Epigenetics: Pharmacology and Modification Mechanisms Involved in Cardiac, Hepatic and Renal Disease

For a long time scientists have tried to describe disorders are due to genetic as well as environmental factors. In the past few years, revolution in technology that has made it possible to decipher the human genome. Epigenetics explains the capability gene expression regulation without modifying the genetic sequence. Epigenetic mechanisms are rooted changes in molecules, or nuclear characteristics that can alter gene expression without altering the sequences of DNA, i.e. DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs. Learning of the fundamental epigenetic modification allowing gene expression as well as cellular phenotype are advanced that novel insights into the epigenetic control of cardiovascular disease, hepatic disease, as well as chronic kidney disease are now emerging. From a half of century ago, in human disease the role of epigenetics has been considered. This subject has attracted many interests in the past decade, especially in complicated diseases like cardiovascular disease, hepatic disease as well as chronic kidney disease. This review first illustrates the history and classification of epigenetic modifications and the factors (i.e. genetic, environment, dietary, thought process and lifestyle) affecting to the epigenetics mechanisms. Likewise, the epigenetics role in human diseases is think out by targeting on some diseases and at the end, we have given the future perspective of this field. This review article provides concepts with some examples to describe a broad view of distinct aspects of epigenetics in biology and human diseases. Keywords: - Epigenetics, DNA methylation, Histone modifications, microRNAs and Gene expression and Disease

Virulence Factors of Clinical and Fecal Isolates of Enterococci Species

Enterococci species are known commensals of the gastrointestinal flora; however, in recent years, they have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens that possess many virulence factors that are attributed to the pathogenesis of diseases caused by them. The study evaluated and compared the virulence factors of Enterococci isolated from fecal and clinical samples. From the obtained isolates, the clinical enterococcal isolates produced 35%, 20%, and 50%, and fecal isolates produced 23%, 13%, and 13% gelatinase, hemolysin, and biofilm, respectively. Biofilm production determined by the Congo Red agar, tube, and microtiter plate methods was 23%, 39%, and 49%, respectively. The sensitivity of the Congo Red agar and tube method compared to the microtiter plate method was 27% and 46%, respectively, whereas the specificity of both tests was 79%. This study showed that biofilm production plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of diseases caused by Enterococci. Detection of biofilm production using the microtiter plate method is more sensitive and specific than the Congo Red agar and tube method

Functional balance between Tcf21-Slug defines cellular plasticity and migratory modalities in high grade serous ovarian cancer cell lines.

Cellular plasticity and transitional phenotypes add to complexities of cancer metastasis that can be initiated by single cell epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) or cooperative cell migration (CCM). Our study identifies novel regulatory cross-talks between Tcf21 and Slug in mediating phenotypic and migration plasticity in high-grade serous ovarian adenocarcinoma (HGSC). Differential expression and sub-cellular localization associate Tcf21, Slug with epithelial, mesenchymal phenotypes respectively; however gene manipulation approaches identify their association with additional intermediate phenotypic states, implying the existence of a multi-step epithelial-mesenchymal transition program. Live imaging further associated distinct migratory modalities with the Tcf21/Slug status of cell systems and discerned proliferative/passive CCM, active CCM and EMT modes of migration. Tcf21-Slug balance identified across a phenotypic spectrum in HGSC cell lines, associated with micro-environment induced transitions and the emergence of an epithelial phenotype following drug exposure. Phenotypic transitions and associated functionalities following drug exposure were affirmed to ensue from occupancy of Slug promoter E-box sequences by Tcf21. Our study effectively provides a framework for understanding the relevance of ovarian cancer plasticity as a function of two transcription factors

A monoclonal antibody against annexin A2 targets stem and progenitor cell fractions in tumors.

The involvement of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in driving tumor dormancy and drug resistance is well established. Most therapeutic regimens however are ineffective in targeting these regenerative populations. We report the development and evaluation of a monoclonal antibody, mAb150, which targets the metastasis associated antigen, Annexin A2 (AnxA2) through recognition of a N-terminal epitope. Treatment with mAb150 potentiated re-entry of CSCs into the cell cycle that perturbed tumor dormancy and facilitated targeting of CSCs as was validated by in vitro and in vivo assays. Epigenetic potentiation further improved mAb150 efficacy in achieving total tumor regression by targeting regenerative populations to achieve tumor regression, specifically in high-grade serous ovarian adenocarcinoma

Nanostructured TiO2 sensitized with MoS2 nanoflowers for enhanced photodegradation efficiency toward methyl orange

Nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO2) has a potential platform for the removal of organic contaminants, but it has some limitations. To overcome these limitations, we devised a promising strategy in the present work, the heterostructures of TiO2 sensitized by molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoflowers synthesized by the mechanochemical route and utilized as an efficient photocatalyst for methyl orange (MO) degradation. The surface of TiO2 sensitized by MoS2 was comprehensively characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). From XRD results, the optimized MoS2-TiO2 (5.0 wt %) nanocomposite showcases the lowest crystallite size of 14.79 nm than pristine TiO2 (20 nm). The FT-IR and XPS analyses of the MoS2-TiO2 nanocomposite exhibit the strong interaction between MoS2 and TiO2. The photocatalytic results show that sensitization of TiO2 by MoS2 drastically enhanced the photocatalytic activity of pristine TiO2. According to the obtained results, the optimal amount of MoS2 loading was assumed to be 5.0 wt %, which exhibited a 21% increment of MO photodegradation efficiency compared to pristine TiO2 under UV-vis light. The outline of the overall study describes the superior photocatalytic performance of 5.0 wt % MoS2-TiO2 nanocomposite which is ascribed to the delayed recombination by efficient charge transfer, high surface area, and elevated surface oxygen vacancies. The context of the obtained results designates that the sensitization of TiO2 with MoS2 is a very efficient nanomaterial for photocatalytic applications

Synthesis of Ni2+ ion doped ZnO-MWCNTs nanocomposites using an in situ sol-gel method : an ultra sensitive non-enzymatic uric acid sensing electrode material

Nickel (Ni2+) ion doped zinc oxide-multi-wall carbon nanotubes (NZC) with different composition ratios of MWCNTs (from 0.01 to 0.1 wt%) are synthesized through anin situsol-gel method. The synthesized NZC nanocomposites (NCs) are used as electrode materials with glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) for electrochemical detection of uric acid (UA). The cyclic voltammogram of the representative NZC 0.1 modified GCE (NZC 0.1/GCE) revealed the highest electrochemical sensing activity towards the oxidation of UA at 0.37 V in 0.2 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS) having pH 7.4 ± 0.02. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for the NZC 0.1/GCE are determined to be 5.72 nM and 19.00 nM (S/N = 3) respectively, which is the lowest compared to the literature values reported for enzymatic and non-enzymatic detection techniques. The synergistic effect of NZC 0.1 NCs is proposed as one of the factors for the enhanced electrochemical oxidation of UA complemented by the phase, lattice parameters, functional groups, morphology, elemental compositions, types of bonding and specific surface area with pore size ascertained using various techniques. The synthesized NZC 0.1 NCs are further proposed as selective electrode materials for the electrochemical detection of UA as authenticated further by performing interference tests with other metabolites such as ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA) andd-glucose. The optimized electrochemical studies are further adopted for sensing of UA from human excretion samples using NZC 0.1 NCs

AN APPROACH OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING THROUGH MIDDLEWARE

ABSTRACT The challenge for software engineering research is to devise notations, techniques, methods and tools for distributed system construction that systematically build and exploit the capabilities that middleware deliver. The construction of a large class of distributed systems can be simplified by leveraging middleware, which is layered between network operating systems and application communication and coordination of distributed components. Existing middleware products enable software engineers to build systems that are distributed across a local-area network. State-of-the-art middleware research aims to push this boundary towards Internet-scale distribution, adaptive and reconfigurable middleware and middleware for dependable and wireless systems

A LITERATURE REVIEW ON AUTOMATIC STRECHER CUM WHEEL CHAIR

In India the number of disabled individuals is increasing everyyear. Mobility aids are useful for patients for transportation and a replacement for walking especially in indoor and outdoor environment. Wheelchairs and stretchers are the most commonly used medical equipment for the transportation of patients. Transferring the patients from wheelchair to stretcher or to the medical bed is always an issue for the attendant or nurse. Understanding the various issues regarding the mobility equipment and introducing a better design will be an asset for the medical field anda helping hand for disabled individuals. There is a need for a wheelchair cum stretcher to facilitate the disabled patient’s mobility and to provide novel medical equipment for use in the Indian hospital

Evaluation of Microscopy, Culture and PCR Assay in the Diagnosis of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis

Extra pulmonary tuberculosis presents a diagnostic dilemma for both physicians as well as for clinical microbiologists . The laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis ranges from simple microscopy,culture to complex molecular assays. To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and turnaround time of microscopy, culture and PCR in the diagnosis of Extrapulmonary tuberculosis & to evaluate the use of PCR in the early diagnosis of Extrapulmonary tuberculosis. A total of 71 samples patients with strong clinical suspicion of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis were processed and evaluated by ZN staining, fluorescent microscopy, LJ culture, BacT Alert culture and PCR. The positivity rates by microscopy, LJ culture, BacT Alert culture and PCR were 11.26%, 8.45%, 14.08% and 14.08% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) of both staining methods was 50%, 92.3%, 37.5% and 95.2% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) of BacT Alert culture was 83.3%, 92.3%, 50% and 98.4% respectively. The recovery rate was higher by BacT Alert culture (90.9%) compared to LJ culture (63.63%). The mean turnaround time for culture positivity was 36.3 days with LJ culture and 14.6 days with BacT Alert culture. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of PCR assay was 66.66%, 90.76%, 40% and 96.72% respectively. PCR has high sensitivity, specificity, substantial level of agreement with BacT Alert culture and shorter turnaround time. Therefore, use of PCR in combination with other diagnostic modalities is a useful tool to detect additional EPTB cases which may be missed otherwise