ISOLATION OF PHYTOCONSTITUENT, IN VITRO ANTICANCER STUDY IN HELA AND MCF-7 CELL LINES AND MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDIES OF POTHOS SCANDENS LINN

Objective: This study aims to isolate an active phytoconstituent from ethanolic leaf extract of Pothos scandens Linn., to evaluate in vitro anticancer activity, and to carry out molecular docking studies of the isolated phytoconstituent. Methods: The bioactive constituent 1,1’-(4,5-dihydroxy benzene-1,2-diyl) bisoct-7-en-1-one, a phenolic compound, was isolated by using chromatographic methods and the structure was elucidated by various spectroscopic techniques. In vitro anticancer activity was evaluated against HeLa and MCF 7 cell lines. The viability of cells was evaluated by direct observation of cells by an Inverted phase-contrast microscope and by the MTT assay method. IC50 was calculated using the linear regression model. Results: The results of anticancer studies revealed that different concentrations of the ethanolic extract of leaves of Pothos scandens Linn. exhibited cytotoxic activity against HeLa and MCF 7 cell lines with IC50 of 22.9 and 18.32 μg/ml, respectively. The anticancer potential of the plant was revalidated by in silico molecular docking study with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR2, PDB ID: 4AG8) using Discovery studio 2018. Results of the docking study showed that the ligand exhibited strong interaction with the VEGFR2 kinase with significant binding energy. Conclusion: Pothos scandens linn. can be used for the isolation of potent anticancer agents

Educational material about influenza viruses

To supplement a special edition of the journal Viruses, entitled “What’s New with Flu?”, influenza virus researchers have worked together to generate simple educational material to communicate their science to school students. Educational materials suitable for a range of ages are included, from coloring exercises for younger students through to explanations of cutting-edge science in straightforward language for older students. This article contains a handout with influenza facts, a coloring page, a glossary and word find and a connect-the-dots exercise explaining the ideas behind recently published scientific papers. Together, these materials are intended to make research on influenza viruses more accessible to students and teachers

Y-short tandem repeat haplotype and paternal lineage of the Ezhava population of Kerala, south India

Aim To analyze the haplotype of the Ezhava population of Kerala, south India, using 8 short tandem repeat (STR) loci on the Y chromosome and trace the paternal genetic lineage of the population. Methods Whole blood samples (n = 104) were collected from unrelated healthy men of the Ezhava population over a period of one year from October 2009. Genomic DNA was extracted by salting out method. All samples were genotyped for the 8 Y-STR loci by the AmpFiSTR Y-filer PCR Amplification Kit. The haplotype and allele frequencies were determined by direct counting and analyzed using Arlequin 3.1 software, and molecular variance was calculated with the Y-chromosome haplotype reference database online analysis tool, www.yhrd.org. Results Among the 104 examined haplotypes, we found 98 unique ones. The average gene diversity was 0.669, with the highest diversity of 0.9462 observed for the biallelic Y-STR marker DYS 385. The allele frequency among DYS loci varied between 0.0096 and 0.75. Out of the 104 haplotypes, 10 were identical to the Jat Sikh population of Punjab, which is the greatest number among the Indian populations, and 4 to the Turkish population, which is the greatest number among the European populations. According to the allele frequency of Y-STR, the Ezhavas were genetically more similar to the Europeans (60%) than to the East Asians (40%). Conclusion The vast majority of haplotypes were observed only once, reflecting the enormous genetic heterogeneity of the Ezhavas. Based on the genotype, the Ezhavas showed more resemblance to Jat Sikh population of Punjab and the Turkish populations than to the East Asians, hence indicating a paternal lineage of European origin

Special Functions and Pathways for Problems in Astrophysics: An Essay in Honor of A.M. Mathai

The paper provides a review of A.M. Mathai's applications of the theory of special functions, particularly generalized hypergeometric functions, to problems in stellar physics and formation of structure in the Universe and to questions related to reaction, diffusion, and reaction-diffusion models. The essay also highlights Mathai's recent work on entropic, distributional, and differential pathways to basic concepts in statistical mechanics, making use of his earlier research results in information and statistical distribution theory. The results presented in the essay cover a period of time in Mathai's research from 1982 to 2008 and are all related to the thematic area of the gravitationally stabilized solar fusion reactor and fractional reaction-diffusion, taking into account concepts of non-extensive statistical mechanics. The time period referred to above coincides also with Mathai's exceptional contributions to the establishment and operation of the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, India, as well as the holding of the United Nations (UN)/European Space Agency (ESA)/National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States/ Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Workshops on basic space science and the International Heliophysical Year 2007, around the world. Professor Mathai's contributions to the latter, since 1991, are a testimony for his social con-science applied to international scientific activity

What contributes to wellbeing gains – proficiency or duration of meditation related practices?

Several studies have shown physical and mental health benefits associated with different schools of meditation. However, reviews have recommended interpretation of study outcomes in the context of school specific traditional practices. In the literature, practice proficiency is often conflated with hours or years of meditation practice and it is difficult to attribute wellbeing gains directly to the proficiency of practice. We carried out two studies to examine wellbeing, practice proficiency, and duration of practice amongst Brahma Kumaris Rajayoga (BKRY) practitioners from India. In Study 1, we surveyed participants (n = 1009) to record the socio-demographics, spiritual lifestyle components, and wellbeing enhancement attributed to their spiritual practice. We developed new measures for evaluating proficiency of BKRY practice and for assessment of progress in wellbeing attributed to BKRY practice. Both measures had high internal consistency scores (alphas 0.95, 0.93). Block-wise hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that after accounting for demographic variables, BKRY practice proficiency strongly predicted progress in wellbeing, explaining over 51.6% of the total variance. In Study 2, we took three well-matched groups (n = 86) that were distinct on the basis of duration of practice (long term, short term and zero term). We examined wellbeing differences in these three groups and the extent of correlation of wellbeing with practice proficiency, progress in wellbeing and duration of practice. We conclude that meditation practice does improve wellbeing and that proficiency of practice is better correlated with most aspects of wellbeing than duration of practice but there are a few aspects of wellbeing that increase with sustained practice over a long time. We recommend that studies involving other schools of spiritual/religious practice incorporate tradition-specific proficiency assessment (instead of using years of practice as a proxy) and also use the Progress in Wellbeing scale for assessing practice-aided improvements in wellbeing

Y-short tandem repeat haplotype and paternal lineage of the Ezhava population of Kerala, south India

Aim To analyze the haplotype of the Ezhava population of Kerala, south India, using 8 short tandem repeat (STR) loci on the Y chromosome and trace the paternal genetic lineage of the population. Methods Whole blood samples (n = 104) were collected from unrelated healthy men of the Ezhava population over a period of one year from October 2009. Genomic DNA was extracted by salting out method. All samples were genotyped for the 8 Y-STR loci by the AmpFiSTR Y-filer PCR Amplification Kit. The haplotype and allele frequencies were determined by direct counting and analyzed using Arlequin 3.1 software, and molecular variance was calculated with the Y-chromosome haplotype reference database online analysis tool, www.yhrd.org. Results Among the 104 examined haplotypes, we found 98 unique ones. The average gene diversity was 0.669, with the highest diversity of 0.9462 observed for the biallelic Y-STR marker DYS 385. The allele frequency among DYS loci varied between 0.0096 and 0.75. Out of the 104 haplotypes, 10 were identical to the Jat Sikh population of Punjab, which is the greatest number among the Indian populations, and 4 to the Turkish population, which is the greatest number among the European populations. According to the allele frequency of Y-STR, the Ezhavas were genetically more similar to the Europeans (60%) than to the East Asians (40%). Conclusion The vast majority of haplotypes were observed only once, reflecting the enormous genetic heterogeneity of the Ezhavas. Based on the genotype, the Ezhavas showed more resemblance to Jat Sikh population of Punjab and the Turkish populations than to the East Asians, hence indicating a paternal lineage of European origin

BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM FISH AND PRAWN

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from various samples of fresh and frozen fish and prawn. Thirteen species of Lactobacillus were identified among the 64% isolates. Among them, L. plantarum was the dominant species. The remaining 36% isolates of Lactobacillus could not be assigned to any species with the available taxonomic schemes

INCIDENCE OF MYCOTIC INFECTIONS IN DIABETIC FOOT TISSUE

The objective of the study was to investigate the incidence of fungal pathogens in diabetic foot infections. A total of 74 Type II diabetic patients with non-healing diabetic foot infections were recruited for the study. Among the diabetic patients 65 % (48/74) had yeast and mold infections. Pathogenic yeasts were noted in 77 % of the patients of which Candida species was predominant (93 %). The major Candida species isolated were C. albicans (49 %), C. tropicalis (23 %), C. parapsilosis (18 %), C. guillermondi (5 %) and C. krusei (5 %). The other yeast species isolated were Trichosporon cutaneum and T. capitatum. Trichophyton spp. was the only dermatophytic fungus found. Molds were isolated from 38 % of the infected patients of which Aspergillus species predominated (72 %). The other molds isolated were Fusarium solani, Penicillium marneffei and Basidiobolus ranarum. The results of the study indicate the need for mycological evaluation of the non-healing diabetic foot tissues and appropriate antifungal therapy