45 research outputs found
Impaired serine metabolism complements LRRK2-G2019S pathogenicity in PD patients
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multifactorial disorder with complex etiology. The most prevalent PD associated mutation, LRRK2-G2019S is linked to familial and sporadic cases. Based on the multitude of genetic predispositions in PD and the incomplete penetrance of LRRK2-G2019S, we hypothesize that modifiers in the patients' genetic background act as susceptibility factors for developing PD. To assess LRRK2-G2019S modifiers, we used human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuroepithelial stem cells (NESCs). Isogenic controls distinguish between LRRK2-G2019S dependent and independent cellular phenotypes. LRRK2-G2019S patient and healthy mutagenized lines showed altered NESC self-renewal and viability, as well as impaired serine metabolism. In patient cells, phenotypes were only partly LRRK2-G2019S dependent, suggesting a significant contribution of the genetic background. In this context we identified the gene serine racemase (SRR) as a novel patient-specific, developmental, genetic modifier contributing to the aberrant phenotypes. Its enzymatic product, n-serine, rescued altered cellular phenotypes. Susceptibility factors in the genetic background, such as SRR, could be new targets for early PD diagnosis and treatment.Analytical BioScience
The Role of Dietary Approach in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract and is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal diseases. In IBS multiple pathophysiological mechanisms including alterations in intestinal motility, permeability, nutrient absorption, and intestinal microbiota have been implicated. Foods are commonly reported by patients to be a trigger of symptoms and therefore are likely involved in the generation of symptoms in IBS. Among all possible therapeutic options, a first-line approach to IBS is dietary education and identification of foods potentially responsible for the onset or worsening of symptoms. Dietary approaches include reduction of gas-producing foods (i.e. fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs)), lactose and gluten. Further studies are required to link the ultimate role of diets in different IBS subtypes
Not Available
Not AvailableSustaining soil and land quality under intensive land
use and fast economic development is a major challenge
for improving crop productivity in the developing
world. Assessment of soil and land quality
indicators is necessary to evaluate the degradation
status and changing trends of different land use and
management interventions. During the last four decades,
the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) which covers an
area of about 52.01 m ha has been the major food producing
region of the country. However at present, the
yield of crops in IGP has stagnated; one of the major
reasons being deterioration of soil and land quality.
The present article deals with the estimation of soil
and land quality indicators of IGP, so that, proper soil
and land management measures can be taken up to
restore and improve the soil health. Use of principal
component analysis is detailed to derive the minimum
dataset or indicators for soil quality. The article also
describes spatial distribution of soil and land quality
with respect to major crops of IGP.Not Availabl