Surfactant phospholipid metabolism and respiratory failure in lung transplantation

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation is a multi-factorial syndrome of postoperative lung injury that is similar to the acute respiratory distress syndrome. PGD is a major risk factor for chronic lung allograft dysfunction and perioperative death. Pulmonary surfactant dysfunction is frequently seen in PGD and contributes to respiratory failure. Surfactant is primarily comprised of lipids, of which phosphatidylcholine (PC) species predominate. Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) is the most surface-active species that normally represents over half of all airway PC content. Combining electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry with deuterium labelling of Kennedy’s PC synthetic pathway can assess surfactant phospholipid flux, with a molecular specificity that differentiates between lipids with unique functions. This technique was used to quantify perioperative phospholipid metabolic disruption in lung transplantation. The same technique was used in an ex vivo human lung model to isolate the pulmonary contribution to systemic phospholipid metabolism, and evaluate Kennedy pathway integrity during ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP). Airway DPPC content was severely reduced after transplantation, and was associated with impaired oxygenation. Variations in Kennedy pathway activity were associated with impaired graft function for months after transplantation. Perioperative flux of phospholipids, like DPPC and polyunsaturated PC species, were strong predictors of poor postoperative lung function. Deuterium labelled ex vivo experiments confirmed continued Kennedy pathway dependent surfactant phospholipid synthesis during EVLP, and could represent a protective mechanism against PGD in clinical EVLP. Ex vivo lungs secreted a different phospholipid profile into the perfusate that is enriched with polyunsaturated PC when compared to the airways, providing compelling evidence of the previously hypothesized basolateral phospholipid secretion by the alveolar epithelium. These polyunsaturated PC species are precursors of numerous inflammatory mediators, and could contribute to PGD. Continued investigation of phospholipid flux through the Kennedy pathway could identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in lung transplantation.Open Acces

Stone Jars of Assam, North East India: A Comprehensive Overview

The present paper is an attempt to offer an overview of the stone jars of Assam. These unique archaeological remains are located in the central part of Assam and were first reported by J. P. Mills and J. H. Hutton in 1932. From then, they lay in the dark without any systematic archaeological survey or research. In 2014 and 2016, the author and his team conducted archaeological examinations of the jars. The State Department of Archaeology, Assam, also conducted investigations subsequently and reported two new sites. The present paper therefore offers a holistic overview based on these field researches. The paper also considers the stone jars of Laos as well as those from Assam, as both have striking similarities: perhaps both are the products of the same cultural behavior

Northeast India: Where Scribes Override Journalism

Reporting turmoil and conflicts were the order of the day for most of Assam (also northeast India) based scribes as the region was overshadowed by separatist militants with their disruptive activities until a few years back. Media persons then faced two-edged swords where reporting would bring brickbats from the government agencies and aloofness could invite wraths from the armed rebels

Comments and Suggestions for Improvement of the Archon Genomics X PRIZE Validation Protocol

This document is a comment on the X PRIZE validation protocol written by Kedes et al. (2011). We propose several modifications which we think will improve the fairness and transparency of the contest while keeping the cost of the validation process under control

In India, Largest Elections on Earth Get Underway

Often termed as the largest democracy on Earth, India has gone for national elections since April 11, 2019, and the biggest electoral exercise through electronic voting machines (EVM) will continue till May 19. Over 900 million voters will participate in the seven-phase general elections to elect 543 representatives to 17th Lok Sabha, the powerful lower house of Indian Parliament in New Delhi.   Conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI), world's most powerful electoral institution, the unique experience for the human race will unveil the winner on May 23 counting day who would rule the one billion-plus nation for next five years

Evaluation of rice–legume–rice cropping system on grain yield, nutrient uptake, nitrogen fixation, and chemical, physical, and biological properties of soil

To achieve higher yields and better soil quality under rice–legume–rice (RLR) rotation in a rainfed production system, we formulated integrated nutrient management (INM) comprised of Azospirillum (Azo), Rhizobium (Rh), and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) with phosphate rock (PR), compost, and muriate of potash (MOP). Performance of bacterial bioinoculants was evaluated by determining grain yield, nitrogenase activity, uptake and balance of N, P, and Zn, changes in water stability and distribution of soil aggregates, soil organic C and pH, fungal/bacterial biomass C ratio, casting activities of earthworms, and bacterial community composition using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting. The performance comparison was made against the prevailing farmers’ nutrient management practices [N/P2O5/K2O at 40:20:20 kg ha−1 for rice and 20:30:20 kg ha−1 for legume as urea/single super-phosphate/MOP (urea/SSP/MOP)]. Cumulative grain yields of crops increased by 7–16% per RLR rotation and removal of N and P by six crops of 2 years rotation increased significantly (P < 0.05) in bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots over that in compost alone or urea/SSP/MOP plots. Apparent loss of soil total N and P at 0–15 cm soil depth was minimum and apparent N gain at 15–30 cm depth was maximum in Azo/Rh plus PSB dual INM plots. Zinc uptake by rice crop and diethylenetriaminepentaacetate-extractable Zn content in soil increased significantly (P < 0.05) in bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots compared to other nutrient management plots. Total organic C content in soil declined at 0–15 cm depth and increased at 15–30 cm depth in all nutrient management plots after a 2-year crop cycle; however, bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots showed minimum loss and maximum gain of total organic C content in the corresponding soil depths. Water-stable aggregation and distribution of soil aggregates in 53–250- and 250–2,000 μm classes increased significantly (P < 0.05) in bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots compared to other nutrient management plots. Fungal/bacterial biomass C ratio seems to be a more reliable indicator of C and N dynamics in acidic soils than total microbial biomass C. Compost alone or Azo/Rh plus PSB dual INM plots showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher numbers of earthworms’ casts compared to urea/SSP/MOP alone and bacterial bioinoculants with urea or SSP-applied plots. Hierarchical cluster analysis based on similarity matrix of DGGE profiles revealed changes in bacterial community composition in soils due to differences in nutrient management, and these changes were seen to occur according to the states of C and N dynamics in acidic soil under RLR rotation

ANTICONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF CITRUS MAXIMUS LEAVES IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL MODELS

ABSTRACTObjective: To assess the anticonvulsant activity of ethanolic extract of Citrus maximus (EECM) leaves of maximal electroshock seizure (MES) andpentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizure models on albino (Wistar strain) rats and mice.Methods: Anticonvulsant activity was carried out by MES model and PTZ-induced clonic convulsions model; in each model, albino rats (Wistar strain)of either sex were taken and divided into five groups, each consisting of 6 rats. One group was used as control (3% w/v gum acacia), one as standard(phenytoin), and three groups for the test drug of EECM leaves (doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) treatment. The reduction in time or abolition of tonicextensor phase of MES-convulsions was recorded for all the animals. In PTZ model, either delay or complete abolition of convulsions in rats treatedwith diazepam and EECM leaves was noted for all the animals.Result: EECM leaves reduced the extensor phase of convulsion in MES in a dose-dependent manner and decrease in the duration of convulsions in PTZmodel with increasing dose. Anticonvulsant activity was seen maximum at the dose of 200 mg/kg.Conclusions: Thus, from the above two seizure models of MES and PTZ, it can be concluded that EECM leaves have got an anticonvulsant effect in anincreasing dose-dependent manner.Keywords: Anticonvulsant, Citrus maximus, Maximal electroshock seizure, Pentylenetetrazol

Efektivitas Weblog dan Facebook Terintegrasi untuk Pembelajaran Virtual

Saat ini, banyak mahasiswa menghabiskan waktu mereka di internet. Mereka melakukan kegiatan seperti membuat blog, mengunduh, mengunggah, chatting, dan berinteraksi melalui facebook. Mahasiswa sekarang ini hidup dengan teknologi. Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa weblog dan facebook berpotensi mendukung belajar dan mengajar. Guru dan pendidik menggunakan kegiatan tersebut untuk meningkatkan kualitas belajar. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektivitas weblog dan facebook ketika digunakan secara integratif untuk melengkapi pembelajaran. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif deskriptif. Data dikumpulkan dari halaman-halaman facebook yang diamati dari responden yang mengambil mata kuliah Introduction of Second Language Acquisition (SLA). Data kemudian dideskripsikan dan dianalisis. Temuan penelitian menunjukkan bahwa weblog dan facebook dapat digunakan secara efektif untuk melengkapi kegiatan belajar