Design of Peptides With, α,β-Dehydro-Residues: A Dipeptide With a Branched β-Carbon Dehydro-Residue at the (\u3ci\u3ei\u3c/i\u3e+1) Position, Methyl \u3ci\u3eN\u3c/i\u3e-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-α,β-Didehydrovalyl-L-Tryptophanate

The structure of the title peptide, C25H27N3O5, has been determined and its conformation analysed. Values of the standard peptide torsion angles are φ(1) = -44.2 (3)°, ψ(1) = 135.9 (2)°, φ(2) = -141.6 (2)° and ψ(T/2) = 168.0 (2)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by an intermolecular hydrogen bond, with an N···O distance of 2.919 (3)Å, which is formed between screw-axis-related NH and CO groups of dehydrovaline residues

Outcome of pedicle screw fixation with transpedicular bone grafting in fracture of thoracolumbar vertebrae

Background: Posterior short segment instrumentation for thoracolumbar fracture is known for high implant failure rate because of the lack of anterior support. Anterior body augmentation by transpedicular bone grafting has been developed as an alternative to overcome this failure. In this study, we have evaluated the outcome of the cases of the unstable thoracolumbar spine injuries managed surgically with pedicle screws and transpedicular bone grafting.Methods: 20 patients were included in this study and were followed up for up to 6 months postoperatively. We assessed the outcome of each patient with Frankel scale and visual analog score (VAS) post-operatively clinically and radio logically by measuring Cobb’s angle and anterior vertebral body height post-operatively on follow-up at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks.Results: We found that males had higher incidence with most common mode of injury was fall from height. D12 was single most involved vertebrae. The average Cobb’s angle during preoperative stage was 12 degrees and 22.05 degrees at 6th week and this was maintained till 24th week. The mean difference of anterior vertebral body height between pre-operative and 24th post-operative week was 7.15 mm. The mean VAS pre-operatively was 9.8 which changed to 0.75 at 24 weeks follow up. These were statistically highly significant.Conclusions: Our study established that Pedicle screw fixation with transpedicular bone grafting has a satisfactory result and can restore vertebral height, increase the stability of the injured vertebrae and leads to a significant improvement in the patient’s quality of life

Comparison of functional outcomes between cemented and uncemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty for intracapsular neck femur fractures

Background: The neck of femoral fracture is common and leading fracture in orthopaedic practice. The older age group and female are more to prone to develop this fracture.Methods: A prospective, clinical observational, analytical comparative study was undertaken in the department of Orthopaedics of Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital in Udaipur, Rajasthan from January 2018 to June 2019. 52 adult patients with neck of femur fracture, 26 patients in each group. Results: In our study, the mean age was 77.72 years. Female preponderance was seen in our study. In our study mean duration of surgery in uncemented group was 65.78 minutes and mean duration of surgery in cemented group was 79.89 minutes. The mean total HHS in our patient was 86.63 with standard deviation of 6.18. Mean HHS for cemented group was 86 and for uncemented group was 87.23. We found 20 excellent result and 27 good results (35.71% and 51.92% respectively). We also found 5 fair result (12.37%). There were 2 complications, both in cemented group, one had post-operative dislocation and other had a cement reaction.Conclusions: Both cemented and uncemented hemiarthroplasty are equally good options in the treatment of femoral neck fractures in the elderly. However, it is to be noted that the duration of surgery & complications, were both less in the uncemented group as compared to cemented hemiarthroplasty group in our study.

C-Lobe of Lactoferrin: The Whole Story of the Half-Molecule

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding diferric glycoprotein present in most of the exocrine secretions. The major role of lactoferrin, which is found abundantly in colostrum, is antimicrobial action for the defense of mammary gland and the neonates. Lactoferrin consists of two equal halves, designated as N-lobe and C-lobe, each of which contains one iron-binding site. While the N-lobe of lactoferrin has been extensively studied and is known for its enhanced antimicrobial effect, the C-lobe of lactoferrin mediates various therapeutic functions which are still being discovered. The potential of the C-lobe in the treatment of gastropathy, diabetes, and corneal wounds and injuries has been indicated. This review provides the details of the proteolytic preparation of C-lobe, and interspecies comparisons of its sequence and structure, as well as the scope of its therapeutic applications

A comparative study of functional outcome between platelet rich plasma injection versus steroid infiltration in plantar fasciitis

Background: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is considered as degenerative tendinopathies. Repeated micro trauma is the major etiology of these diseases. Autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections are becoming more popular in the treatment of enthesopathies like PF. The growth factors in PRP cause tissue healing. We compared the result of injecting intra-lesional autologous PRP injections versus steroid infiltration in chronic PF.Methods: A prospective, interventional and analytic comparative study was done and 81 patients (120 heels) were included in this study and were followed up for 6 months. We assessed the outcome of each patient using visual analog score (VAS) and foot and ankle disability index (FADI) on follow-up at 1, 3, and 6 months. Results: In our study, female preponderance was seen. Left side was more common as compared to right side. Unilateral PF is more common than bilateral. The difference with in the individual group at baseline and at 1,3 and 6 months was statistically highly significant in terms of VAS and FADI (p=0.0001) But the difference in the between the two groups was insignificant for VAS and FADI at 1, 3 and 6 months.Conclusions: In our study, as there is no significant difference in VAS and FADI score between corticosteroid injection group and PRP injection group at 1, 3 and 6 months follow up. So, it’s reasonable to conclude that both are equally effective in PF. But as PRP injection comes out to be more time consuming and more costly, corticosteroid seems to be more efficient, cost and time wise. Hence, the latter should be a better choice.     

Brain natriuretic peptide in differentiating cardiogenic and non- cardiogenic dyspnoea in patients with renal dysfunction: a single centre study

Background: Both BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide) and renal function are prognostic indicators of survival in patients with congestive heart failure. However, relationship between BNP, renal function and heart failure as an emergency diagnosis are unknown. The usefulness of BNP as a diagnostic tool in patients with renal dysfunction is thus explored in this study.Methods: The present study was prospectively designed diagnostic test evaluation study conducted in Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Out of 166 participants with renal dysfunction defined as creatinine >1.5mg/dl who presented with acute dyspnoea, clinical history, BNP, 2D Echo and baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate were assessed. Patients with severe anaemia, eGFR less than 15 ml/min/1.73 m2 and those on dialysis therapy were excluded from the study. The final diagnosis was adjudicated by cardiologist who was blinded to BNP values.Results: The final diagnosis of CHF was in 104 (62.7%). The correlation between BNP and eGFR values were r=-0.49 for those with CHF (p<0.001) and r=-0.279 (p<0.028) for those without CHF. Median BNP in patients with renal dysfunction with CHF was 1206 pg/ml and without CHF was 186 pg/ml. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and optimal cutpoints for EGFR categories 59-30 ml /min/1.73 m2 and EGFR less than 30 ml/min/1.73m2 were 0.992 and 491.5 pg/ml (sensitivity 97% and specificity 95%) and 1.000 and 512pg/ml (sensitivity 100% and specificity  95.5%) respectively.Conclusions: Renal function weakly correlates with BNP in patients without CHF (congestive heart failure). BNP is an important bed side tool for distinguishing cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic dyspnoea in patients with renal dysfunction requiring higher diagnostic cut points. Thus the present study emphasises BNP is the strong and independent predictor of CHF even after taking renal function into considerations.

Structure of chitinase D from Serratia proteamaculans reveals the structural basis of its dual action of hydrolysis and transglycosylation

Chitinases are known to hydrolyze chitin polymers into smaller chitooligosaccharides. Chitinase from bacterium Serratia proteamaculans (SpChiD) is found to exhibit both hydrolysis and transglycosylation activities. SpChiD belongs to family 18 of glycosyl hydrolases (GH-18). The recombinant SpChiD was crystallized and its three-dimensional structure was determined at 1.49 &#197; resolution. The structure was refined to an R-factor of 16.2%. SpChiD consists of 406 amino acid residues. The polypeptide chain of SpChiD adopts a (&#946;/&#945;)8 triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) barrel structure. SpChiD contains three acidic residues, Asp149, Asp151 and Glu153 as part of its catalytic scheme. While both Asp149 and Glu153 adopt single conformations, Asp151 is observed in two conformations. The substrate binding cleft is partially obstructed by a protruding loop, Asn30 - Asp42 causing a considerable reduction in the number of available subsites in the substrate binding site. The positioning of loop, Asn30 - Asp42 appears to be responsible for the transglycosylation activity. The structure determination indicated the presence of sulfone Met89 (SMet89). The sulfone methionine residue is located on the surface of the protein at a site where extra domain is attached in other chitinases. This is the first structure of a single domain chitinase with hydrolytic and transglycosylation activities

Modulation of inhibitory activity of xylanase - α-amylase inhibitor protein (XAIP): binding studies and crystal structure determination of XAIP- II from Scadoxus multiflorus at 1.2 Å resolution

Background: Plants produce a wide range of proteinaceous inhibitors to protect themselves against hydrolytic enzymes. Recently a novel protein XAIP belonging to a new sub-family (GH18C) was reported to inhibit two structurally unrelated enzymes xylanase GH11 and α -amylase GH13. It was shown to inhibit xylanase GH11 with greater potency than that of α-amylase GH13. A new form of XAIP (XAIP-II) that inhibits α-amylase GH13 with a greater potency than that of XAIP and xylanase GH11 with a lower potency than that of XAIP, has been identified in the extracts of underground bulbs of Scadoxus multiflorus. This kind of occurrence of isoforms of inhibitor proteins is a rare observation and offers new opportunities for understanding the principles of protein engineering by nature. Results: In order to determine the structural basis of the enhanced potency of XAIP-II against α-amylase GH13 and its reduced potency against xylanase GH11 as compared to that of XAIP, we have purified XAIP-II to homogeneity and obtained its complete amino acid sequence using cloning procedure. It has been crystallized with 0.1 M ammonium sulphate as the precipitating agent and the three-dimensional structure has been determined at 1.2 Å resolution. The binding studies of XAIP-II with xylanase GH11 and α-amylase GH13 have been carried out with surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Conclusion: The structure determination revealed that XAIP-II adopts the well known TIM barrel fold. The xylanase GH11 binding site in XAIP-II is formed mainly with loop α3-β3 (residues, 102 - 118) which has acquired a stereochemically less favorable conformation for binding to xylanase GH11 because of the addition of an extra residue, Ala105 and due to replacements of two important residues, His106 and Asn109 by Thr107 and Ser110. On the other hand, the α-amylase binding site, which consists of α-helices α6 (residues, 193 - 206), α7 (residues, 230 - 243) and loop β6-α6 (residues, 180 - 192) adopts a stereochemically more favorable conformation due to replacements of residues, Ser190, Gly191 and Glu194 by Ala191, Ser192 and Ser195 respectively in α-helix α6, Glu231 and His236 by Thr232 and Ser237 respectively in α-helix α7. As a result, XAIP-II binds to xylanase GH11 less favorably while it interacts more strongly with α-amylase GH13 as compared to XAIP. These observations correlate well with the values of 4.2 × 10-6 M and 3.4 × 10-8 M for the dissociation constants of XAIP-II with xylanase GH11 and α-amylase GH13 respectively and those of 4.5 × 10-7 M and 3.6 × 10-6 M of XAIP with xylanase GH11 and α-amylase GH13 respectively