An essential GT motif in the lamin A promoter mediates activation by CREB-binding protein

Lamin A is an important component of nuclear architecture in mammalian cells. Mutations in the human lamin A gene lead to highly degenerative disorders that affect specific tissues. In studies directed towards understanding the mode of regulation of the lamin A promoter, we have identified an essential GT motif at -55 position by reporter gene assays and mutational analysis. Binding of this sequence to Sp transcription factors has been observed in electrophoretic mobility shift assays and by chromatin immunoprecipitation studies. Further functional analysis by co-expression of recombinant proteins and ChIP assays has shown an important regulatory role for CREB-binding protein in promoter activation, which is mediated by the GT motif

Comparative observational study between Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin based on HbA1c levels of patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome and heart failure

Background: Our study aims to compare HbA1c levels in hospitalized acute coronary syndrome and heart failure patients treated with atorvastatin versus rosuvastatin Methods: This is a retrospective, prospective  observational study in which the study population includes ACS and HF Hospitalized patients, the study subjects are divided based on patients prescribed  with Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin based on the medication chart, and those patients' previous history of statin use is collected from history chart, patient case notes, doctors notes, laboratory data is collected and documented in data collection form, lab data includes HbA1c, finally compared Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin using excel and JASP descriptive analysis. Results: Overall, we collected data for 132 cases, of which 55% are males and 45% females, 59.10% are above 61 years of age, 39.39% are diagnosed with ACS and 23.48% are diagnosed with HF, among 67 patients who are using Atorvastatin, there was a significant mean decrease in HbA1c% from 8.359% to 7.901%, and among 65 Rosuvastatin users there was an increase in mean HbA1c% from 8.386%  to 8.389%. Additionally for non-diabetic individuals, there was an increase in Hba1c% from 6.339% to 6.387%. Conclusions: We concluded that Atorvastatin is a more effective statin than Rosuvastatin which will reduce the risk of new-onset Diabetes Mellitus in non- diabetic individuals and reduce the risk of increasing complications of diabetes mellitus in patients who are Diabetic

Pregnancy outcome in working women with work place stress

Background: The employment rate of mothers has increased worldwide in recent years. So, there is concern about possible effects of work related risk factors and pregnancy outcome in working women. As a growing percentage of women work outside home before, during, and after pregnancy in most countries and its related occupational factors deserve to be studied in relation to pregnancy outcomes. To identify the effect of work place stress, on pregnancy and perinatal outcome.Methods: 100 pregnant working women, who were visiting the antenatal care unit and labour room taken into study. They were interviewed using predesigned questionnaire, Physical activity questionnaire, Workplace Stress Survey. Statistical analysis performed using SPSS version 21.Results: Mean age was 27yrs, with hrs of working/wk of 47hrs, 41 women studied were working in garment factories,46% of them had complications during their antenatal period, 56% of them were primigravidas.  Among studied working conditions, working more than 40 hours/ week was significantly associated with high rates of preterm delivery (12%) and Small for gestational age (SGA) (22%) was significantly increased with high work stress.Conclusions: Among the studied, work conditions for working women working more than 40 hours/week, social stress index were found to be a significant risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. General practice physical activity (GPPA) 80% of both active and moderately active women had some problems. In work place stress survey (WSS), 100% of women encountering problems at work place had problems during their pregnancy, 72% of women who handled stress moderately had problems. Therefore, as long as the health of the pregnant woman permits her to continue work during pregnancy that is not stressful or overloading for her, no adverse effect on pregnancy outcomes is expected

A study on drug utilization pattern of anticoagulants in post-cardiac surgeries at a tertiary care hospital

Background: The study is being carried out mainly to understand the prevention of coagulation of blood after a patient undergoing various types of cardiac surgeries, using different anticoagulation therapies suitable to particular types of cardiac surgery. This study was conducted to know the types of anticoagulants prescribed to patients who have undergone different types of cardiac surgeries along with the prescribed anticoagulants. Methods: The study method used was a retrospective and prospective observational study carried out on 50 patients who underwent cardiac surgeries in the department of cardiology and medicine. Results: A total of 50 patients were enrolled for this study who satisfied the inclusion criteria, out of which 64% of patients were males, and 36% were females. The highest number of patients were found to be in between the age group of 61-70 yrs (34%), whereas age group between 51-60 yrs (28%), age group 71 and above (18%), 41-50 (14%), 21-30 yrs (4%) and 18-20 yrs (2%) respectively. Most of the patients had undergone Coronary Artery bypass grafting. It was seen that the highest Anticoagulant being prescribed was Heparin in most of the post-cardiac surgeries. Whereas drugs like dalteparin, acenocoumarol, and warfarin were prescribed the majority in valvular heart surgeries. Conclusions: Various cardiac surgeries were taken into consideration for the study. The most common anticoagulants prescribed were heparin, dalteparin, acenocoumarol, and warfarin in coronary artery bypass surgery and valvular heart surgeries respectively

Effect of biofertilizers and micronutrients on growth, leaf yield and quality of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) cv. Sadhana

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2015-16 at Research Farm, College of Horticulture, Dr.Y.S.R. Horticultural University, Anantharajupeta (Andhra Pradesh), India, to study the effect of different biofertilizers and micronutrients on growth, leaf yield and quality of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) cv. Sadhana. The experiment was conducted in a factorial randomized block design with biofertilizers and micronutrients. The biofertilizer treatments were seed inoculation with Azospirillum, Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB), Azospirillum + Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB) and control (without any biofertilizer), while the micronutrient treatments comprised of foliar sprays of Zinc sulphate, Copper sulphate, Ferrous sulphate each at @ 0.5% and control (without any micronutrient). The sixteen treatment combinations were replicated thrice. Among the treatments, seed inoculation with Azospirillum + PSB+ foliar spray of zinc sulphate @ 0.5% recorded maximum plant height, number of primary branches, leaf area, fresh leaf yield per plant, leaf yield per plot, leaf yield per hectare, dry matter production, protein content, ascorbic acid content and moisture content. While, the lowest days to germination and leaf chlorophyll contents were recorded with the seed inoculation of Azospirillum + PSB + foliar spray of ferrous sulphate @ 0.5%

Increasing Compliance with Mass Drug Administration Programs for Lymphatic Filariasis in India through Education and Lymphedema Management Programs

Global elimination of lymphatic filariasis requires giving drugs at least annually to populations who live at risk of becoming infected with the parasite. At least 80% of people at risk need to take the drugs annually for 5 or more years to stop transmission of the infection. People suffering from the long-term effects of infection, such as swollen legs, benefit from programs that teach self-care of their affected limbs. In this study, we assessed the impact of an educational campaign that, after addressing previously identified predictors of compliance, significantly improved drug compliance. The specific factors improving compliance included knowing about the drug distribution in advance, knowing that everyone is at risk for acquiring the infection, knowing that the drug distribution was for lymphatic filariasis prevention, and knowing at least one component of leg care. We also found that areas with programs to assist people with swollen legs had greater increases in compliance. This research provides evidence that program evaluation can be used to improve drug compliance. In addition, our work shows for the first time that programs to benefit people with swollen legs caused by lymphatic filariasis also increase the participation of people without disease in drug treatment programs

Abundance and relationship of bacteria with transparent exopolymer particles during the 1996 summer monsoon in the Arabian Sea

Bacterial abundance and production, numbers, sizes and concentrations of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and total organic carbon (TOC) were measured during the 1996 summer monsoon to understand the relationship between TEP, the most labile particulate organic carbon, and bacteria. While high regional variability in the vertical distribution of TOC was discernible, TEP concentrations were high in surface waters at 18-20°N along 64°E with concentrations well over 25 mg alginic acid equivalents I-1 due to upwelling induced productivity. Their concentrations decreased with depth and were lower between 200 and 500 m. Bacterial concentrations were up to 1.99 × 108 I-1 in the surface waters and decreased by an order of magnitude or more at depths below 500 m. A better relationship has been found between bacterial abundance and concentrations of TEP than between bacteria and TOC, indicating that bacterial metabolism is fueled by availability of TEP in the Arabian Sea. Assuming a carbon assimilation of 33%, bacterial carbon demand (BCD) is estimated to be 1.017 to 4.035 gCm-2 d-1 in the surface waters. The observed TEP concentrations appear to be sufficient in meeting the surface and subsurface BCD in the northern Arabian Sea

Effect of Benzothiazole based conjugates in causing apoptosis by Regulating p53, PTEN and MAP Kinase proteins affecting miR-195a and miR-101-1

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for majority of liver cancers and is the leading cause of cancer related death in Asia. Like any other cancer, HCC develops when there is a mutation to the cellular machinery that causes the cell to replicate at a higher rate and results in the loss of apoptosis. Therefore, a delicate balance between the expression of various genes involved in proliferation and apoptosis decide the ultimate fate of the cell to undergo rapid proliferation (cancer) or cell death.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The benzothiazole based compounds exhibited effective cytotoxicity at 4 μM concentration and have shown G1 cell cycle arrest with decrease in levels of G1 cell cycle proteins such as cyclin D1 and Skp2. Involvement of tumour suppressor proteins such as PTEN and p53 was studied. Interestingly these compounds displayed decrease in the phosphorylated forms of AKT, p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 which play a vital role in cell proliferation. Compounds have exhibited strong and significant effect on the expression of micro RNAs such as miR-195a & miR-101-1 which regulate hepatic cell proliferation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The cell cycle arrest and apoptotic inducing nature of these compounds was revealed by FACS, BrdU cell proliferation and tunel assays. Compounds affected both tumour suppressor proteins as well as proteins that are involved in active cell proliferation. Micro RNAs whose target is Cyclin D1 such as miR-195a and miR-101-1 that is required for growth of hepatoma cells was drastically affected. These compounds caused apoptosis by activating caspase-3 and PARP.</p

A microRNA cluster in the Fragile-X region expressed during spermatogenesis targets FMR1.

Testis-expressed X-linked genes typically evolve rapidly. Here, we report on a testis-expressed X-linked microRNA (miRNA) cluster that despite rapid alterations in sequence has retained its position in the Fragile-X region of the X chromosome in placental mammals. Surprisingly, the miRNAs encoded by this cluster (Fx-mir) have a predilection for targeting the immediately adjacent gene, Fmr1, an unexpected finding given that miRNAs usually act in trans, not in cis Robust repression of Fmr1 is conferred by combinations of Fx-mir miRNAs induced in Sertoli cells (SCs) during postnatal development when they terminate proliferation. Physiological significance is suggested by the finding that FMRP, the protein product of Fmr1, is downregulated when Fx-mir miRNAs are induced, and that FMRP loss causes SC hyperproliferation and spermatogenic defects. Fx-mir miRNAs not only regulate the expression of FMRP, but also regulate the expression of eIF4E and CYFIP1, which together with FMRP form a translational regulatory complex. Our results support a model in which Fx-mir family members act cooperatively to regulate the translation of batteries of mRNAs in a developmentally regulated manner in SCs