GENOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF ETHANOLIC STEM EXTRACTS OF TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA ON SODIUM ARSENITE-INDUCED DNA DAMAGE IN SWISS MICE LYMPHOCYTES BY COMET ASSAY

Objective: The study was aimed to evaluate the DNA protective effects of ethanolic extracts of Tinospora cordifolia stem on Swiss albino mice lymphocytes against the sodium arsenite-induced genotoxicity. Methods: In this experiment, 25 animals of nearly the same age were equally divided. Group 1 (control) fed on tap water while rest four (2, 3, 4, and 5) groups were treated with 4 mg/kg body weight, per orally sodium arsenite for 12 weeks. Sodium arsenite pretreated groups (4 and 5) were followed by administration of 80 mg/kg body weight, per orally T. cordifolia extracts for the next 12 weeks. Animals were sacrificed at the 8th week and 12th week, respectively, for the assessment of sodium arsenite-induced genotoxicity and comparative genoprotective effects of experimental plant extracts. The extent of DNA migration is directly proportional to the magnitude of DNA damage. Percentage tail DNA content and olive tail moment parameters were used in the comet to relate DNA damage. Results: The findings suggested that the ethanolic stem extracts of T. cordifolia significantly inhibited the sodium arsenite-induced oxidative genotoxicity. The phytoconstituents of T. cordifolia shown to retard genetic damage associated with arsenic exposure. Conclusion: T. cordifolia may be used as a preventive herbal preparation against chemical or arsenical toxicity

EVALUATION OF ANTICLASTOGENIC POTENTIAL OF CINNAMOMUM CASSIA BARK EXTRACT AGAINST ARSENIC GENOTOXICITY BY USING MICRONUCLEUS ASSAY IN MUS MUSCULUS CAUDAL ERYTHROCYTES

Objective: The study was aimed to evaluate the anticlastogenic potential of ethanolic extract of Cinnamomum cassia against arsenic-induced genotoxicity.Methods: In the experiment, 30 animals were taken and divided into five groups and each group contains six animals. Group 1 was control and fed on tap water of Patna city while rest four (2, 3, 4, 5) groups were treated with 4 mg/kg body weight, per orally sodium arsenite for 8 weeks. Sodium arsenite pre-treated Groups 4 and 5 were followed by dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of 5% ethanolic solution of test plant bark extract for next 8 weeks (total duration of dosing 16 weeks). Caudal blood collected from each mouse by minor nick without their sacrifice and smeared blood was stained by double staining. Approximately, 2000 cells were scored by light microscopy to determine micronucleus (MN) frequency. The percentage of MN frequency was expressed in the terms of mean and standard deviation.Results: High index of MN frequency was observed in the Groups 2 and 3 while its frequency drastically reduced in Groups 4 and 5. The mean number of MN scored per 2000 cell were found to be 4.5, 23.5, 18.8, 10.5, and 9.66 in animal Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,respectively.Conclusion: C. cassia may be effective drug in the area of preventive cancer or other kinds of diseases which lead to damage of genetic materials

Ultrasonic partial glossectomy

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Green Production of Anionic Surfactant Obtained from Pea Protein

A pea protein isolate was hydrolyzed by a double enzyme treatment method in order to obtain short peptide sequences used as raw materials to produce lipopeptides-based surfactants. Pea protein hydrolysates were prepared using the combination of Alcalase and Flavourzyme. The influence of the process variables was studied to optimize the proteolytic degradation to high degrees of hydrolysis. The average peptide chain lengths were obtained at 3–5 amino acid units after a hydrolysis of 30 min with the mixture of enzymes. Then, N-acylation in water, in presence of acid chloride (C12 and C16), carried out with a conversion rate of amine functions of 90%, allowed to obtain anionic surfactant mixtures (lipopeptides and sodium fatty acids). These two steps were performed in water, in continuous and did not generate any waste. This process was therefore in line with green chemistry principles. The surface activities (CMC, foaming and emulsifying properties) of these mixtures were also studied. These formulations obtained from natural renewable resources and the reactions done under environmental respect, could replace petrochemical based surfactants for some applications

How can power discourses be changed? - Contrasting the ‘daughter deficit’ policy of the Delhi government with Gandhi and King’s transformational reframing

Social policy impact is partly determined by how policy is articulated and advocated, including which values are highlighted and how. In this paper, we examine the influence of policy framing and reframing on outcomes, with particular reference to the policies of the Delhi state government in India that target the practices of female feticide, infanticide and neglect that underlie the ‘daughter deficit’. Using Snow and Benford’s categories for understanding reframing processes, the paper outlines and applies a ‘model’ of reframing disputed issues derived from looking at two famous campaigns – Gandhi’s 1930 Salt March in the struggle for Indian freedom from British rule and the African-American civil rights struggle of the 1950s and 1960s. It argues that ‘carrot and stick’ policy measures, such as financial incentives and legal prohibitions, to counteract the ‘daughter deficit’ must be complemented by well crafted discursive interventions

Development of a core outcome set for research and audit studies in reconstructive breast surgery

© 2015 The Authors. BJS published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of BJS Society Ltd. Background Appropriate outcome selection is essential if research is to guide decision-making and inform policy. Systematic reviews of the clinical, cosmetic and patient-reported outcomes of reconstructive breast surgery, however, have demonstrated marked heterogeneity, and results from individual studies cannot be compared or combined. Use of a core outcome set may improve the situation. The BRAVO study developed a core outcome set for reconstructive breast surgery. Methods A long list of outcomes identified from systematic reviews and stakeholder interviews was used to inform a questionnaire survey. Key stakeholders defined as individuals involved in decision-making for reconstructive breast surgery, including patients, breast and plastic surgeons, specialist nurses and psychologists, were sampled purposively and sent the questionnaire (round 1). This asked them to rate the importance of each outcome on a 9-point Likert scale from 1 (not important) to 9 (extremely important). The proportion of respondents rating each item as very important (score 7-9) was calculated. This was fed back to participants in a second questionnaire (round 2). Respondents were asked to reprioritize outcomes based on the feedback received. Items considered very important after round 2 were discussed at consensus meetings, where the core outcome set was agreed. Results A total of 148 items were combined into 34 domains within six categories. Some 303 participants (51·4 per cent) (215 (49·5 per cent) of 434 patients; 88 (56·4 per cent) of 156 professionals) completed and returned the round 1 questionnaire, and 259 (85·5 per cent) reprioritized outcomes in round 2. Fifteen items were excluded based on questionnaire scores and 19 were carried forward to the consensus meetings, where a core outcome set containing 11 key outcomes was agreed. Conclusion The BRAVO study has used robust consensus methodology to develop a core outcome set for reconstructive breast surgery. Widespread adoption by the reconstructive community will improve the quality of outcome assessment in effectiveness studies. Future work will evaluate how these key outcomes should best be measured

Invasive coronary physiology in patients with angina and non-obstructive coronary artery disease: a consensus document from the coronary microvascular dysfunction workstream of the British Heart Foundation/National Institute for Health Research Partnership

Nearly half of all patients with angina have non-obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA); this is an umbrella term comprising heterogeneous vascular disorders, each with disparate pathophysiology and prognosis. Approximately two-thirds of patients with ANOCA have coronary microvascular disease (CMD). CMD can be secondary to architectural changes within the microcirculation or secondary to vasomotor dysfunction. An inability of the coronary vasculature to augment blood flow in response to heightened myocardial demand is defined as an impaired coronary flow reserve (CFR), which can be measured non-invasively, using imaging, or invasively during cardiac catheterisation. Impaired CFR is associated with myocardial ischaemia and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The CMD workstream is part of the cardiovascular partnership between the British Heart Foundation and The National Institute for Health Research in the UK and comprises specialist cardiac centres with expertise in coronary physiology assessment. This document outlines the two main modalities (thermodilution and Doppler techniques) for estimation of coronary flow, vasomotor testing using acetylcholine, and outlines a standard operating procedure that could be considered for adoption by national networks. Accurate and timely disease characterisation of patients with ANOCA will enable clinicians to tailor therapy according to their patients’ coronary physiology. This has been shown to improve patients’ quality of life and may lead to improved cardiovascular outcomes in the long term

Investigation of the expression of the EphB4 receptor tyrosine kinase in prostate carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The EphB4 receptor tyrosine kinase has been reported as increased in tumours originating from several different tissues and its expression in a prostate cancer xenograft model has been reported. METHODS: RT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemical techniques were used to examine EphB4 expression and protein levels in human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, DU145 and PC3. Immunohistochemistry was also used to examine localisation of EphB4 in tissue samples from 15 patients with prostate carcinomas. RESULTS: All three prostate cancer cell lines expressed the EphB4 gene and protein. EphB4 immunoreactivity in vivo was significantly greater in human prostate cancers as compared with matched normal prostate epithelium and there appeared to be a trend towards increased expression with higher grade disease. CONCLUSION: EphB4 is expressed in prostate cancer cell lines with increased expression in human prostate cancers when compared with matched normal tissue. EphB4 may therefore be a useful anti-prostate cancer target

Hydrogeological typologies of the Indo-Gangetic basin alluvial aquifer, South Asia

The Indo-Gangetic aquifer is one of the world’s most important transboundary water resources, and the most heavily exploited aquifer in the world. To better understand the aquifer system, typologies have been characterized for the aquifer, which integrate existing datasets across the Indo-Gangetic catchment basin at a transboundary scale for the first time, and provide an alternative conceptualization of this aquifer system. Traditionally considered and mapped as a single homogenous aquifer of comparable aquifer properties and groundwater resource at a transboundary scale, the typologies illuminate significant spatial differences in recharge, permeability, storage, and groundwater chemistry across the aquifer system at this transboundary scale. These changes are shown to be systematic, concurrent with large-scale changes in sedimentology of the Pleistocene and Holocene alluvial aquifer, climate, and recent irrigation practices. Seven typologies of the aquifer are presented, each having a distinct set of challenges and opportunities for groundwater development and a different resilience to abstraction and climate change. The seven typologies are: (1) the piedmont margin, (2) the Upper Indus and Upper-Mid Ganges, (3) the Lower Ganges and Mid Brahmaputra, (4) the fluvially influenced deltaic area of the Bengal Basin, (5) the Middle Indus and Upper Ganges, (6) the Lower Indus, and (7) the marine-influenced deltaic areas