Acidic ambiance induced post-oxidative stress affects AMPK- PGC1α-SIRT1 axis in the skeletal muscles of zebrafish Danio rerio Hamilton, 1822

The present study was aimed to understand whether acidic pH induces oxidative stress in zebrafish affecting metabolic sensor protein and thereby, the mitochondrial functions in the skeletal muscle of zebrafish. The experiments performed in aquaria involved the study of the changes of HIF1α, AMPK, PGC1α and SIRT1 levels together with the levels of mitochondrial Tfam and Nrf1. The results obtained from investigation of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione revealed that the fish undergoes oxidative stress within a short duration of exposure to acidic ambiance. Further analysis with MDA and HIF1α helped to understand the effects of post oxidative stress on skeletal muscle of the fish at pH 5.0 (± 0.5). Of the three tissues studied (gill, brain and skeletal muscle) the effect was maximum in skeletal muscle as depicted by MDA level at 2 hours beyond which it declines augmenting death or mortality (15%) to the fish. Consequently, HIF1α was increased as an adaptive strategy against metabolic disruption during the first 2 hours period. However, on exposure to pH 5.0 (± 0.5) for 2 hours, there were decrease of the metabolic sensors viz. AMPK and SIRT1 followed by mitochondrial gene transcriptional co-activator PGC1α. The expression of mitochon-drial transcription factors Tfam and Nrf1 were also reduced confirming perturbation in mitochondrial function affecting low ATP production compared to control. This was also supported by the decrease of COXII as well as mitochondrial complex I activity. All these results confirm that the metabolic machinery of zebrafish is affected when pH was lowered to 5.0 (± 0.5)

Efficient Synthesis of Imidazole-Fused Benzodiazepines Using Palladium- Catalyzed Intramolecular C–N Bond Formation Reaction

An efficient three-step synthetic route to imidazolefused benzodiazepines from imidazole-2-carbaldehyde is described. Application of intramolecular Buchwald–Hartwig cycloamination reaction in the final step is shown to be a convenient method for the synthesis of fused seven-membered diazacycles. The reactions proceeded smoothly with both aliphatic and aromatic amines

Multiple venous aneurysms of neck

Venous aneurysm of neck is a rare anomaly, usually presenting as a painless mass which increases in size on valsalva maneuver. A child with multiple aneurysms of the right common facial and external jugular veins diagnosed on Doppler ultrasonography and magnetic resonance venography is reported

Effect of fish vitellogenin on the growth of juvenile catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

The effect of heterologous fish vitellogenin (Vg)- implantation on growth performance in the juveniles of the catfish, Clarias gariepinus, was evaluated under ambient photoperiod and temperature during February–April (experiment 1) and again at May–August (experiment 2). Compared to either unimplanted (control) or bovine serum albumin (BSA)-implanted group, juveniles (average body weight: 3.5–4 g) implanted (im) with Vg pellets (each containing 100 μg of Clarias batrachus Vg, three per fish, at one month interval), revealed significantly (P < 0.05) higher specific growth rate (SGR) at 90 days during both time frames. Congruent with accelerated somatic growth due to Vg-implantation, a trend of increase in plasma level of growth hormone (GH), estradiol-17β (E2) and testosterone (T) was recorded during expt. 1. While plasma E2 and T did not vary significantly, Vg-implantation promoted significant (P < 0.05) increase in plasma GH level in both the sexes during the course of expt. 2. Moreover, Vg-implantation could trigger significant alteration in gonadal growth; while control testis contained primarily spermatogonia (SG) and spermatocytes (SC), appearance of spermatozoa (SZ) was noticed in either Vg-implanted (expt. 1) or both BSA- and Vg-treated juveniles (expt. 2). Conversely, a robust increase in S III yolky oocytes was observed in Vg-implanted ovary during May–Aug; but not during expt. 1 (Feb–Apr). However, oocytes at earlier stages (S I and/or S II) of follicular growth and development were predominant in control ovary. Though the underlying mechanism is not yet clearly understood, present data indicate that implantation of Vg pellets in juvenile C. gariepinus may influence somatic growth indices; e.g., body weight gain and GH synthesis along with precocious gonadal growth in a manner sensitive to gonadal steroidogenesis

Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy Combined with Antimony-Based Chemotherapy Cures Established Murine Visceral Leishmaniasis

Dendritic cells (DCs) have been proposed to play a critical role as adjuvants in vaccination and immunotherapy. In this study we evaluated the combined effect of soluble Leishmania donovani Ag (SLDA)-pulsed syngeneic bone marrow-derived DC-based immunotherapy and antimony-based chemotherapy for the treatment of established murine visceral leishmaniasis. Three weekly injections of SLDA-pulsed DCs into L. donovani-infected mice reduced liver and splenic parasite burden significantly, but could not clear parasite load from these organs completely. Strikingly, the conventional antileishmanial chemotherapy (sodium antimony gluconate) along with injections of SLDA-pulsed DCs resulted in complete clearance of parasites from both these organs. Repetitive in vitro stimulation of splenocytes from uninfected or L. donovani-infected mice with SLDA-pulsed DCs led to the emergence of CD4� T cells with characteristics of Th1 cells. Our data indicate that DC-based immunotherapy enhances the in vivo antileishmanial potential of antimony or vice versa

Mollusc C-reactive protein crosses species barrier and reverses hepatotoxicity of lead in rodent models

623-634Achatina fulica C-reactive protein (ACRP) reversed the toxic effects of lead nitrate both in vivo in mice and in vitro in rat hepatocytes restoring the basal level of cell viability, lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione and superoxides. Cytotoxicity was also significantly ameliorated in rat hepatocytes by in vitro pre-treatments with individual subunits (60, 62, 90 and 110 kDa) of ACRP. Annexin V-Cy3/CFDA dual staining showed significant reduction in the number of apoptotic hepatocytes pre-treated with ACRP. ACRP induced restoration of mitochondrial membrane potential was remarkable. ACRP pre-treatment prevented Pb-induced apoptosis mediated by caspase activation. The antagonistic effect of ACRP may be due to scavenging of reactive oxygen species which maintained the homeostasis of cellular redox potential as well as reduced glutathione status. The results suggest that ACRP crosses the species barrier and it may be utilized as a viable exogenous agent of cytoprotection against heavy metal related toxicity

Visualisation of DCP, a nerve agent mimic, in Catfish brain by a simple chemosensor

Abstract A chemosensor, 3-aminophenol-based rhodamine conjugate (ARC) has been developed for visualisation of diethylchlorophosphate (DCP), mimic of a chemical warfare agent, in Catfish brain. The simple detection of DCP by “turn-on” fluorescence property of the chemosensor makes it unique for easy and rapid in vivo and in vitro detection of DCP with the detection limit of 5.6 nM