Antimicrobial Activity and Brine Shrimp Lethality Bioassay of the Leaves Extract of Dillenia indica Linn

The crude methanolic extract of Dillenia indica Linn. (Dilleniaceae) leaves has been investigated for the evaluation of antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Organic solvent (n-hexane, carbon tetrachloride and chloroform) fractions of methanolic extract and methanolic fraction (aqueous) were screened for their antimicrobial activity by disc diffusion method. Besides, the fractions were screened for cytotoxic activity using brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality bioassay. Among the four fractions tested, n-hexane, carbon tetrachloride, and chloroform fractions showed moderate antibacterial and antifungal activity compared to standard antibiotic, kanamycin. The average zone of inhibition was ranged from 6 to 8 mm at a concentration of 400 µg/disc. But the aqueous fraction was found to be insensitive to microbial growth. Compared to vincristine sulfate (with LC50 of 0.52 µg/ ml), n-hexane and chloroform fractions demonstrated a significant cytotoxic activity (having LC50 of 1.94 µg/ml and 2.13 µg/ml, respectively). The LC50 values of the carbon tetrachloride and aqueous fraction were 4.46 µg/ml and 5.13 µg/ ml, respectively. The study confirms the moderate antimicrobial and potent cytotoxic activities of Dillenia indica leaves extract and therefore demands the isolation of active principles and thorough bioassay

Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2,3,4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease

Relationship of microalbuminuria with different clinical and biochemical parameters in newly detected diabetes mellitus cases

This study was conducted to assess the presence of microalbuminuria in newly detected diabetes mellitus (DM) cases in a small group of Bangladeshi population attending BIRDEM out patient department and to find out the relationship (if any) of microalbuminuria with different clinical and biochemical parameters. Out of 110 DM cases, 10 (9.1%) were found to have microalbuminuria. Blood pressure, both systolic (r=0.190) and diastolic (r = 0.30) had significant positive correlation with urinary albumin. There was no association of microalbuminuria with waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, serum triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, age, sex, weight, height or BMI. This suggests that all newly detected diabetes mellitus should be screened for raised blood pressure and if found positive be given the same importance as blood glucose. They should be treated meticulously to revert or prevent microalbuminuria and thus prevent complications. Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2010; 4(1): 21-2

Complement Deposition on Nanoparticles Can Modulate Immune Responses by Macrophage, B and T Cells

Nanoparticles are attractive drug delivery vehicles for targeted organ-specific as well as systemic therapy. However, their interaction with the immune system offers an intriguing challenge to the success of nanotherapeutics in vivo. Recently, we showed that pristine and derivatised carbon nanotubes (CNT) can activate complement mainly via the classical pathway leading to enhanced uptake by phagocytic cells, and transcriptional down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Here, we report the interaction of complement-activating CMC-CNT and RNA-CNT, and non-complement-activating gold-nickel (Au–Ni) nanowires with cell lines representing macrophage, B and T cells. Complement deposition considerably enhanced uptake of CNTs by immune cells known to overexpress complement receptors. Real-Time qPCR and multiplex array analyses showed complement-dependent down-regulation of TNF-α and IL-1β and up-regulation of IL-12 by CMC- and RNA-CNTs, in addition to revealing IL-10 as a crucial regulator during nanoparticle-immune cell interaction. It appears that complement system can recognize molecular patterns differentially displayed by nanoparticles and thus, modulate subsequent processing of nanoparticles by antigen capturing and antigen presenting cells, which can shape innate and adaptive immune axes

A segmented-mean feature extraction method for glove-based system to enhance physiotherapy for accurate and speedy recuperation of limbs

It is always desirable to have an accurate system that allows fast recovery of patients undergoing physiotherapy in terms of integrated health and cost benefits. The caregivers and medical personnel too gain a lot of expertise through the innovations involved in treatment methodology. This system proposed here was developed successfully with a straightforward Segmented-Mean feature construction method that enables its portability to suit smart biomedical devices. In this work, four different exercises were completed by four different subjects in two sessions and the feedback system was generated from every single trial performance via a visual display in a smart phone. The accuracy of the system's output depends on the precise representation of two important things namely, correct gesture and timings. These two parameters have to be captured from the signals that are generated by the hand glove during the manual physiotherapy as guided by the experts during the teaching (i.e. Training) phase. Any deviation from the model should also be captured and reflected in the feedback to align the physio-movements towards perfection to minimise adverse effects. So the feature has to be constructed with complete representation and obviously, as fast as possible. The proposed Segmented-Mean method calculates the mean of data that arrives from the significant electrodes periodically, thus preserving the performance of the subject and is found suitable in estimating the enactment of exercises and required deviations (if any), accurately and as appropriate. The proposed Segmented-Mean method helps the construction of features easily than other conventional methods by reducing the computational complexity and therefore, the response time. Hence, shifting the importance to actual physiotherapy monitoring with an accurate system that works on simple feature construction made feasible

Some features of plasma bubble induced scintillations during the AICPITS campaigns of 1991

The VHF scintillations were recorded at a chain of low-latitude stations in India as part of the All India Coordinated Programme of Ionospheric and Thermospheric Studies (AICPITS), using the 244 MHz radio beacon from the geo-stationary satellite FLEETSAT which was located at 73° E longitude. Data collected during the second campaign of September-October 1991 and analyzed jointly by the participating investigators are presented. The onset times of scintillation at pairs of stations at similar latitude but different longitudes can be used to estimate the eastward drift of the scintillation patches and its E-W extent. The maximum monthly mean occurrence for September 1991 is about 35% at Trivandrum and Tiruchendur, the stations close to dip equator. Occurrence is maximum for stations Annamalainagar, Payyanur and Anantpur (50 %), located slightly north of the dip equator. It decreases further north to 30 % at Nuzvid, Bombay, 20 % near anomaly crest region, 10 % at Agra and 8 % at Delhi, which is the northern most edge of the present observations. The occurrence frequency is slightly less than that observed during the campaign of March 1991. For the sake of completeness some very interesting features and dynamical characteristics of plasma bubble induced scintillations are included here based on digital records of scintillations made at Delhi during the two equinox data campaigns in March-April 1991 and September-October 1991