Developing methods of measuring and manipulating melanocyte/keratinocyte ratios to inform potential treatment of vitiligo vulgaris

Introduction My doctoral work focuses on the disease vitiligo vulgaris. Several treatments already exist however, one totally successful remedy is unavailable. I have focused on cell-based technologies to refine the melanocyte–keratinocyte transplantation procedure (MKTP) that is currently in use. Treating this disease is important not just for its physical but its emotional effects. Aim and objectives The broad aim of my doctoral work was to establish techniques to enhance the MKTP vitiligo treatment by developing a method for isolating melanocyte and keratinocyte cells from skin, co-culturing in different ratios and manipulating this by different factors. Methods A co-culture system of melanocytes and keratinocytes at different ratios (1:3, 1:5 and 1:10) was established. Co-culture at different ratios was exposed to various concentrations of αMSH (2.5 µg/ml, 5 µg/ml and 10 µg/ml) and UVB (10 mJ/cm2, 20 mJ/cm2 and 30 mJ/cm2). Cells were evaluated for changes in morphology, melanin content, tyrosinase activity and the expression of selected markers (S100, TYRP1, TYR, pan-cytokeratin, cytokeratin 10 and filaggrin)

A Simple and Rapid Complexometric Determination of Thallium(III) using Mercaptoethane as Demasking Agent

A simple, rapid and selective complexometric method is proposed for the determination of thallium(III), using mercaptoethane(EtSH) as demasking agent. The sample solution containing Tl(III) is first complexed with excess EDTA and the surplus EDTA is removed by titration at pH 5–6 with zinc sulphate solution using  xylenol orange as indicator. EtSH solution is then added to displaceEDTAselectively fromTl-EDTAcomplex. Thallium is determined indirectly by titration of  releasedEDTA with zinc sulphate solution. Reproducible and accurate results are obtained in the concentration range 4–80mg of thallium with a relative  error≤±0.6% and relative standard deviation≤0.7%. The method is successfully applied to the determination of Tl(III) in its synthetic alloy compositions and complexes, and waste-water samples.KEY WORDS: Complexometric determination, thallium, demasking agent, mercaptoethane

Differential Expression of Glutathione s-Transferase Enzyme in Different Life Stages of Various Insecticide-Resistant Strains of Anopheles Stephensi: A Malaria Vector

Background & objectives: Interest in insect glutathione s-transferases (GSTs) has primarily focused on their role in insecticide resistance. These play an important role in biotransformation and detoxification of many different xenobiotic and endogenous substances including insecticides. The GST activity among 10 laboratory selected insecticide resistant and susceptible/control strains of Anopheles stephensi was compared using the substrates 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). The difference in the GST activities of different life stages of diverse insecticide resistant strains was compared and presented.Methods: About 100 larvae, pupae, adult males, adult females and eggs (100 μg in total weight) were collected and used for the experiment. The extracts were prepared from each of the insecticide-resistant strains and control. Protein contents of the enzyme homogenate and GST activities were determined.Results: Deltamethrin and cyfluthrin-resistant strains of An. stephensi showed significantly higher GST activity. Larvae and pupae of DDT-resistant strain showed peak GST activity followed by the propoxur-resistant strain. On contrary, the GST activity was found in reduced quantity in alphamethrin, bifenthrin, carbofuran and chloropyrifos resistant strains. Adults of either sexes showed higher GST activity in mosquito strain resistant to organophosphate group of insecticides namely, temephos and chloropyrifos. Interpretation & conclusion: The GST activity was closely associated with almost all of the insecticides used in the study, strengthening the fact that one of the mechanisms associated with resistance includes an increase of GST activity. This comparative data on GST activity in An. stephensi can be useful database to identify possible underlying mechanisms governing insecticide-resistance by GSTs

Ruby-eye, an eye colour mutant ofCulex fatigans

A gene is described in the mosquitoCulex fatigans for ruby-eye colour (ru) which expresses in all stages The gene is recessive and autosomal with uniform expression and complete penetrance

Impact of short term yoga on anthropometric measures, body composition and serum lipid profile in overweight and obese adults: a pilot study

Background: Excess bodyweight is the sixth most important risk factor contributing to the overall burden of disease worldwide. Overweight and obesity have been called a global epidemic by the World Health Organization. The epidemic reflects progressive decreases in physical activity, together with substantial dietary changes with passive over-consumption of energy despite the neurobiological processes controlling food intake. This pilot study was undertaken to find out the impact of yoga practice in overweight and obese individuals.Methods: total of 32 subjects with BMI, ≥23to ≤40 were selected for the study for a single group pre-post trial. The subjects had undergone yogic intervention for one hour in the morning for 10 days. The changes in anthropometric measures, body composition and serum lipid profile were assessed before and after 10 days of yoga therapy.Results: The data obtained was verified for normal distribution and analysed using paired t-test with SPSS (version 20.0) package. Significant decrease in body weight, BMI, triglycerides and total cholesterol in obese subjects and a significant decrease in body weight, BMI and triglycerides of overweight subjects was observed.Conclusions: The study demonstrates the efficacy of yogic practices on anthropometric measures and lipid profile subjects with overweight and obesity

Choriocarcinoma presenting following a molar pregnancy and preterm vaginal delivery: rarest of rare case

Choriocarcinoma is the aggressive histologic type of GTN and is characterized by vascular invasion and metastases of widespread. Choriocarcinoma metastasizes hematogenously. Suction and evacuation were done on admission. Beta-hCG was 67900 mIU/ml and 144523 mIU/ml on day 1 and day 3 respectively and histopathology showed Choriocarcinoma. This is very unusual case of reviewing sequential events. It was difficult to detect is it new pregnancy or choriocarcinoma. Investigators were biased with high beta-hCG values indicating malignancy. So there was differential diagnosis as choriocarcinoma based on history of molar pregnancy and increasing beta-hCG value and also dictum of 'non molar pregnancy following live birth is always choriocarcinoma. However histopathology report suggested choriocarcinoma and was diagnostic

The effect of temperature mixing on the observable (T,beta)-relation of interstellar dust clouds

Detailed studies of the shape of dust emission spectra are possible thanks to the current instruments capable of observations in several sub-millimetre bands (e.g., Herschel and Planck). However, some controversy remains even on the basic effects resulting from the mixing of temperatures along the line-of-sight. Studies have suggested either a positive or a negative correlation between the colour temperature T_C and the observed spectral index beta_Obs. Our aim is to show that both cases are possible and to determine the factors leading to either behaviour. We start by studying the sum of two or three modified black bodies of different temperature. With radiative transfer modelling, we examine the probability distributions of the dust mass as a function of the physical dust temperature. With these results as a guideline, we examine the (T_C, beta_Obs) relations for different sets of clouds. Even in the case of modified blackbodies at temperatures T_0 and T_0+ Delta T_0, the correlation between T_C and beta_Obs can be either positive or negative. If one compares models where Delta T_0 is varied, the correlation is negative. If the models differ in their mean temperature T_0 rather than in Delta T_0, the correlation remains positive. Radiative transfer models show that externally heated clouds have different mean temperatures but the widths of their temperature distributions are rather similar. Thus, the correlation between T_C and beta_Obs is expected to be positive. The same result applies to clouds illuminated by external radiation fields of different intensity. For internally heated clouds a negative correlation is the more likely alternative. If the signal-to-noise ratio is high, the observed negative correlation could be explained by the temperature dependence of the dust optical properties but that intrinsic dependence could be even steeper than the observed one.Comment: Accepted to A&

Pulmonary Embolism

There have been a number of approaches taken to image the pulmonary vasculature. This unit presents basic protocols based on black blood spin echo and/or gradient echo techniques for detection of pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis. Bright blood magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), 2‐D time‐of‐flight (TOF), and 3‐D contrast‐enhanced MRA is also presented for visualizing the entire vascular tree. The parameters provided in this unit are acquired from Siemens 1.5T Vision Scanner. These parameters may need to be altered depending on the field strength and equipment manufacturer.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145381/1/cpmia1301.pd