Impact of increase of caesarean section on postpartum hemorrhage in a tertiary care center of India over 6 years

Background: PPH (postpartum hemorrhage) is the leading cause of maternal mortality. Despite of all the medical advancement, maternal mortality rates have declined greatly in the developed world, PPH remains a leading cause of maternal mortality elsewhere. Caesarean section is an obstetric intervention where, normal delivery can pose a risk for mother or foetus. The rate of caesarean section has increased worldwide. A survey conducted by WHO found that the worldwide rate of caesarean section increased from 26.4% between 2004 to 2008, to 31.2% between 2010 to 2011.Methods: We collected data of the caesarean sections and patients who developed PPH over 6 years. We studied the association of temporal increase of caesarean section with PPH.Results: Uterine atonicity continues to be the most common etiology of PPH each year, however, there is an increase in tissue abnormality (retained placenta, placenta praevia, accreta, increta, percreta) over years as there is a significant increase in the incidence of caesarean section. Atonic uterus was the most common cause for obstetric hysterectomies and mortality due to PPH every year.Conclusions: Family planning advise is essential in developing country like ours to counsel patients to prevent multiparity, thus reducing PPH. It is also important to train all the health workers in periphery and referral centers to manage the third stage of labor and atonic uterus to save the mothers. Sagacious attitude towards the decision of caesarean section is needed to prevent maternal morbidity and mortality

Chitinase from Enterobacter sp. NRG4: Its purification, characterization and reaction pattern

Enterobacter sp. NRG4 was shown to excrete chitinase into the culture supernatant when cultivated in medium containing chitin. A 60 kDa extracellular chitinase was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The enzyme hydrolyzed swollen chitin, colloidal chitin, regenerated chitin and glycol chitin but did not hydrolyze chitosan. The chitinase exhibited Km and Vmax values of 1.43 mg ml-1 and 83.33 \u3bcM \u3bcg-1 h-1 for swollen chitin, 1.41 mg ml-1 and 74.07 \u3bcM \u3bcg-1 h-1 for colloidal chitin, 1.8 mg ml-1 and 40 M \u3bcg-1 h-1 for regenerated chitin and 2.0 mg ml-1 and 33.33 \u3bcM \u3bcg-1 h-1 for glycol chitin, respectively. The optimal temperature and pH for activity were 45\ub0C and pH 5.5, respectively. Mg2+, K+ and Ca2+ stimulated chitinase activity by 13, 16 and 18%, respectively whereas Cu2+, Co2+, Ag+ and Hg2+ inhibited chitinase activity by 9.7, 15, 22 and 72.2%, respectively at 1 mM concentration. N-bromosuccinamide (NBS) at 1 mM and iodoacetamide at 10 mM concentration completely inhibited the enzyme activity. Dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) at 10 mM concentration inhibited chitinase activity by 97.2%. Chitin was hydrolyzed to chitobiose and N-acetyl D-glucosamine when incubated with the purified enzyme. The hydrolysis pattern of the purified enzyme indicated that the chitinase was an endochitinase

MicroRNA Expression and Identification of Putative miRNA Targets in Ovarian Cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a class of small non-coding RNAs that control gene expression by targeting mRNAs and triggering either translation repression or RNA degradation. Emerging evidence suggests the potential involvement of altered regulation of miRNA in the pathogenesis of cancers, and these genes are thought to function as both tumor suppressors and oncogenes.Using microRNA microarrays, we identify several miRNAs aberrantly expressed in human ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines. miR-221 stands out as a highly elevated miRNA in ovarian cancer, while miR-21 and several members of the let-7 family are found downregulated. Public databases were used to reveal potential targets for the highly differentially expressed miRNAs. In order to experimentally identify transcripts whose stability may be affected by the differentially expressed miRNAs, we transfected precursor miRNAs into human cancer cell lines and used oligonucleotide microarrays to examine changes in the mRNA levels. Interestingly, there was little overlap between the predicted and the experimental targets or pathways, or between experimental targets/pathways obtained using different cell lines, highlighting the complexity of miRNA target selection.Our results identify several differentially expressed miRNAs in ovarian cancer and identify potential target transcripts that may be regulated by these miRNAs. These miRNAs and their targets may have important roles in the initiation and development of ovarian cancer

The preclinical validation of 405 nm light parasiticidal efficacy on Leishmania donovani in ex vivo platelets in a rag2−/− mouse model

Violet–blue light of 405 nm in the visible spectrum at a dose of 270 J/cm2 alone has been shown to be an effective microbicidal tool for inactivating several bacteria, HIV-1, and Trypanosoma cruzi in ex vivo plasma and platelets. Unlike chemical- and ultraviolet (UV)-based pathogen inactivation methods for plasma and platelet safety, 405 nm light is shown to be less toxic to host cells at light doses that are microbicidal. In this report, we evaluated the parasiticidal activity of a 405 nm light treatment on platelets spiked with the Leishmania donovani parasite. Following the light treatment, parasite viability was observed to be near zero in both low- and high-titer-spiked platelets relative to controls. Furthermore, to test the residual infectivity after inactivation in vivo, the light-treated low-titer L. donovani-spiked platelets were evaluated in an immunodeficient Rag2−/− mouse model and monitored for 9 weeks. The parasiticidal efficacy of 405 nm light was evident from the lack of a presence of parasites in the mice spleens. Parasiticidal activity was confirmed to be mediated through 405 nm light-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), as quantitatively measured by a 2′,7′-Dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA)-based assay. Overall, these results confirm the complete inactivation of L. donovani spiked in ex vivo platelets by 405 nm light treatment and exemplify the utility of the Rag2−/− mouse infection model for the preclinical validation of the parasiticidal efficacy of 405 nm light and this light-based technology as a potential PRT for ex vivo platelets

A multi-targeted approach to suppress tumor-promoting inflammation

Cancers harbor significant genetic heterogeneity and patterns of relapse following many therapies are due to evolved resistance to treatment. While efforts have been made to combine targeted therapies, significant levels of toxicity have stymied efforts to effectively treat cancer with multi-drug combinations using currently approved therapeutics. We discuss the relationship between tumor-promoting inflammation and cancer as part of a larger effort to develop a broad-spectrum therapeutic approach aimed at a wide range of targets to address this heterogeneity. Specifically, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, cyclooxygenase-2, transcription factor nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor alpha, inducible nitric oxide synthase, protein kinase B, and CXC chemokines are reviewed as important antiinflammatory targets while curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, lycopene, and anthocyanins are reviewed as low-cost, low toxicity means by which these targets might all be reached simultaneously. Future translational work will need to assess the resulting synergies of rationally designed antiinflammatory mixtures (employing low-toxicity constituents), and then combine this with similar approaches targeting the most important pathways across the range of cancer hallmark phenotypes

Claudin-7 Is Frequently Overexpressed in Ovarian Cancer and Promotes Invasion

Background: Claudins are tight junction proteins that are involved in tight junction formation and function. Previous studies have shown that claudin-7 is frequently upregulated in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) along with claudin-3 and claudin-4. Here, we investigate in detail the expression patterns of claudin-7, as well as its possible functions in EOC. Methodology/Principal Findings: A total of 95 ovarian tissue samples (7 normal ovarian tissues, 65 serous carcinomas, 11 clear cell carcinomas, 8 endometrioid carcinomas and 4 mucinous carcinomas) were studied for claudin-7 expression. In real-time RT-PCR analysis, the gene for claudin-7, CLDN7, was found to be upregulated in all the tumor tissue samples studied. Similarly, immunohistochemical analysis and western blotting showed that claudin-7 protein was significantly overexpressed in the vast majority of EOCs. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of claudin-7 in ovarian cancer cells led to significant changes in gene expression as measured by microarrays and validated by RT-PCR and immunoblotting. Analyses of the genes differentially expressed revealed that the genes altered in response to claudin-7 knockdown were associated with pathways implicated in various molecular and cellular functions such as cell cycle, cellular growth and proliferation, cell death, development, and cell movement. Through functional experiments in vitro, we found that both migration and invasion were altered in cells where CLDN7 had been knocked down or overexpressed. Interestingly, claudin-7 expression was associated with a net increase in invasion, but also with a decrease in migration

Production of extracellular lipase by <i style="">Bacillus megaterium</i> AKG-1 in submerged fermentation

179-183Bacillus megaterium AKG-1, a soil isolate, has been found to produce thermostable lipase during submerged fermentation (SF). Mannitol at a concentration of 0.2% (w/v) was the best carbon source for lipase production (848 units/mL). Among oils, soyabean oil gave highest lipase yield (1160 units/mL), followed by coconut oil (912 units/mL). Lipase yield was maximum (1000 units/mL) with wheat bran (1%) as sole carbon and nitrogen source, followed by neem seed cake (810 units/mL) and cotton seed cake (790 units/mL)

RESEARCH ARTICLE - Chitinase from Enterobacter sp. NRG4: Its purification, characterization and reaction pattern

Enterobacter sp. NRG4 was shown to excrete chitinase into the culture supernatant when cultivated in medium containing chitin. A 60 kDa extracellular chitinase was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The enzyme hydrolyzed swollen chitin, colloidal chitin, regenerated chitin and glycol chitin but did not hydrolyze chitosan. The chitinase exhibited Km and Vmax values of 1.43 mg ml-1 and 83.33 μM μg-1 h-1 for swollen chitin, 1.41 mg ml-1 and 74.07 μM μg-1 h-1 for colloidal chitin, 1.8 mg ml-1 and 40 M μg-1 h-1 for regenerated chitin and 2.0 mg ml-1 and 33.33 μM μg-1 h-1 for glycol chitin, respectively. The optimal temperature and pH for activity were 45°C and pH 5.5, respectively. Mg2+, K+ and Ca2+ stimulated chitinase activity by 13, 16 and 18%, respectively whereas Cu2+, Co2+, Ag+ and Hg2+ inhibited chitinase activity by 9.7, 15, 22 and 72.2%, respectively at 1 mM concentration. N-bromosuccinamide (NBS) at 1 mM and iodoacetamide at 10 mM concentration completely inhibited the enzyme activity. Dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) at 10 mM concentration inhibited chitinase activity by 97.2%. Chitin was hydrolyzed to chitobiose and N-acetyl D-glucosamine when incubated with the purified enzyme. The hydrolysis pattern of the purified enzyme indicated that the chitinase was an endochitinase