility. Souvenirs also help in the word of mouth marketing of a destination. The souvenir trade worldwide is part of a rich handicraft tradition that evolved over the years. India has a diversity of souvenirs, and so does Kerala. The uniqueness of Kerala isits abundance of plant or natural fibre-based souvenirs. But, little research has been done on the process of production or the potential it provides in promoting tourism. This study is an attempt to look into the problems and prospects of plant or natural fibre based - ‘green souvenirs’ of Kerala and to offer suggestions for improving its market

Expression of nestin - a stem cell associated intermediate filament in human CNS tumours

Background & objectives: Nestin is an intermediate filament protein expressed in undifferentiated cells during the development of brain and is considered as a marker for neuroepithelial stem cells. Expression of this protein in various CNS tumour cells suggests the possibility of existence of tumour stem cell modulating the evolution. We carried out an immunohistochemical study to demonstrate the expression of nestin and its co-expression with neuronal and glial intermediate filament and correlate with the grade of malignancy. Methods: Formalin fixed, paraffin processed sections from two human foetuses, 16 brain tumours of both neuronal and glial lineage and two metastatic tumours were immunostained with polyclonal antibody to nestin. Serial sections from primary brain tumours were also stained with monoclonal antibody to neurofilament (NF) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Fluorescent double labeling was carried out on four cases using laser confocal microscopy, to document co-localization of nestin with other intermediate filaments in the tumour cells. Results: Nestin expression was observed along the paraventricular zone of human foetuses and in brain tumours of both glial and neuronal lineage, of both high and low grades of malignancy. In addition, mature dysplastic spinal motor neurons adjacent to tumour and cerebellar Purkinje cells also expressed nestin along with neurofilament. Interpretation & conclusion: Nestin expression was noted in both low and high grade brain tumours and dysplastic neurons and did not parallel the malignant grade of the tumour. The expression of nestin in tumour cells and dysplastic neurons suggests aberrant expression of antigenically primitive proteins in cells to facilitate remodelling of the cell and migration. More studies are needed to elucidate the concept

Neuropathology of HIV/AIDS with an overview of the Indian scene

Neurological manifestations of HIV infection and AIDS are being recognized with a frequency that parallels the increasing number of AIDS cases. Next to sub-Saharan Africa, India has the second largest burden of HIV related pathology, essentially caused by HIV-1 clade C in both the geographic locales, in contrast to USA and Europe. But the true prevalence of HIV related neuroinfections and pathology is not available due to inadequate medical facilities, social stigma and ignorance that lead to underdiagnosis. Neurotuberculosis, followed by cryptococcosis and toxoplasmosis in various combinations are the major neuropathologies reflecting the endemicity and manifesting clinically by reactivation of latent infection. Discordance in the clinical prevalence of various infections, when compared to pathological studies highlight similarities in clinical, radiological modalities of diagnosis and inherent problems in establishing definitive diagnosis. Viral infections appear to be relatively rare. Inspite of heavy burden of HIV/AIDS, HIV associated neoplasia is infrequent, including primary CNS lymphomas. HIV encephalitis and HIV associated dementia are considered infrequent, though systematic studies have just been initiated in various centres. Peripheral neuropathy characteristically manifests with vasculitic neuropathy while diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome (DILS) involving nerves has not been reported from India. Spinal cord pathology including vacuolar myelopathy is rare, even in asymptomatic cases. Till now the AIDS cases in India were drug naÏve but a new cohort of cases following initiation of HAART therapy as a national policy is soon emerging, altering the biology and evolution of HIV/AIDS in India. Lacunae in the epidemiology, diagnosis and study of biology of HIV/AIDS are outlined for future research

Exceptional molecular and coreceptor-requirement properties of molecular clones isolated from an Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 subtype C infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The pathogenic significance of coreceptor switch in the viral infection of HIV-1 is not completely understood. This situation is more complex in subtype C infection where coreceptor switch is either absent or extremely rare. To gain insights into the mechanisms that underlie coreceptor requirement of subtype C, we screened several primary viral isolates and identified a clinical sample that demonstrated a potential to grow on standard T-cell lines with no detectable CCR5 expression. The subject was diagnosed with HIV-1 associated dementia in the absence of opportunistic infections of the brain. To isolate molecular clones from this virus, we devised a novel strategy based on anchor primers that target a sequence in the reverse transcriptase, highly conserved among diverse subtypes of HIV-1.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using this strategy, we isolated 8 full-length molecular clones from the donor. Two of the eight molecular clones, 03In94_D17 and 03In94_D24, (D17 and D24) generated replication-competent viruses. Phylogenetic analysis of the full-length viral sequences revealed that both clones were non-recombinant subtype C viruses. They contain intact open reading frames in all the viral proteins. Both the viral clones are endowed with several unique molecular and biological properties. The viral promoter of the clones is characterized by the presence of four NF-kB binding elements, a feature rarely seen in the subtype C HIV-1 LTR. Interestingly, we identified the coexistence of two different forms of Rev, a truncated form common to subtype C and a full-length form less common for this subtype, in both proviral and plasma virus compartments. An exceptional property of the viruses, atypical of subtype C, is their ability to use a wide range of coreceptors including CCR5, CXCR4, and several others tested. Sequence analysis of Env of D17 and D24 clones identified differences within the variable loops providing important clues for the expanded coreceptor use. The V1, V2 and V4 loops in both of the molecular clones are longer due to the insertion of several amino acid residues that generated potential N-linked glycosylation sites.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The exceptional biological and molecular properties of these clones make them invaluable tools to understand the unique pathogenic characteristics of subtype C.</p