A 65-kDa protein mediates the positive role of Heme in regulating the transcription of CYP2B1/B2 gene in rat liver

Heme deficiency precipitated by CoCl2 administration to rats leads to a striking decrease in the inducibility of CYP2B1/B2 mRNA levels and its transcription by phenobarbitone (PB), besides decreasing the basal levels. Exogenous hemin administration counteracts the effects of CoCl2 administration. The binding of nuclear proteins to labeled positive cis-acting element (-69 to -98 nucleotides) in the near 5'-upstream region of the gene is inhibited by CoCl2 administration to saline or PB-treated rats, as assessed in gel shift assays. Administration of exogenous hemin to the animal or addition in vitro to the extracts is able to overcome the effects of CoCl2 treatment. The protein mediating this effect has been purified from CoCl2 administered nuclear extracts by heparin-agarose, positive element oligonucleotide affinity, and heme affinity column chromatography. This 65-kDa protein manifests very little binding to the positive element, but in the presence of certain other nuclear proteins, shows a strong heme-responsive binding. The purified protein binds heme. It is also able to stimulate transcription of a minigene construct of the CYP2B1/B2 gene containing -179 nucleotides of the 5'-upstream region and the I exon in a cell-free system, manifesting heme response. It is concluded that the 65-kDa protein mediates the constitutive requirement of heme for the transcription of CYP2B1/B2 gene

Molecular phylogeny of mangroves V. Analysis of genome relationships in mangrove species using RAPD and RFLP markers.

Abstract DNA from pooled leaf samples of 11 true major mangrove, three true minor mangrove, two mangrove associate, two mangrove parasite, three terrestrial and one cultivated species were isolated for the present study. In total, 198 random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) and 180 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) loci were scored by using ten primers and 14 enzyme-probe combinations respectively. The polymorphism observed for these markers revealed a high degree of genetic diversity in mangroves at both inter-specific or inter-generic levels. A dendrogram, constructed after pooling both RAPD and RFLP data, using a similarity index was analysed for genome relationships among these species. The dendrogram showed clustering of all the major mangroves, except for Nypa fruticans (Arecaceae), into one group. All species under the tribe Rhizophorae formed a subcluster, to which Xylocarpus granatum was found to be the most closesly related species. The clustering pattern implied that Excoecaria agallocha and Acanthus ilicifolius should be considered as true minor mangroves. The present study also provided molecular data favouring the separation of Avicennia spp. from the Verbenaceae to create a monotypic family the Avicenniaceae. The separation of »iscum orientale into the Viscaceae was also favoured

Optimization of Platinum dioxide properties by plasma oxidation of sputtered PtOx

We have previously used reactively sputtered Platinum oxide thin film as DNA sensing element. In this work, we subject the reactively sputtered Platinum oxide thin films to an additional RIE step for 3, 6 and 9 min and carry out a detailed comparative study of the material and electrical properties of these films. XRD and XPS analysis revealed that when the reactively sputtered Platinum oxide film was subjected to RIE step for longer periods of time, it became progressively α-PtO2 in nature. Activation energies of 0.24 eV, 0.26 eV, 0.29 eV and 0.31 eV were obtained for the as deposited film and the films subjected to RIE step for 3, 6 and 9 min respectively. The Hall mobility of the as deposited Platinum oxide film was found to be 32.15 cm2V−1s−1 at room temperature. However, when the as deposited film was subjected to RIE step for 9 min the mobility value rises to as high as 136.13 cm2V−1s−1 at room temperature

Uptake, engagement and acceptance, barriers and facilitators of a text essaging intervention for postnatal care of mother and child in India—a mixed methods feasibility study

This study aimed to test the feasibility and to identify barriers and facilitators towards adherence of a text messaging intervention for postnatal care in India. Mixed methods research involving both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. A survey questionnaire for feasibility and focus group interviews to identify the barriers and facilitators to the intervention were conducted. The top three reasons for activation of service were: helped the new mother to understand the changes (95%); provided continuation of care (90%) and clarified conflicting information (89%). Over 90% read the messages daily. 80% were happy with the message frequency. About 75% shared the content with others. The main reasons for non-activation were: 30% had technical issues, 15% did not think it would be useful, 17% did not have time to activate and for 5%, husbands made the decision. These findings were triangulated through the qualitative focus groups. The main themes identified via the focus groups were: (1) reliable, current information; (2) issues and themes well aligned with new mothers’ needs and priorities; (3) expanded the repertoire of information sources available; and (4) high-quality accessible information. The satisfaction and trust rates were high. This technology may be useful for health information intervention in specific postnatal areas

An unusual pro-inflammatory role of interleukin-10 induced by arabinosylated lipoarabinomannan in murine peritoneal macrophages

Various species of Mycobacteria produce a major cell wall-associated lipoglycan, called Lipoarabinomannan (LAM), which is involved in the virulence of Mycobacterial species. In this study, we tried to establish the role of the increased IL-10 secretion under Arabinosylated-LAM (Ara-LAM) treatment, the LAM that induces apoptosis in host macrophages or PBMC. We have studied the survival and apoptotic factors by western blotting, and estimated nitrite generation by Griess reaction, quantified iNOS mRNA by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and ultimately the fate of the cells were studied by Flow Cytometric Analysis of AnnexinV-FITC binding. As per our observations, neutralization of released IL-10 in C57BL/6 peritoneal macrophages prior to Ara-LAM treatment, as well as macrophages from IL-10 knockout (KO) mice treated with Ara-LAM, showed significant down regulation of pro-apoptotic factors and up regulation of survival factors. These effects were strikingly similar to those when peritoneal macrophages were subjected to TNF-α and IL-12 neutralization followed by Ara-LAM-treatment. However, under similar conditions virulent Mannosylated-LAM (from Mycobacterium tuberculosis) treatment of macrophages clearly depicts the importance of IL-10 in the maintenance of pathogenesis, proving its usual immunosuppressive role. Thus, from our detailed investigations we point out an unusual pro-inflammatory action of IL-10 in Ara-LAM treated macrophages, where it behaves in a similar manner as the known Th1 cytokines TNF-α and IL-12

Epidemiology of Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) in India, 2016-18, based on data from sentinel surveillance.

BACKGROUND:Government of India is committed to eliminate measles and control rubella/congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) by 2020. In 2016, CRS surveillance was established in five sentinel sites. We analyzed surveillance data to describe the epidemiology of CRS in India. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We used case definitions adapted from the WHO-recommended standards for CRS surveillance. Suspected patients underwent complete clinical examination including cardiovascular system, ophthalmic examination and assessment for hearing impairment. Sera were tested for presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against rubella. Of the 645 suspected CRS patients enrolled during two years, 137 (21.2%) were classified as laboratory confirmed CRS and 8 (1.2%) as congenital rubella infection. The median age of laboratory confirmed CRS infants was 3 months. Common clinical features among laboratory confirmed CRS patients included structural heart defects in 108 (78.8%), one or more eye signs (cataract, glaucoma, pigmentary retinopathy) in 82 (59.9%) and hearing impairment in 51. (38.6%) Thirty-three (24.1%) laboratory confirmed CRS patients died over a period of 2 years. Surveillance met the quality indicators in terms of adequacy of investigation, adequacy of sample collection for serological diagnosis as well as virological confirmation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:About one fifth suspected CRS patients were laboratory confirmed, indicating significance of rubella as a persistent public health problem in India. Continued surveillance will generate data to monitor the progress made by the rubella control program in the country