A synthetic 13-residue peptide corresponding to the hydrophobic region of bovine seminalplasmin has antibacterial activity and also causes lysis of red blood cells

Seminalplasmin (SPLN), a 47-residue peptide present in bovine seminal plasma, is one of the few proteins isolated from mammalian sources having potent antibacterial activity. SPLN also interacts with sperm acrosomal and plasma membranes. On the basis of analysis of the primary structure of SPLN with respect to its relative hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity, a region comprising of 13-amino acids, Pro-Lys-Leu-Leu-Glu-Thr-Phe-Leu-Ser-Lys-Trp-Ile-Gly, has been delineated. It is demonstrated that a synthetic peptide corresponding to this 13-residue region inhibits growth of Escherichia coli like SPLN and also has the ability to lyse red blood cells

A CLINICAL STUDY OF MUSTA (CYPERUS ROTUNDUS LINN.) IN HYPERLIPIDAEMIA

Hyperlipidaemia is a metabolic disorder in population diagnosed by altered levels of Lipoproteins, Cholesterol and Triglycerides in plasma. This results deposition of lipids especially esterified cholesterol in the wall of arteries resulting in the narrowing and blockage of the arteries leading to heart diseases and other diseases such as cerebrovascular disease, renal disease, liver disease and peripheral vascular disease. The present work focused on comparative analysis of anti-hyperlipidaemic profile of Musta (Cyperus rotundus Linn.) in Male and female patients. The patients suffering from Hyperlipidaemia and its related disorders like non-insulin dependent diabetes etc. were divided into two groups, Group A confined to male and Group B confined to female. Each group contains 15 patients. All the patients were advised to take 3 gm powdered Musta rhizome in two or three divided doses for a period of 45 days. After treatment, Musta rhizome powder showed more significant anti-hyperlipidaemic activity in males than females. The significance in males total cholesterol (p<0.05), HDL (p<0.05), VLDL (p<0.05), triglycerides (p<0.05) is more than that of females VLDL (p>0.05), triglycerides (p>0.05). It is observed that in group A 40% patients got complete relief, 6.67 % patients got marked relief, 33.33% patients got moderate relief and 20 % patients got mild relief. Similarly, in group B patients 06.67% patients got complete relief, 6.67 % patients got marked relief, 53.33% patients got moderate relief and 33.33 % patients got mild relief

Infrared Absorption Properties of LiH, LiD Mixed Crystals

The normal modes of pure LiH and LiD, required in impurity mode calculations, have been computed on the basis of the deformation-dipole model. Neutron-scattering results of Verble, Warren, and Yarnell for Li7D, along with some other experimental quantities, have been used to determine the various parameters involved. It is found that the frequency spectrum of LiH has a gap and that a substitutional D- ion produces a local mode in this gap whose frequency has been computed, together with its amplitude at the impurity. The infrared absorption frequency associated with this local mode and its integrated absorption have been computed as functions of D- content in the limit of low D- concentration. Also, we find an in-band resonance in the amplitude of the substitutional D- ion. Similar calculations have been carried out for H- impurities in LiD. The present results are compared with those of other calculations and with experiment

A study on consumer perception towards social media advertising of life insurance products

Rapid growth in reach of internet is witnessed in the spread and use of internet over last two decades. Internet has become not only the most used but is also the mandatory part of communication since years. Speed, economy, reach and the convenience are basic advantages of internet attracting various businesses to use it as the source of communication among stakeholders. Various types of internet communication include direct messaging, e-mail communication, e-commerce platforms, business websites and social media platforms. Social media is nothing but the online platforms which are created for making internet communities and avail mass communication with members of various social groups. Very widely used social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp and many more gives user a platform to be socially connected with other individuals at any point of time and hence this becomes the most popular medium of communication. Wide spread of internet and smart phones has created the access and convenience to use social media platforms for most of the individuals throughout the globe. Businesses in this competitive global environment are looking this as an opportunity to reach every individual through social media enchasing itsreach to almost every individual over the globe. This research paper is aimed to understand the perception of social media users towards the communication and advertising efforts by businesses

Interaction of indolicidin, a 13-residue peptide rich in tryptophan and proline and its analogues with model membranes

Indolicidin is a 13-residue broad-spectrum antibacterial peptide isolated from bovine neutrophils. The primary structure of the peptide ILPWKWPWWPWRR-amide (IL) reveals an unusually high percentage of tryptophan residues. IL and its analogues where proline residues have been replaced by alanine (ILA) and trp replaced by phe (ILF) show comparable antibacterial activitieso While IL and ILA are haemolytic, ILF does not have this property. Since aromatic residues would strongly favour partitioning of the peptide into the lipid bilayer interface, the biological activities of IL and its analogues could conceivably arise due perturbation of the lipid bilayer of membranes. We have therefore investigated the interaction of IL and its analogues with lipid vesicles. Peptides IL and ILA bind to lipid vesicles composed of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanol amine: phosphatidyl glycerol: cardiolipin. The position of λmax and I- quenching experiments suggest that the trp residues are localized at the membrane interface and not associated with the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer in both the peptides. Hence, membrane permeabilization is likely to occur due to deformation of the membrane surface rather than formation of transmembrane channels by indolicidin and its analogues. Peptides ILA, IL and ILF cause the release of entrapped carboxyfluorescein from phosphatidyl choline vesicles. The peptide-lipid ratios indicate that ILF is less effective than IL and ILA in permeabilizing lipid vesicles, correlating with their haemolytic activities

Anti-inflammatory effect of an Ayurveda polyherbal topical application and exploration of its mechanism of action

Background: Topical application of herbs is one of the recommended treatment modalities for Osteoarthritis (OA) in Ayurveda (Indian system of medicine). The current study intended to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of a polyherbal powder used as Upanaha (poultice) for OA by in vitro and in vivo techniques. Materials and Methods: The polyherbal formulation Upanaha Choornam (UC) was sourced from Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala (P) Ltd., Thrissur, India. Changes in the secretion of TNF-α and NO and expression of Cox-2 genes were evaluated by semi quantitative PCR activity to establish anti-inflammatory action in vitro. Macrophages and connective tissue of mice were used as media for the former two experiments and only macrophages for the latter. In vivo anti–inflammatory activity was evaluated by TPA induced ear oedema in Swiss Albino mice (n=24), divided into 4 groups as Group I - saline treatment, Group II - Indomethacin treatment, and Groups III and IV treated with 30% and 60% of UC respectively. Results: In the in vitro study, UC at 1000 µg/ml and 500 µg/ml upregulated the COX-2 level by 0.08 and 0.03 folds respectively as compared to control. Release of TNF-α, and NO in LPS-induced RAW cells were significantly inhibited in a dose dependent manner. The TPA induced ear oedema significantly reduced in Groups III and IV (F=1250, p<0.001) Conclusion: The current study demonstrates the safety and anti-inflammatory activity of a polyherbal formulation Upanaha Choornam as a topical application. This indicates the potential of select herbs in managing degenerative conditions like OA

A model study on the decay of volcanic aerosol layer and verification with Pinatubo and El Chichon data

The time evolution of stratospheric aerosol layer formed after a volcanic eruption is studied taking into account the aerosol microphysical processes of growth, coagulation and sedimentation. Using a simple model we could explain the observed evolution of the Pinatubo volcanic layer which decayed in about 3 years. The experimental data obtained by Nd:YAG backscatter lidar over Ahmedabad further supports this finding. The data obtained after the El Chichon volcanic eruption also showed that the El Chichon aerosol layer decayed in about 3 years time. Thus, though the amount of SO2 injected has been higher, in the case of Pinatubo, about two to three times more than El Chichon, it has resulted in the production of larger aerosol particles due to faster growth and coagulation processes, and subsequently a faster removal rate, to give more or less a similar background aerosol amount at the stratosphere in about 3 years time

Valve-sparing aortic root replacement and remodeling with complex aortic valve reconstruction in children and young adults with moderate or severe aortic regurgitation

ObjectivesThe durability of valve-sparing aortic root procedures with aortic regurgitation due to leaflet disease is questioned. Here, we review our experience in combined aortic root and valve reconstruction in children and young adults.MethodsAll valve-sparing aortic root procedures from 2000 to 2012 were reviewed, and patients with aortic valve repair beyond resuspension were included. Root procedures were classified as replacement with reimplantation, root remodeling, or aortic annular and sinotubular junction stabilization. The primary end point was structural valve deterioration, a composite of aortic valve reoperation and/or moderate or greater regurgitation at follow-up.ResultsThirty-four patients were included during the study period. The surgery consisted of reimplantation in 13 patients, remodeling in 16 patients, and annular and sinotubular junction stabilization in 5 patients. Valve repair consisted of leaflet procedures in 26 patients and subannular reduction in 15 patients. During a median follow-up of 4.2 months (range, 2 weeks-8 years), there were 5 reoperations for aortic valve replacement due to aortic regurgitation, and 2 patients presented with moderate or greater regurgitation. Freedom from structural valve deterioration was 70.1% ± 10.3% at 1 year and remained stable thereafter, although it was significantly worse in the reimplantation group (P = .039). A more severe degree of preoperative aortic regurgitation (P = .001) and smaller graft to aortic annulus ratio (P = .003) were predictors of structural valve deterioration.ConclusionsValve-sparing root and valve reconstruction can be done with low operative risk and allows valve preservation in most patients. These data should question the assumption that reimplantation is superior when associated with complex valve reconstruction

Self-regulation learning as active inference: dynamic causal modeling of an fMRI neurofeedback task

Introduction: Learning to self-regulate brain activity by neurofeedback has been shown to lead to changes in the brain and behavior, with beneficial clinical and non-clinical outcomes. Neurofeedback uses a brain-computer interface to guide participants to change some feature of their brain activity. However, the neural mechanism of self-regulation learning remains unclear, with only 50% of the participants succeeding in achieving it. To bridge this knowledge gap, our study delves into the neural mechanisms of self-regulation learning via neurofeedback and investigates the brain processes associated with successful brain self-regulation. Methods: We study the neural underpinnings of self-regulation learning by employing dynamical causal modeling (DCM) in conjunction with real-time functional MRI data. The study involved a cohort of 18 participants undergoing neurofeedback training targeting the supplementary motor area. A critical focus was the comparison between top-down hierarchical connectivity models proposed by Active Inference and alternative bottom-up connectivity models like reinforcement learning. Results: Our analysis revealed a crucial distinction in brain connectivity patterns between successful and non-successful learners. Particularly, successful learners evinced a significantly stronger top-down effective connectivity towards the target area implicated in self-regulation. This heightened top-down network engagement closely resembles the patterns observed in goal-oriented and cognitive control studies, shedding light on the intricate cognitive processes intertwined with self-regulation learning. Discussion: The findings from our investigation underscore the significance of cognitive mechanisms in the process of self-regulation learning through neurofeedback. The observed stronger top-down effective connectivity in successful learners indicates the involvement of hierarchical cognitive control, which aligns with the tenets of Active Inference. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the neural dynamics behind successful self-regulation learning and provides insights into the potential cognitive architecture underpinning this process