Engineered reversal of drug resistance in cancer cells - metastases suppressor factors as change agents

Building molecular correlates of drug resistance in cancer and exploiting them for therapeutic intervention remains a pressing clinical need. To identify factors that impact drug resistance herein we built a model that couples inherent cell-based response toward drugs with transcriptomes of resistant/sensitive cells. To test this model, we focused on a group of genes called Metastasis Suppressor Genes (MSGs) that influence aggressiveness and metastatic potential of cancers. Interestingly, modeling of 84 000 drug response transcriptome combinations predicted multiple MSGs to be associated with resistance of different cell types and drugs. As a case study, on inducing MSG levels in a drug resistant breast cancer line resistance to anticancer drugs caerulomycin, camptothecin and topotecan decreased by more than 50–60 %, in both culture conditions and also in tumors generated in mice, in contrast to control un-induced cells. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of engineered reversal of drug resistance in cancer cells based on a model that exploits inherent cellular response profiles

Differences in Selected Health Traits between Occupational Groups among Oraons of Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal

Occupational health deals with diseases or injuries caused due to work. Different types of work cause different types of ill-effect on health and may cause changes in health traits; empirical studies on the issues are scanty. The present study aims to investigate the differences in selected health traits between two occupational groups of the same ethnic origin. Cross-sectional data collected on 357 adult Oraon labourers engaged in two different occupations, namely, agriculture and brickfield in Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, of which are 62 male and 43 female agricultural labourers and 136 male and 116 female brickfield labourers. Data consists of anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and haemoglobin traits. Health status assessed in terms of BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and haemoglobin level following standard cut-off values. Mean values of both the occupational groups show similar trends in case of selected anthropometric and health traits. Individuals are ecto-mesomorphic irrespective of sex and occupation. Majority of individuals of either sex of both the occupational groups are underweight but hypertensive. In anthropological data, the trend of mean values is important than mere statistical significance. Data indicates that both the occupational groups have similar health condition, maybe due to their heavy manual activity

Prevalence of anaemia and associated factors among Oraon females of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India

Low haemoglobin level or anaemia is a health problem worldwide especially in developing countries like India. Anaemia is generally higher among indigenous groups compared to general population globally and females are specifically more prone to anaemia. However, studies are inadequate on indigenous groups of India. The aims of the study are to determine the prevalence of anaemia among the female Oraons of North 24 Parganas and to study the association between anaemia and concomitants like socio-demographic and food habit variables. Data have been collected on demographic, socio-economic and food habit variables using well-tested questionnaire from 309 Oraon females living in rural and urban areas of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Haemoglobin data were collected using standard instrument and technique. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data using SPSS version 16.0. Females of rural and urban areas were mostly married and non-literate, employed as labourers and had sedentary occupations. Majority of them consume fruits and vegetables but less animal protein and dairy product. Around 80% of the females were anaemic, irrespective of their habitat, socio-economic status and food habits. Anaemic status was associated with insufficient intake of animal protein, which is significantly associated with the anaemia status of the females in the present study

Room temperature synthesis of PdxNi100-x nanoalloy: superior catalyst for electro-oxidation of methanol and ethanol

Bimetallic Pd-Ni alloy nanoparticles with tunable dimensions, unique composition and excellent electrocatalytic activity towards methanol and ethanol oxidation reaction (MOR and EOR) in alkali, were successfully synthesized by co-reduction of metal precursors in strong alkali medium at room temperature. X-ray diffraction profiles typically signify alloy structure of the particles. Microscopy, diffraction and spectroscopy studies further conform the successful formation of Pd-Ni nanoalloy of determined diameter and morphology. The compositions of this alloy nanoparticles can be easily tuned by typically varying the Pd2+/Ni2+ molar ratio. The mol% of Ni present in the Pd-Ni bimetallic nanoalloy portrays a key role on the catalytic activity for MOR and EOR in alkali. Pd70Ni30/C catalyst exhibits the optimum synergic catalytic activity with improved oxidation of carbonaceous intermediates. Chronoamperometric study satisfactorily proves that Pd70Ni30/C is quite stable at ambient temperature and can be used as anode for MOR and EOR. GRAPHICS]

The Question of Improvement of the Conceptual-Categorical Apparatus Concerns of the Problems of Organization of the Religious and Political Interaction in the of Ethno-National Process

У статті уточнено статус та зміст понять “нація”, “етнос”, “національна держава”, “держава-нація”, “політична нація”, “етнонаціоналізація політики”, “етнонаціоналізація релігії“ в контексті взаємодії релігії й політики в етнонаціональному процесі. Встановлено взаємозв’язок та ієрархія зазначених понять, які мають стати головними структурно-функціональними факторами формування політичної нації в Україні.The article clarified the status and content of the concepts of "nation", "ethnicity", "nation-state", "state-nation", "political nation", "etnonatsionalization of policy", "etnonatsionalization of religion" in the context of the interaction of religion and policy in the ethno-national process. The relationship and hierarchy of these concepts, which should be the main structural-functional factors of the formation of political nation in Ukraine is established

Enhydra fluctuans Lour. aqueous extract inhibited the growth of calcium phosphate crystals: An in vitro study

Enhydra fluctuans Lour. is consumed by various tribes in their ethnomedicinal practices for the treatment of kidney stones and urinary problems. However, no scientific studies were conducted to evaluate its effect on crystal growth. Hence, the present study proposed to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of whole plant of standardized E. fluctuans (AEEF) on the growth of calcium phosphate (brushite) crystals. Attempts were also made to evaluate the effect of in vitro free radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities of AEEF. In vitro studies indicated that AEEF (50, 100, and 200 µg/mL) exhibited an inhibitory role on brushite crystal growth. The average length of the deposited brushite crystals was decreased by citric acid (1molL−1) and AEEF (200, 100, and 50 µg/mL) till day 8. Results showed that AEEF (200 and 100 µg/mL) and citric acid significantly (P<0.001) decreased the crystal bed as compared to the control on day 8 of the study. AEEF showed an antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and exhibited antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the aqueous extract of the whole plant of Enhydra fluctuans was found effective in the inhibition of brushite crystals. Further, in vivo studies along with molecular studies and bioactivity-guided fractionation are required to strengthen its antilithiatic effect along with identifying the bioactive compounds and the mechanism of action involved therein