A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON PREVALENCE OF HYPOTHYROIDISM IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hypothyroidism in a rural population of Nandyal.Methods: A prospective study was conducted in Santhiram medical college and general hospital, Nandyal from July 2017 to December 2017, to study the prevalence of hypothyroidism among the population. Results: In this study, 1000 patients were evaluated for the thyroid functioning, among them n=104(10.4%) showing positive results in hypothyroidism. The positive 104 patients showed that n=63 (60.57%) of the population are in the age limit of 21-40. Out of the same population are n=11 (10.6%) are male and female are n=93 (89.43%). In age group distribution more prevalence was observed in 21-30 y of age group n=36 (34.61%). In this study, sub-clinical hypothyroidism was prevalent in females n=80 (76.92%) than males n=10 (9.61%).Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that hypothyroidism was higher in a female with age group as 21-40 y and there is a significant prevalence of hypothyroidism in the study population

A multi-dimensional approach from seed-to-seed to understand and improve heat stress tolerance in rice

In changing climatic conditions, stress caused by high temperature poses a serious threat to rice cultivation. Physiological, biochemical, and molecular analysis of rice cultivars revealed that Nagina22 (N22) shows lesser reduction in chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, spikelet fertility and grain yield, but increased membrane thermal stability, antioxidant enzymes activity and transpiration rate (E) at high temperature. DREB, RAB, LEA, and genes associated with hormones signalling were induced during germination, while OsFd (an iron sulphur cluster binding protein) and CWIP (cell wall integrity protein) emerged as high priority candidate genes in seedling and reproductive stages. Their function is being analysed by transgene expression and CRISPR/Cas genome editing approaches. Field screening in polyhouse, late sowing and temperature gradient chamber for 20 morpho-physiological traits indicated the importance of both yield and spikelet fertility, and photosynthesis traits. N22 showed the least Heat Susceptibility Index (HSI) for yield/plant, spikelet fertility, flag leaf SPAD and stomatal conductance, while Vandana showed the highest HSI for spikelet fertility and flag leaf temperature. QTLs for HSI of spikelet fertility were identified on chromosome 1 and HSI of yield per plant on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8; and PV of 6% to 57% using 174 F2-3 Vandana x N22 mapping population. Simultaneously, RNAseq was performed to identify the genome wide miRNAs and transcriptome of N22 and Vandana from shoot and root after short and long duration of heat stress treatments; and recovery phase for an eQTL-guided function-related co-expression analysis to identify the putative regulators and gene regulatory networks

Expression Dynamics of Genes and microRNAs at Different Growth Stages and Heat Treatments in Contrasting High Temperature Responsive Rice Genotypes

The global warming-driven climate change is becoming a major challenge for rice cultivation in Asia and Africa. High-temperature stress impairs the physiology and growth of rice plant, and ultimately results in reduced grain yield. This study was aimed to decipher the physiological and molecular changes occurring during different growth stages of heat-tolerant (N22) and -susceptible (Vandana) rice cultivars under three different heat treatments. Chlorophyll content, membrane integrity, gas exchange parameters and expression of genes and miRNAs were analyzed in N22 and Vandana at seedling, vegetative, and reproductive growth stages after exposing to short and long duration of high temperature stress, and recovery. A number of genes and miRNAs showed dynamic changes in their expression patterns at different growth stages and heat treatments, highlighting the necessity to understand gene regulation before employing the genes for modification through transgenic or gene editing approaches. Predominantly N22 showed distinct and unique capability to reprogram its physiological and molecular machinery during prolonged heat stress at reproductive stage, suggesting that the dynamics in gene regulation is crucial to determine its heat tolerant ability. The study has larger implications in deploying genes for the development of heat tolerant rice cultivars through breeding, transgenic, and genome editing approaches

Deep sequencing of small RNAs reveals ribosomal origin of microRNAs in Oryza sativa and their regulatory role in high temperature

MicroRNAs are small noncoding regulatory RNAs which control gene expression by mRNA degradation or translational repression. They are significant molecular players regulating important biological processes such as developmental timing and stress response. We report here the discovery of miRNAs derived from ribosomal DNA using the small RNA datasets of 16 deep sequencing libraries of rice. Twelve putative miRNAs were identified based on highly stringent criteria of novel miRNA prediction. Surprisingly, 10 putative miRNAs (mi_7403, mi_8435, mi_12675, mi_4266, mi_4758, mi_4218, mi_8200, mi_4644, mi_14291, mi_16235) originated from rDNA of rice chromosome 9. Expression analysis of putative miRNAs and their target genes in heat tolerant and susceptible rice cultivars in control and high temperature treated seedlings revealed differential regulation of rDNA derived miRNAs. This is the first report of rDNA derived miRNAs in rice which indicates their role in gene regulation during high temperature stress in plants. Further studies in this area will open new research challenges and opportunities to broaden our knowledge on gene regulation mechanisms

Trazodone regulates neurotrophic/growth factors, mitogen-activated protein kinases and lactate release in human primary astrocytes

Background: In the central nervous system, glial cells provide metabolic and trophic support to neurons and respond to protracted stress and insults by up-regulating inflammatory processes. Reactive astrocytes and microglia are associated with the pathophysiology of neuronal injury, neurodegenerative diseases and major depression, in both animal models and human brains. Several studies have reported clear anti-inflammatory effects of anti-depressant treatment on astrocytes, especially in models of neurological disorders. Trazodone (TDZ) is a triazolopyridine derivative that is structurally unrelated to other major classes of antidepressants. Although the molecular mechanisms of TDZ in neurons have been investigated, it is unclear whether astrocytes are also a TDZ target. Methods: The effects of TDZ on human astrocytes were investigated in physiological conditions and following inflammatory insult with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumour necrosis factor-aα (TNF-aα). Astrocytes were assessed for their responses to pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and the receptors and signalling pathways involved in TDZ-mediated effects were evaluated. Results: TDZ had no effect on cell proliferation, but it decreased pro-inflammatory mediator release and modulated trophic and transcription factor mRNA expression. Following TDZ treatment, the AKT pathway was activated, whereas extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase were inhibited. Most importantly, a 72-h TDZ pre-treatment before inflammatory insult completely reversed the anti-proliferative effects induced by LPS-TNF-aα. The expression or the activity of inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and nuclear factor ΚB, were also reduced. Furthermore, TDZ affected astrocyte metabolic support to neurons by counteracting the inflammation-mediated lactate decrease. Finally, TDZ protected neuronal-like cells against neurotoxicity mediated by activated astrocytes. These effects mainly involved an activation of 5-HT1A and an antagonism at 5-HT2A/C serotonin receptors. Fluoxetine, used in parallel, showed similar final effects nevertheless it activates different receptors/intracellular pathways. Conclusions: Altogether, our results demonstrated that TDZ directly acts on astrocytes by regulating intracellular signalling pathways and increasing specific astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor expression and lactate release. TDZ may contribute to neuronal support by normalizing trophic and metabolic support during neuroinflammation, which is associated with neurological diseases, including major depression