The Association of a Rare Variant of -93, -53 Promoter Gene Polymorphisms of Lipoprotein Lipase Gene with Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Objectives: Obesity increases the risk of numerous chronic diseases. Obesity is classified clinically using body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage. The lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene has been linked to lipoprotein metabolism and obesity. We performed a case-control study to determine the association between LPL gene polymorphisms and obesity-associated phenotypes such as insulin resistance (IR). Methods: We examined the different LPL gene variants for association in 642 individuals segregated by BMI and IR. Genotyping of the LPL gene -93 and -53 promoter gene polymorphisms were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: A substantial association was observed for -93 gene polymorphism of the LPL gene with obesity, while -53 promoter gene polymorphism showed association with IR. Conclusions: We found a significant association between -93 and -53 promoter gene polymorphisms of the LPL gene with obesity and associated phenotypes in the studied population

JAK1/2 inhibition with baricitinib in the treatment of autoinflammatory interferonopathies

BACKGROUND. Monogenic IFN-mediated autoinflammatory diseases present in infancy with systemic inflammation, an IFN response gene signature, inflammatory organ damage, and high mortality. We used the JAK inhibitor baricitinib, with IFN-blocking activity in vitro, to ameliorate disease. METHODS. Between October 2011 and February 2017, 10 patients with CANDLE (chronic atypical neutrophilic dermatosis with lipodystrophy and elevated temperatures), 4 patients with SAVI (stimulator of IFN genes-associated [STING-associated] vasculopathy with onset in infancy), and 4 patients with other interferonopathies were enrolled in an expanded access program. The patients underwent dose escalation, and the benefit was assessed by reductions in daily disease symptoms and corticosteroid requirement. Quality of life, organ inflammation, changes in IFN-induced biomarkers, and safety were longitudinally assessed. RESULTS. Eighteen patients were treated for a mean duration of 3.0 years (1.5-4.9 years). The median daily symptom score decreased from 1.3 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.93-1.78) to 0.25 (IQR, 0.1-0.63) (P < 0.0001). In 14 patients receiving corticosteroids at baseline, daily prednisone doses decreased from 0.44 mg/kg/day (IQR, 0.31-1.09) to 0.11 mg/kg/day (IQR, 0.02-0.24) (P < 0.01), and 5 of 10 patients with CANDLE achieved lasting clinical remission. The patients' quality of life and height and bone mineral density Z-scores significantly improved, and their IFN biomarkers decreased. Three patients, two of whom had genetically undefined conditions, discontinued treatment because of lack of efficacy, and one CANDLE patient discontinued treatment because of BK viremia and azotemia. The most common adverse events were upper respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, and BK viruria and viremia. CONCLUSION. Upon baricitinib treatment, clinical manifestations and inflammatory and IFN biomarkers improved in patients with the monogenic interferonopathies CANDLE, SAVI, and other interferonopathies. Monitoring safety and efficacy is important in benefit-risk assessment

Catalogue of superfamily Pterophoroidea Kuznetsov & Stekolnikov (Lepidoptera) of India

Pathania, Prakash C., Das, Apurva, Chandra, Kailash (2021): Catalogue of superfamily Pterophoroidea Kuznetsov & Stekolnikov (Lepidoptera) of India. Zootaxa 4915 (2): 201-236, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4915.2.

Lecithocera ianthodes Meyrick 1931

63. Lecithocera ianthodes Meyrick, 1931d: 80 Type locality: India, Uttarakhand, Dehra Dun Distribution: Indian records: Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand.Published as part of Das, Apurva, Pathania, Prakash C. & Singh, Navneet, 2022, A catalogue of Indian Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea), pp. 56-78 in Zootaxa 5165 (1) on page 66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5165.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/682552

A catalogue of Indian Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea)

Das, Apurva, Pathania, Prakash C., Singh, Navneet (2022): A catalogue of Indian Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea). Zootaxa 5165 (1): 56-78, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5165.1.

Evaluation of MC4R [rs17782313, rs17700633], AGRP [rs3412352] and POMC [rs1042571] Polymorphisms with Obesity in Northern India

Objective: Genetic variants of the melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R), agouti related protein (AGRP) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) are reported to be associated with obesity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine MC4R rs17782313, MC4R rs17700633, AGRP rs3412352 and POMCrs1042571 for any association with obesity in North Indian subjects. Methods: The variants were investigated for association in 300 individuals with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and 300 healthy non-obese individuals BMI <30 kg/m2. The genotyping were analyzed by Taqman probes. The statistical analysis was performed by the SPSS software, ver.19 and p≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The genotypes of MC4R rs17782313 and POMC rs1042571 were significantly associated with obesity (C), (p=0.02; OR=1.7 and p=0.01; OR=1.6, respectively); however, MC4Rrs17700633 (p=0.001; OR=0.55) was associated with low risk. In addition, AGRPrs3412352 (p=0.93; OR=0.96) showed no association with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) in North Indian subjects. Conclusion: This study provides the report about the significant association of MC4R (rs17782313) and POMC (rs1042571) with morbid obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), but MC4R (rs17700633) and AGRP (rs34123523) did not show any association with obesity in the studied North Indian population

Long-term application of organic manures and chemical fertilizers improve the organic carbon and microbiological properties of soil under pearl millet-wheat cropping system in North-Western India

An on-going long term field experiment started in Rabi 1995 at the Research Farm of the Department of Soil Science, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana (India) under the pearl millet-wheat cropping system was selected to study the effect of long-term application of organic manures and fertilizers on soil organic carbon and microbiological properties. Highest soil organic carbon (SOC: 1.18 %), dissolved OC (DOC: 64.74 mg kg−1) content, microbial biomass C (MBC: 618.40 mg kg−1), dehydrogenase (DHA: 72.83 μg TPF g−1 24 hr−1), alkaline phosphatase (APA: 685.44 μg PNP g−1 soil hr−1) and aryl sulfatase (ASA: 12.56 μg PNP g−1 soil hr−1) activities were observed with the application of 15 Mg FYM+150 kg N+30 kg P2O5 ha−1. Integrated application of chemical fertilizers with pressmud showed superiority in the improvement of microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN: 73.73 mg kg−1) and urease activity (69.54 μg NH4+ g−1 hr−1) than FYM or poultry manure plus NP. Beneficial impacts of the sole application of organic manures on SOC, DOC, MBC content, DHA, APA, and ASA were found in order as: FYM > pressmud > poultry manure. Impacts of nutrient management practices on soil carbon fractions decreased with depth. Poultry manure application, either alone or in combination with NP fertilizers was inferior to FYM and pressmud. The SOC had a positive relationship with MBC (R2 = 0.95) and MBN (R2 = 0.75) and, also showed a highly positive and significant correlation with microbiological properties of soil. This dynamic equilibrium among soil properties indicated that the nutrient management practices that improve SOC could lead to improve soil fertility and accrued microbiological properties in these soils. This study revealed that conjuctive use of organic manures and chemical fertilizers have positive impact on soil fertility and microbiological properties as compared to sole application of organic manures or fertilizers; and among organic manures, FYM was superior to pressmud followed by poultry manure