Role of TRPV6 in Mitigating Alcohol-Induced Disruption of Tight Junctions, Barrier Function, and Hepatic Injury

Background: Persistent alcohol consumption is widely recognized as a precursor to alcoholic liver disease. However, the intriguing observation persists that only a minority, approximately 20%, of individuals with alcohol use disorder succumb to this liver ailment. The factors contributing to this variability remain elusive. Studies indicate that individuals with alcoholic liver disease exhibit endotoxemia, with endotoxins primarily originating from colonic microflora. Moreover, these patients manifest disruptions in epithelial tight junctions, leading to compromised barrier function in the gastrointestinal tract. In this context, the transient receptor vanilloid receptor 6 (TRPV6) emerges as a crucial regulator of calcium absorption and transport, particularly in epithelial cells within the gastrointestinal tract. Research strongly suggests that suppressing the TRPV6 channel in Caco-2 cells can alleviate alcohol-induced disruption of tight junctions and barrier function. Methods, Results, and Conclusions: A scientific study subjected adult wild-type and Trpv6-/- mice to chronic alcohol feeding. Barrier function was assessed through in vivo measurement of inulin permeability, while tight junctions (TJ) and adherens junctions (AJ) integrity were evaluated using immunofluorescence microscopy. Systemic responses were analysed by assessing endotoxemia, systemic inflammation, and liver damage. Our findings highlight that alcohol induces the redistribution of tight junctions and adherens junctions, closely associated with the presence of TRPV6. Crucially, experiments with murine models reveal that the absence of TRPV6 mitigates alcohol-induced disruption of tight junctions, adherens junctions, gut barrier integrity, endotoxin absorption, and subsequent liver damage. Additionally, enteroids and colonoids generated from mice demonstrate that alcohol and its metabolite, acetaldehyde, increase the permeability of these organoids. Interestingly, organoids derived from TRPV6 knockout animals exhibit resistance to heightened permeability. Collectively, these findings suggest a pivotal role for the TRPV6 channel in mediating alcohol-induced damage to the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Our research provides valuable insights into potential mechanisms underlying alcohol-induced liver disease and emphasizes the significance of TRPV6 as a promising target for further exploration and potential therapeutic interventions

Estimation and Determinants of Chronic Poverty in India : An Alternative Approach

The paper conceptualizes chronic poverty by using the spaces of income and nutrition and estimates its incidence among states and social groups. It also aims to improve our understanding of the determinant of chronic poverty by considering economic, demographic and social factors. It attempts to answer the following questions : How important a determinant of chronic poverty is household income? What factors inhibit escape from chronic poverty? How different are the other poor from chronic poor? The analysis uses the unit level NSS and NFHS data.Chrinic Poverty, India

Estimation and determinants of chronic poverty in India: An Alternative approach

The paper conceptualizes chronic poverty by using the spaces of income and nutrition and estimates its incidence among states and social groups. It also aims to improve our understanding of the determinant of chronic poverty by considering economic, demographic and social factors. It attempts to answer the following questions: How important a determinant of chronic poverty is household income? What factors inhibit escape from chronic poverty? How different are the other poor from chronic poor? The analysis uses the unit level NSS and NFHS data.

IS ACQUISITION OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS - AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS IN INDIA?

  Objective: The incidence of community-acquired and hospital-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections has been rising with increasing emergence of drug-resistant strains called methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of carriage rate of MRSA among the interns of tertiary care teaching hospital in Mangalore.Methods: A total of 150 interns were participated, thereby swabs from both anterior nares were collected and processed for S. aureus. The isolated strains of S. aureus were screened for methicillin susceptibility by modified Kirby–Bauer method using cefoxitin (30 μg) disc. Further, antibiotic susceptibility testing for all isolates of S. aureus was also done against selected appropriate antibiotics. Vancomycin susceptibility testing for MRSA was done by E test.Results: The number of strains of S. aureus isolated from our 150 participants was 71 with a percentage rate of 47.3. Of the 71 isolates of S. aureus, one (1.4%) was MRSA. The overall MRSA carriage rate was 0.66%. The S. aureus and MRSA carriage rates recorded in this study were at par and significantly lower, respectively, when compared with other reported studies. It was observed that risk factors such as the use of antibiotics in the past 6 months and smoking were found to be statistically significant in nasal carriage status of S. aureus (<0.05). The only one isolate of MRSA was found to be sensitive to vancomycin, linezolid, and teicoplanin.Conclusion: It was concluded that the acquisition of S. aureus and MRSA would not be an occupational hazard for medical students of developing countries like India

Magnetic anomalies over the Andaman Islands and their geological significance

The Andaman Islands form part of the outer-arc accretionary sedimentary complex belonging to the Andaman–Sumatra active subduction zone. The islands are characterized by thick cover of Neogene sediments along with exposed ophiolite rocks at few places. A regional magnetic survey was carried out for the first time over the Andaman Islands with a view to understand the correlation of anomaly signatures with surface geology of the islands. The residual total field magnetic anomaly maps have revealed distinct magnetic anomalies having intermediate to high amplitude magnetic signatures and correlate with the areas over/close to the exposed ophiolite rocks along the east coast of north, middle and the south Andaman Islands. The 2D modelling of magnetic anomalies along selected E–W profiles across the islands indicate that the ophiolite bodies extend to a depth of about 5–8 km and spatially correlate with the mapped fault/thrust zones

An assessment of the bottom-trawl fishery resources of the northeast coast of India

An overview of the bottom trawl fishery resources of the continental shelf of the northeast coast (lat. 15° N-21° N and long. 80^ E-83° El has been attempted based on data collected from the exploratory fishery surveys conducted by the Govt. of India fishing vessels during 1961-1985. The 'swapt-area' method has been employed to estimate the standing stock, and 60% of this has bean reckoned as the potential yield The catch rates in the shelf region ranged between 1 l<g/hr in square 17-33 CI and 377 kg/hr in squares that yielded 150kg/hr or more are distributed widely both in the inshore and offshore grounds- The potential yield estimates for the area explored varied between 083 t/km2 in 20° H-Sl" E and 3 37 t/km^ in 19° N-35°

Magnetic anomalies of offshore Krishna-Godavari basin, eastern continental margin of India

The marine magnetic data acquired from offshore Krishna-Godavari (K-G) basin, eastern continental margin of India (ECMI), brought out a prominent NE-SW trending feature, which could be explained by a buried structural high formed by volcanic activity. The magnetic anomaly feature is also associated with a distinct negative gravity anomaly similar to the one associated with 85°E Ridge. The gravity low could be attributed to a flexure at the Moho boundary, which could in turn be filled with the volcanic material. Inversion of the magnetic and gravity anomalies was also carried out to establish the similarity of anomalies of the two geological features (structural high on the margin and the 85°E Ridge) and their interpretations. In both cases, the magnetic anomalies were caused dominantly by the magnetization contrast between the volcanic material and the surrounding oceanic crust, whereas the low gravity anomalies are by the flexures of the order of 3-4 km at Moho boundary beneath them. The analysis suggests that both structural high present in offshore Krishna-Godavari basin and the 85°E Ridge have been emplaced on relatively older oceanic crust by a common volcanic process, but at discrete times, and that several of the gravity lows in the Bay of Bengal can be attributed to flexures on the Moho, each created due to the load of volcanic material