A real-world clinical experience on the effectiveness of remogliflozin etabonate in management of Indian patients with type II diabetes mellitus

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate effectiveness and safety of remogliflozin etabonate in a real-world outpatient setting in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in India.Methods: A retrospective, observational, single-center study wherein medical records of adult patients (≥18 years old) with T2DM managed with remogliflozin 100 mg for at least three months at the diabetes care center in Jharkhand were retrieved. The effectiveness was assessed in terms of change from baseline in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), total body weight, blood pressure (BP, systolic and diastolic), kidney function tests, and lipid parameters after three months of treatment. Safety was assessed by adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs.Results: Half of the patients received ≥3 concomitant antidiabetic drugs, common being sulphonylureas (92%), and metformin (91%). Remogliflozin treatment resulted in a significant mean reduction from baseline in HbA1c [-1.99 (0.12%); p<0.001], FPG [-52.3 (4.31) mg/dl; p<0.001] and PPG [-103.6 (7.10) mg/dl; p<0.001). Bodyweight reduction was not statistically significant [-0.1 (10.12) kg]. A significant reduction was observed in the systolic BP [-15.9 (2.21) mmHg; p<0.001] and diastolic BP [-3.3 (0.95) mmHg; p=0.001]. Commonly reported AE was heartburn (51.4%) and urinary tract infections (34.2%). No serious AEs were reported. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate showed a statistically significant reduction of -1.55 (0.61) ml/min. The lipid parameter findings were non-significant.Conclusions: The real-world experience of remogliflozin administered concomitantly with other antidiabetic drugs was effective and well-tolerated in Indian patients with T2DM.

DNA sequence variation and haplotype structure of the ICAM1 and TNF genes in 12 ethnic groups of India reveal patterns of importance in designing association studies

We have examined the patterns of DNA sequence variation in and around the genes coding for ICAM1 and TNF, which play functional and correlated roles in inflammatory processes and immune cell responses, in 12 diverse ethnic groups of India. We aimed to (a) quantify the nature and extent of the variation, and (b) analyse the observed patterns of variation in relation to population history and ethnic background. At the ICAM1 and TNF loci, respectively, the total numbers of SNPs that were detected were 28 and 12. Many of these SNPs are not shared across ethnic groups and are unreported in the dbSNP or TSC databases, including two fairly common non-synonymous SNPs at positions 13487 and 13542 in the ICAM1 gene. Conversely, the TNF-376A SNP that is reported to be associated with susceptibility to malaria was not found in our study populations, even though some of the populations inhabit malaria endemic areas. Wide between-population variation in the frequencies of shared SNPs and coefficients of linkage disequilibrium have been observed. These findings have profound implications in case-control association studies

Functional annotation of the transcriptome of Sorghum bicolor in response to osmotic stress and abscisic acid

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Higher plants exhibit remarkable phenotypic plasticity allowing them to adapt to an extensive range of environmental conditions. Sorghum is a cereal crop that exhibits exceptional tolerance to adverse conditions, in particular, water-limiting environments. This study utilized next generation sequencing (NGS) technology to examine the transcriptome of sorghum plants challenged with osmotic stress and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) in order to elucidate genes and gene networks that contribute to sorghum's tolerance to water-limiting environments with a long-term aim of developing strategies to improve plant productivity under drought.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>RNA-Seq results revealed transcriptional activity of 28,335 unique genes from sorghum root and shoot tissues subjected to polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress or exogenous ABA. Differential gene expression analyses in response to osmotic stress and ABA revealed a strong interplay among various metabolic pathways including abscisic acid and 13-lipoxygenase, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and plant defense pathways. Transcription factor analysis indicated that groups of genes may be co-regulated by similar regulatory sequences to which the expressed transcription factors bind. We successfully exploited the data presented here in conjunction with published transcriptome analyses for rice, maize, and Arabidopsis to discover more than 50 differentially expressed, drought-responsive gene orthologs for which no function had been previously ascribed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present study provides an initial assemblage of sorghum genes and gene networks regulated by osmotic stress and hormonal treatment. We are providing an RNA-Seq data set and an initial collection of transcription factors, which offer a preliminary look into the cascade of global gene expression patterns that arise in a drought tolerant crop subjected to abiotic stress. These resources will allow scientists to query gene expression and functional annotation in response to drought.</p

Gender, Work and Organizational Culture: A Southeast Asian Experience

Organizations operate in the social milieu and therefore the socio-cultural factors greatly influence the organizational culture. The Asian societies are patriarchal in nature that gives superior position to a man as compared to a woman. This social role perception (sex role stereotype) seemed to have a bearing on the structural role of men and women in organizations. The present study aimed at examining the impact of social role on organizational culture and managerial work behaviour. The study was conducted in Southeast Asian countries. Hundred twenty-nine male and seventy-six female managers from India, Bangla Desh, Nepal, SriLanka and Korea participated in the study. The overall findings indicated the spill over of socio-cultural values into organizational situations. The managerial behaviour seemed to be culturally influenced. Interestingly, the respondents did not perceive women managers as less competent. Therefore, the results hinted a need for corporate wide mindset change for breaking the glass ceiling at the perceptual and attitudinal level first so that things are different and bright at the functional levelSouth-East Asia, women's work, glass ceiling, organisational culture, managerial work behaviour, Behavioural Studies, Management, Sociology, Gender Studies

Empowering Methodologies in Organisational and Social Research

This chapter considers the meaning and practice of empowering methodologies in organizational and social research. We begin by explaining the reasons why empowering research is urgently needed, which are related to the repositivization of research in a context of global academic precarity. Next, we reflect on the situatedness of knowing and knowledge in the context of core periphery relations between the global North and South. We discuss the epistemological arguments on which empowering methodologies rely and the ethical and political purposes they serve, drawing on concepts developed by feminist epistemologists and methodologists. We then consider the sensory, affective, embodied practice of empowering research which involves listening, seeing, moving and feeling, which we suggest can facilitate a more diverse, creative and crafty repertoire of research possibilities. Finally, we identify three aspects of empowering research, showing how they relate to each of the chapters that comprise this volume

Transcriptome analysis of genes associated with breast cancer cell motility in response to Artemisinin treatment

Abstract Background Well-known anti-malarial drug artemisinin exhibits potent anti-cancerous activities. In-vivo and in-vitro studies showed its anti-tumor and immunomodulatory properties signifying it as a potent drug candidate for study. The studies of mechanisms of cell movement are relevant which can be understood by knowing the involvement of genes in an effect of a drug. Although cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative activity of artemisinin is evident, the genes participating in its anti-migratory and reduced invasive effect are not well studied. The present study reports the alteration in the expression of 84 genes involved in cell motility upon artemisinin treatment in MCF-7 breast cancer cells using pathway focused gene expression PCR array. In addition, the effect of artemisinin on epigenetic modifier HDACs is studied. Methods We checked the functional stimulus of artemisinin on cell viability, migration, invasion and apoptosis in breast cancerous cell lines. Using qRT-PCR and western blot, we validated the altered expression of relevant genes associated with proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and mammary gland development. Results Artemisinin inhibited cell proliferation of estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells with fewer efficacies in comparison to estrogen receptor positive ones. At the same time, cell viability and proliferation of normal breast epithelial MCF10A cells was un-affected. Artemisinin strongly inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion. Along with orphan nuclear receptors (ERRα, ERRβ and ERRγ), artemisinin altered the ERα/ERβ/PR/Her expression status of MCF-7 cells. The expression of genes involved in the signaling pathways associated with proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis was significantly altered which cooperatively resulted into reduced growth promoting activities of breast cancer cells. Interestingly, artemisinin exhibited inhibitory effect on histone deacetylases (HDACs). Conclusions Upregulated expression of tumor suppressor genes along with reduced expression of oncogenes significantly associated with growth stimulating signaling pathways in response to artemisinin treatment suggests its efficacy as an effective drug in breast cancer treatment