Women Participation And Decentralised Politics

The position of women in politics was analyzed a number of years ago in the well-known United Nations study edited by Maurice Duverger. Men continued to believe that political activity was a masculine Prerogative. The old theory of female incapacity had been replaced by a „functional‟ theory about the division of aptitudes, which is necessarily reflected in the division of labour. In its modernized form, this kind of functional theory recognizes the right of women to work outside the home and to participate in civic and political affairs, yet emphases their special concern with „home policy‟ matters, i.e., motherhood and its problems, education and the family. Women‟s political activity becomes channeled into these areas rather than into political parties, trade unions and the life. The best way to judge the position of a nation is to find out the status of women. In reality the status of women is the measuring rod for assessing the standard of culture of any age. The social status of women is a country- represents the social spirit of the age

Women Representation and Rural Politics

The Panchayathraj system has been playing an important role for development of the social economic and political life of the rural Women representation of rural politics. Village is the basic unit of social life in India. This is fact that more than three-fourth Indian population still lives in the villages. The concern of the government for the life, liberty and prosperity of the rural masses, soon after independence, was reflected in various measures adopted by it to better their lot. As a matter of fact, the prominent leader‟s freedom struggle such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Jai Prakash Narian indicated that the major task of Independent India would be to take democracy to the grass-roots level and to involve the rural masses in the task of national reconstruction. According to Mahatma Gandhi, true democracy could not worked by twenty men sitting at the Centre. It has to be worked out from below by the people of every village. The author concludes with a suggestion that the village Grama Panchayathiayats are not the relic of tribalism of feudalism but are the results of mature political thinking through ages. Village Grama Panchayathiayats in India could really succeed in bringing about decentralization of economic and political power under the conditions of social and equality. Firstly, interaction between enlightened rural women and illiterate elected one‟s should be encouraged. Secondly, these women could be taken out to the urban areas and their interaction with educated urban elected women representatives be arranged

Current and prospective methods for assessing anti-tumor immunity in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide despite recent progress in treatment strategies. Though immune checkpoint inhibition has proven effective for a number of other tumors, it offers benefits in only a small group of CRC patients with high microsatellite instability. In general, heterogenous cell groups in the tumor microenvironment are considered as the major barrier for unveiling the causes of low immune response. Therefore, deconvolution of cellular components in highly heterogeneous microenvironments is crucial for understanding the immune contexture of cancer. In this review, we assimilate current knowledge and recent studies examining anti-tumor immunity in CRC. We also discuss the utilization of novel immune contexture assessment methods that have not been used in CRC research to date

RECK suppresses interleukin-17/TRAF3IP2-mediated MMP-13 activation and human aortic smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation

Sustained inflammation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation contribute to vascular occlusive/proliferative disorders. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a proinflammatory cytokine that signals mainly via TRAF3 Interacting Protein 2 (TRAF3IP2), an upstream regulator of various critical transcription factors, including AP-1 and NF-κB. Reversion inducing cysteine rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK) is a membrane-anchored MMP inhibitor. Here we investigated whether IL-17A/TRAF3IP2 signaling promotes MMP-13-dependent human aortic smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and migration, and determined whether RECK overexpression blunts these responses. Indeed, IL-17A treatment induced (a) JNK, p38 MAPK, AP-1, NF-κB, and CREB activation, (b) miR-21 induction, (c) miR-27b and miR-320 inhibition, (d) MMP-13 expression and activation, (e) RECK suppression, and (f) SMC migration and proliferation, all in a TRAF3IP2-dependent manner. In fact, gain of TRAG3IP2 function, by itself, induced MMP-13 expression and activation, and RECK suppression. Furthermore, treatment with recombinant MMP-13 stimulated SMC migration in part via ERK activation. Importantly, RECK gain-of-function attenuated MMP-13 activity without affecting its mRNA or protein levels, and inhibited IL-17A- and MMP-13-induced SMC migration. These results indicate that increased MMP-13 and decreased RECK contribute to IL-17A-induced TRAF3IP2-dependent SMC migration and proliferation, and suggest that TRAF3IP2 inhibitors or RECK inducers have the potential to block the progression of neointimal thickening in hyperplastic vascular diseases

TBX21 methylation as a potential regulator of immune suppression in CMS1 subtype colorectal cancer

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) infiltration is associated with survival, recurrence, and therapeutic response in colorectal cancer (CRC). Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, which requires CTLs for response, does not work for most CRC patients. Therefore, it is critical to improve our understanding of immune resistance in this disease. We utilized 2391 CRC patients and 7 omics datasets, integrating clinical and genomic data to determine how DNA methylation may impact survival and CTL function in CRC. Using comprehensive molecular subtype (CMS) 1 patients as reference, we found TBX21 to be the only gene with altered expression and methylation that was associated with CTL infiltration. We found that CMS1 patients with high TBX21 expression and low methylation had a significant survival advantage. To confirm the role of Tbx21 in CTL function, we utilized scRNAseq data, demonstrating the association of TBX21 with markers of enhanced CTL function. Further analysis using pathway enrichment found that the genes TBX21, MX1, and SP140 had altered expression and methylation, suggesting that the TP53/P53 pathway may modify TBX21 methylation to upregulate TBX21 expression. Together, this suggests that targeting epigenetic modification more specifically for therapy and patient stratification may provide improved outcomes in CRC

Single circulating-tumor-cell-targeted sequencing to identify somatic variants in liquid biopsies in non-small-cell lung cancer patients

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for most cancer-related deaths worldwide. Liquid biopsy by a blood draw to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is a tool for molecular profiling of cancer using single-cell and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. The aim of the study was to identify somatic variants in single CTCs isolated from NSCLC patients by targeted NGS. Thirty-one subjects (20 NSCLC patients, 11 smokers without cancer) were enrolled for blood draws (7.5 mL). CTCs were identified by immunofluorescence, individually retrieved, and DNA-extracted. Targeted NGS was performed to detect somatic variants (single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and insertions/deletions (Indels)) across 65 oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Cancer-associated variants were classified using OncoKB database. NSCLC patients had significantly higher CTC counts than control smokers

Implications of phytochemicals in snakebite management: Present status and future prospective

In spite of vast advances in healthcare services, treatment of snakebite still remains a challenge to medical fraternity, because of unresolved complications of severe local tissue damage and consequential physical disabilities. Though anti-venom therapy reduces mortality, is ineffective against local tissue damage. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that several alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, saponins, sterols, glycosides, etc., from herbal medicines effectively neutralized local tissue damage induced by venom toxins/enzymes. This review emphasizes the interplay of venom toxins/enzymes in local toxicity and their neutralization using phytochemicals. Further, approaches using phytochemicals and anti-venoms are reviewed for better management of snakebite

Topical application of serine proteases from Wrightia tinctoria R. Br. (Apocyanaceae) latex augments healing of experimentally induced excision wound in mice

Ethnopharmacological relevance Wrightia tinctoria R. Br. (Apocyanaceae) is a folk medicinal plant known to have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antihemorrhagic potential. Wrightia tinctoria latex is used for treatment of various clinical conditions including psoriasis, blisters, mouth ulcers, and extensively for topical application on fresh wounds to promote accelerated healing. Aims of the study To investigate the wound healing potential of Wrightia tinctoria latex proteases using a mouse model. Materials and methods Proteolytic activity of Wrightia tinctoria latex proteases (WTLP) was determined on various substrates (casein, gelatin and collagen (type-I and IV)). The thermal stability and the class of proteases present in WTLP were determined using heat treatment and specific protease inhibitors, respectively. Excision wound model in mice was used to evaluate the healing potential of WTLP application (twice daily, 10 mg/kg). Neosporin, a standard drug, was used for comparison. The progression of healing was monitored using physical (wound contraction), biochemical (collagen content, catalase and MMP activity) and histological examinations. Results WTLP contains thermostable serine proteases, which are completely inhibited by PMSF. WTLP showed strong caseinolytic, gelatinolytic and collagenolytic activity. The excision wound healing rate upon WTLP treatment was significantly higher than (>2-fold) the control group (49% vs. 18%, *p<0.01) on day 3 and throughout the study. PMSF pre-treated and heat denatured WTLP failed to promote wound healing. In addition, serial biochemical analysis of the granulation tissue demonstrated 1.5-fold more (2444±100 vs. 1579±121 μg/100 mg tissue) hydroxyproline content and 5.6-fold higher catalase activity (16.7±1.3 vs. 3±0.3 units/mg) compared to controls. Further, the enhanced collagen content and matrix metalloproteinase activity correlated with wound contraction rate following WTLP and Neosporin treatment. Histological analysis on day 9 confirmed complete epithelialization, re-establishment of skin structure and accelerated wound healing following WTLP treatment. Conclusions The thermostable serine proteases of Wrightia tinctoria latex are directly involved in the wound healing process. Our findings provide a biochemical basis for the role of WTLP in the enhancement of wound healing. The study supports traditional topical application of Wrightia tinctoria latex on fresh wounds to promote accelerated healing

N-Acetylcysteine amide: A derivative to fulfill the promises of N-Acetylcysteine

In the present human health scenario, implication of oxidative stress in numerous pathologies including neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, liver, renal, pulmonary disorders, and cancer has gained attention. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), a popular thiol antioxidant, has been clinically used to treat various pathophysiological disorders. However, NAC therapy is routine only in paracetamol intoxication and as a mucolytic agent. Over six decades, numerous studies involving NAC therapy have yielded inconsistent results, and this could be due to low bioavailability. In order to overcome the limitations of NAC, an amide derivative N-Acetylcysteine amide (NACA) has been synthesized to improve the lipophilicity, membrane permeability, and antioxidant property. Recent studies have demonstrated the blood-brain barrier permeability and therapeutic potentials of NACA in neurological disorders including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple sclerosis, Tardive dyskinesia, and HIV-associated neurological disorders. In addition, NACA displays protective effect against pulmonary inflammation and antibiotic-induced apoptosis. Forthcoming research on the possible therapeutic properties of NACA and its generics in the management of pathologies associated with extracellular matrix degradation and oxidative stress-related inflammation is highly exiting. Superior bioavailability of NACA is likely to fulfill the promises of NAC as well as a molecule to improve the endurance and resident time of bioscaffolds and biomaterials. Till date, more than 800 reviews on NAC have been published. However, no comprehensive review is available on the therapeutic applications of NACA. Therefore, the current review would be the first to emphasize the therapeutic potentials of NACA and its derivatives