Rubisco-bis-phosphate oxygenase (RuBP)- A potential housekeeping gene for qPCR assays in tea

The present experiment is an effort to find a stable reference gene in Camellia sinensis and Camellia assamica under different biotic and abiotic stresses. This study evaluate the variation in gene expression across tea leaf tissues in nine experiments. The suitability of 18S rRNA, 26S rRNA, rubiscobis- phosphatase oxygenase (RuBP) and Camellia tubulin (CaT) as reference genes were validated by geNorm and BestKeeper programs. The finding reveals 18S rRNA and RuBP to be the most stably expressed housekeeping genes, the latter being the first report of its kind in tea. The finding paves the way for their application in accurate quantification of trait specific gene expression and other genomic studies in tea.Keywords: Camellia sinensis, Camellia assamica, qPCR, BestKeeper, geNorm, housekeeping gen

The effects of benzofury (5-APB) on the dopamine transporter and 5-HT2-dependent vasoconstriction in the rat

5-APB, commonly marketed as ‘benzofury’ is a new psychoactive substance and erstwhile ‘legal high’ which has been implicated in 10 recent drug-related deaths in the UK. This drug was available on the internet and in ‘head shops’ and was one of the most commonly sold legal highs up until its recent UK temporary ban (UK Home Office). Despite its prominence, very little is known about its pharmacology. This study was undertaken to examine the pharmacology of 5-APB in vitro. We hypothesized that 5-APB would activate the dopamine and 5-HT systems which may underlie its putative stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. Autoradiographic studies showed that 5-APB displaced both [125I]RTI-121 and [3H]ketanserin from rat brain tissue suggesting affinity at the dopamine transporter and 5-HT2 receptor sites respectively. Voltammetric studies in rat accumbens brain slices revealed that 5-APB slowed dopamine reuptake, and at high concentrations caused reverse transport of dopamine. 5-APB also caused vasoconstriction of rat aorta, an effect antagonized by the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist ketanserin, and caused contraction of rat stomach fundus, which was reversed by the 5-HT2B receptor antagonist RS-127445. These data show that 5-APB interacts with the dopamine transporter and is an agonist at the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors in the rat. Thus 5-APB’s pharmacology is consistent with it having both stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. In addition, 5-APB’s activity at the 5-HT2B receptor may cause cardiotoxicity

PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF PROPHYLACTIC ANTIEMETICS IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

ABSTRACT Objective: To study the prescription pattern of prophylactic antiemetics in breast cancer patients. Methods:A retrospective observational study was carried out. Over a period of three months, all chemotherapy order sheets of breast cancer patients were collected and evaluated for prophylaxis of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. We compared each antiemetic drug used for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting prophylaxis with international antiemetic guidelines, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Results: A total of 103 breast cancer patients were included in the study, for whom 141 chemotherapy physician prescriptions included antiemetic drugs. Approximately 51.06% of anticancer agents had high emetic risk, 2.13% had moderate emetic risk, 43.26% and 3.55% of anticancer agents had low and minimal emetic risk respectively. Most frequently prescribed anticancer drug was Paclitaxel 49(34.75%). 43.97% of the antiemetic regimen were found following  NCCN guidelines. Conclusion: The development of institutional policy for assessment and guidance  of the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) prophylaxis may improve the consistency between antiemetic prescribing and guidelines.    Keywords: Breast cancer, Antiemetic, Chemotherapy, Nausea, Vomitin