Decreased GABAB receptor function in the cerebellum and brain stem of hypoxic neonatal rats: Role of glucose, oxygen and epinephrine resuscitation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background-</p> <p>Hypoxia during the first week of life can induce neuronal death in vulnerable brain regions usually associated with an impairment of cognitive function that can be detected later in life. The neurobiological changes mediated through neurotransmitters and other signaling molecules associated with neonatal hypoxia are an important aspect in establishing a proper neonatal care.</p> <p>Methods-</p> <p>The present study evaluated total GABA, GABA_Breceptor alterations, gene expression changes in GABA_Breceptor and glutamate decarboxylase in the cerebellum and brain stem of hypoxic neonatal rats and the resuscitation groups with glucose, oxygen and epinephrine. Radiolabelled GABA and baclofen were used for receptor studies of GABA and GABA_Breceptors respectively and Real Time PCR analysis using specific probes for GABA_Breceptor and GAD mRNA was done for gene expression studies.</p> <p>Results-</p> <p>The adaptive response of the body to hypoxic stress resulted in a reduction in total GABA and GABA_Breceptors along with decreased GABA_Breceptor and GAD gene expression in the cerebellum and brain stem. Hypoxic rats supplemented with glucose alone and with oxygen showed a reversal of the receptor alterations and changes in GAD. Resuscitation with oxygen alone and epinephrine was less effective in reversing the receptor alterations.</p> <p>Conclusions-</p> <p>Being a source of immediate energy, glucose can reduce the ATP-depletion-induced changes in GABA and oxygenation, which helps in encountering hypoxia. The present study suggests that reduction in the GABA_Breceptors functional regulation during hypoxia plays an important role in central nervous system damage. Resuscitation with glucose alone and glucose and oxygen to hypoxic neonatal rats helps in protecting the brain from severe hypoxic damage.</p

Women workers in the post harvest marine fisheries sector of Kerala: Socio economic profile

Women workers in the post harvest marine fisheries sector of Kerala: Socio economic profil

Effect of source and method of application of zinc on yield and quality of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Experiments were conducted in the green house at Peruvannamuzhi (Kerala) and also in the field at Madikeri (Karnataka) to compare the effect of zinc sources, zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) and zinc ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid chelate (Zn-EDTA) and methods of application (soil and foliar) to black pepper (Piper nigrum) in a zinc deficient soil. The results showed that with regard to soil availability of zinc, application of zinc as Zn-EDTA chelate @ 2.5 mg kg-1 soil in green house and 2.5 kg ha-1 in field conditions recorded maximum values. Leaf and berry zinc and pepper yield were maximum due to 0.5% ZnSo4 foliar spray. Irrespective of sources and methods, Zinc application significantly increased oleoresin and piperine contents. With regard to benefit : cost ratio, 0.5% foliar spray of ZnSo4 resulted in maximum value in green house, whereas soil application of 2.5 kg Zn ha-1 as ZnSo4 resulted in maximum value in field condition. &nbsp

Carbamoylated Erythropoietin-Induced Cerebral Blood Perfusion and Vascular Gene Regulation.

Cerebral hypoperfusion is associated with enhanced cognitive decline and increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a neurotrophic factor known to improve cognitive function in preclinical and clinical studies of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. However, the clinical application of EPO is limited due to its erythropoietic activity that can adversely elevate hematocrit in non-anemic populations. Carbamoylated erythropoietin (CEPO), a chemically engineered non-erythropoietic derivative of EPO, does not alter hematocrit and maintains neurotrophic and behavioral effects comparable to EPO. Our study aimed to investigate the role of CEPO in cerebral hemodynamics. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis indicated increased blood perfusion in the hippocampal and striatal region without altering tight junction integrity. In vitro and in vivo analyses indicated that hippocampal neurotransmission was unaltered and increased cerebral perfusion was likely due to EDRF, CGRP, and NOS-mediated vasodilation. In vitro analysis using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and hippocampal vascular gene expression analysis showed CEPO to be a non-angiogenic agent which regulates the MEOX2 gene expression. The results from our study demonstrate a novel role of CEPO in modulating cerebral vasodilation and blood perfusion

Influence of soil physico-chemical properties on productivity of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Soil surveys were conducted to study the physico-chemical characteristics of major black pepper (Piper nigrum) growing soils in Kerala and their relationship with black pepper productivity. Soil samples were collected from four major black pepper growing districts, namely, ldukki, Wayanad (high elevation), Kozhikode and Kannur (low elevation) and were classified based on yield as high, moderate and low yieJdinggardens. The relationships between elevations, physico-chemical properties and black pepper productivity were studied. The investigation revealed that soils of high yielding gardens were high in sand and low in clay fractions. These soils had high pH, base saturation, canon exchange capacity, organic carbon, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc status compared to low yielding gardens. These factors favoured good growth of black pepper vines with higher productivity. &nbsp

Evaluation of composted coir p ith with chemical and biofertilizers on nutrient availability, yield and quality of b lack pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Composted coir pith was evaluated at Madikeri (Karnataka) under integrated plant nutrient management system to substitute chemical input of fertilizers for improving the yield and quality of black pepper (Piper nigrum). Application of composted coir pith (CC) @ 2.5 t ha" with full recommended dose of NPK (100:40:140 kg ha" of N, P,O, and K, O) yielded the highest (4.18 kg vine" ) which was on par with 1.25 t ha·1 CC + full NPK, 2.5 t ha·1 CC + y, NPK + Azospirillum sp., 1.25 t ha" CC + y, NPK + Azospirillum sp. and 2.5 t ha" CC alone. The levels of composted coir pith application were on par with regard to quality (piperine and oleoresin contents). of black pepper. The highest benefit-cost ratio of 1.94 was recorded in the ,treatment with composted coir pith @ 1.25 t ha" + Azospirillum sp. &nbsp

Knowledge and Attitude of Dental Students and Staffs towards Basic life Support(BLS)

Introduction:The present study was aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, and attitude towards basic life support (BLS) among the dental students and faculty of Al Azhar dental college. Materials and Methods:A descriptive study was conducted by using a Questionnaire comprising of 20 questions to collect the data pertaining to awareness and knowledge of BLS, attitude towards BLS among the 3rd, final year dental students and the faculty members. After excluding the incomplete response sheets which were none in the present study, the data from 212 members were subjected to the analysis. The Main outcome measure was the over all score in the BLS knowledge. Knowledge of BLS was assessed as per the data contained in the Basic life support manual from American Heart Association. Results: Out of 212 members 109 were 3rd year students and 85 were final year students and 18 faculty members. The overall knowledge score was 33.7%. Overall results were poor with less than minimum knowledge on the topic BLS. A score of less than 50% was evident in the study indicating a poor knowledge of BLS among both the students and the faculty.The range of correct answers were 3-11 among students and 4-6 among the staffs. A significant difference (

Complex interventions to implement a diabetic retinopathy care pathway in the public health system in Kerala: the Nayanamritham study protocol

Introduction: Using a type 2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation design, we aim to pilot a diabetic retinopathy (DR) care pathway in the public health system in Kerala to understand how it can be scaled up to and sustained in the whole state. Methods and analysis: Currently, there is no systematic DR screening programme in Kerala. Our intervention is a teleophthalmology pathway for people with diabetes in the non-communicable disease registers in 16 family health centres. The planned implementation strategy of the pathway will be developed based on the discrete Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change taxonomy. We will use both quantitative data from a cross-sectional study and qualitative data obtained from structured interviews, surveys and group discussions with stakeholders to report the effectiveness of the DR care pathway and evaluation of the implementation strategy. We will use logistic regression models to assess crude associations DR and sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy and fractional polynomials to account for the form of continuous covariates to predict uptake of DR screening. The primary effectiveness outcome is the proportion of patients in the non-communicable disease register with diabetes screened for DR over 12 months. Other outcomes include cost-effectiveness, safety, efficiency, patient satisfaction, timeliness and equity. The outcomes of evaluation of the implementation strategies include acceptability, feasibility, adoption, appropriateness, fidelity, penetration, costs and sustainability. Addition of more family health centres during the staggered initial phase of the programme will be considered as a sign of acceptability and feasibility. In the long term, the state-wide adoption of the DR care pathway will be considered as a successful outcome of the Nayanamritham study. Ethics and dissemination: The study was approved by Indian Medical Research Council (2018-0551) dated 13 March 2019. Study findings will be disseminated through scientific publications and the report will inform adoption of the DR care pathway by Kerala state in future

The ORNATE India project: Building research capacity and capability to tackle the burden of diabetic retinopathy-related blindness in India

The ORNATE India project is an interdisciplinary, multifaceted United Kingdom (UK)–India collaborative study aimed to build research capacity and capability in India and the UK to tackle the burden of diabetes-related visual impairment. For 51 months (October 2017–December 2021), this project built collaboration between six institutions in the UK and seven in India, including the Government of Kerala. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening models were evaluated in the public system in Kerala. An epidemiological study of diabetes and its complications was conducted through 20 centers across India covering 10 states and one union territory. The statistical analysis is not yet complete. In the UK, risk models for diabetes and its complications and artificial intelligence-aided tools are being developed. These were complemented by joint studies on various aspects of diabetes between collaborators in the UK and India. This interdisciplinary team enabled increased capability in several workstreams, resulting in an increased number of publications, development of cost-effective risk models, algorithms for risk-based screening, and policy for state-wide implementation of sustainable DR screening and treatment programs in primary care in Kerala. The increase in research capacity included multiple disciplines from field workers, administrators, project managers, project leads, screeners, graders, optometrists, nurses, general practitioners, and research associates in various disciplines. Cross-fertilization of these disciplines enabled the development of several collaborations external to this project. This collaborative project has made a significant impact on research capacity development in both India and the UK

Graphene coated fabrics by ultrasonic spray coating for wearable electronics and smart textiles

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available on open access from IOP Publishing via the DOI in this recordThe seamless incorporation of electronics in textiles have the potential to enable various applications ranging from sensors for the internet of things to personalised medicine and human-machine interfacing. Graphene electronic textiles are a current focus for the research community due to the exceptional electrical and optical properties combined with the high flexibility of this material, which makes it the most effective strategy to achieve ultimate mechanical robustness of electronic devices for textile integrated electronics. An efficient way to create electronic textiles is to fabricate devices directly on the fabric. This can be done by coating the textile fabric with graphene to make it conductive. Here we discuss successful and efficient methods for coating graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on textile substrates of nylon, polyester and meta-aramid using ultrasonic spray coating technique. These coatings are characterised by scanning electron microscopy, contact angle and electrical conductivity measurements in order to identify the optimal textile electrode. Our study provides the foundation for the large-area fabrication of graphene electronic textiles.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC