Non-Covalent and Macromolecular Approaches to Study Protein Binding, Drug Delivery and Artificial Blood

To begin with, macromolecules consisting of poly(amido)amine dendrimers(PAMAM),polyglycidol,hyperbranched poly(amido)amine (HYPAM) were synthesized and characterized extensively. Porphyrins were also synthesized, characterized and modified in line with respective studies. Hereafter, surface modified TRIS PAMAM dendrimers and its analogs (hyperbranched polymers, hyperbranched PAMAMs) as potential drug delivery systems were studied with the use of model drugs (Ibuprofen and Porphyrin). Analogs of the model drugs were used to investigate the role of secondary interactions for high drug loading(s). UV-Vis Spectroscopy was utilized for studying and determining the maximum loading of the macromolecules under investigation. Further ahead, non-covalent approaches to improve dendrimer-protein binding were used by introducing amino acid chains as targeting groups on the dendrimer surface. Surface modified carboxylate PAMAM dendrimers were studied for their ability to bind with zinc metallated porphyrin. UV-Vis and Fluorescence Spectroscopy were used for protein binding studies. Lastly, Surface Crosslinked Micelles were synthesized and utilized as artificial blood mimics with an attempt to increase the half-life of encapsulated iron porphyrin acting as the heme mimic with the help of UV-Vis Spectroscopy

A study of knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of contraception among reproductive age women at tertiary care hospital, Ahmedabad

Background: India is projected to be the most populous country according to United Nations’ report; therefore, the knowledge and awareness of contraceptive methods is of utmost important for small family norms and to increase inter-pregnancy interval, so that we can achieve optimum maternal and child outcomes. This study was conducted to assess knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of contraceptive methods among reproductive-age women during Corona pandemic.Methods: A prospective observational questionnaire-based study involving 513 women belonging to the 15-49 years of age group were interviewed with consent. This was a knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study regarding socio-demographic profile, knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of the contraceptive method.Results: Statistical analysis of data was done by using chi-square and percentage. Out of 513 participants, 63 participants were not using any method of contraception. Barrier method is the most commonly preferred method of contraception. There was significant association of education of women and husband, occupation with usage of contraception (p<0.001, p=0.016 and p<0.001). During corona pandemic acceptance of tubal ligation had taken a hit.Conclusions: During corona pandemic barrier method and oral contraceptive pills were preferred methods. In comparison with pre-COVID era data, tubal ligation was least preferred method. Acceptance of IUCD and Injectable contraception remained same. Higher education level and better financial status had correlation with increased awareness and acceptance of contraceptive methods

Genetically Modified Potato as a Source of Novel Carbohydrates

Significant progress has been made in understanding of carbohydrate (starch) biosynthesis through molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques. Genetic modification of plants has a great potential to produce novel carbohydrates with unique properties that cannot be generated by conventional breeding approaches. Starch is the predominant carbohydrate in potatoes and serves as an energy reserve for the plant. Genetic engineering of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber can revolutionise the synthesis of unique starches with altered physical and chemical properties that are engineered to meet the specific industrial requirements. In addition to expression of foreign genes involved in carbohydrate biosynthesis, genes regulating the carbohydrate metabolism, transport and resource partitioning have also been achieved. Here we summarise the recent progress made towards modifications of the biosynthetic pathways by which potato can produce novel carbohydrates. Further, we discuss the prospects of engineering potatoes for production of structural and non-structural carbohydrates

Effect of passive smoking as a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in normal healthy women

Background: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, asthma in children and lung cancer. There is a biological plausibility of ETS as a causal factor for COPD. Objectives of the study were to examine the effect of passive smoking on lung function in non-smoking healthy women and to co-relate the effects of passive smoke as a risk factor for COPD.Methods: 50 women between 20-40 years of age exposed to passive smoke at home and workplace were assessed by questionnaire. The pulmonary function tests were performed and the values of FEV1 and FVC were obtained by a spirometer.Results: Out of 50 women, 34 % at workplace, 54% at home and 12% at home and workplace were exposed. Mean age was 30.3 years. Mean±SD of FEV1 was 1.94±0.9, FVC was 2.54±1.06, FEV1/FVC was 73.5±10.06 predicted FEV1 % was 63.2±23.2. FEV1/FVC of women exposed at home and workplace was 70.84 indicating that they have higher chances of developing COPD later in life.Conclusions: Passive smoking represents a serious health hazard that can be prevented by health education campaigns

Computational approaches to identify novel inhibitors for the drug‐resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis DprE1 enzyme

Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes tuberculosis (TB), which is a common but life‐debilitating disease. The continued development of resistance to frontline anti‐TB drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin threatens the efficacy of currently available treatment procedures. This highlights the need to explore diverse approaches essential for drug development against multi‐drug‐resistant strains of tuberculosis. Drug development relies on the findings associated with novel protein targets, which play a crucial role in the disease life cycle. DprE1, an enzyme that plays a critical role in the cell wall synthesis of M. tuberculosis, has been recognized as a promising target for drug development. In the present study, based on previous experimental findings, seven mutant models of DprE1 involved in DprE1 resistance are predicted using homology modeling. Further, potential inhibitors are selected based on their efficacy and IC50 values. Shortlisted inhibitors are docked with the wild‐type and mutant structures of DprE1. The deduced inhibitor molecule (ZINC5) is found to possess high potential as a lead inhibitor for all the models of DprE1. It can be used to circumvent drug resistance in the current treatment regime

Why is farming important for rural livelihood security in the Global South? COVID-19 and changing rural livelihoods in Nepal’s mid-hills

Over the last three decades, Nepal has experienced a rapid transition in rural livelihoods, from largely subsistence farming to more diversified off-farm employment and remittances. Despite this, subsistence farming continues to be a central part of rural production. Why does farming persist in the face of other, more remunerative, off-farm employment options? In this article we argue that subsistence food production continues to be important for rural livelihood security by providing food needs from farming, thus helping households to cope with uncertainties in off-farm employment and international labor migration. Taking the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of a high level of livelihood stress, the paper provides insights and further explanations on the logic of maintaining subsistence food production as part of rural households' livelihood security. Drawing on in-depth qualitative study, complemented with a quantitative survey from eight villages in rural Nepal, we examine the impact of the pandemic on farming and off-farm activities and explore the reasons behind peoples' choice of livelihood strategies and how these vary between different social groups. We show that there was only limited impact of the dramatic disruptions caused by the global pandemic on subsistence farming, however it brought substantial challenges for emerging semi-commercial farming and off-farm incomes, including both local and migratory wage labor. During the pandemic, people increased their reliance on locally produced food, and subsistence farming served as a critical safety net. Our analysis underscores the continued importance of subsistence production amidst contemporary shifts toward off-farm employment among rural households. We also find a growing interest in semi-commercial farming among farmers with better access to land who seek state support to develop such production. This suggests that it is important for agricultural development policy to recognize and support subsistence farming alongside emerging commercial agriculture production as an integral foundation of future farming and rural livelihood security

Women's agricultural work and nutrition in South Asia: From pathways to a cross-disciplinary, grounded analytical framework

Copyright © 2018 The Authors. In this systematic review, we aim to examine the impact of women’s work in agriculture on maternal and child nutrition in South Asia. Building on previous reviews supported under the Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia (LANSA) consortium, and recent published literature, we include findings from new LANSA research. While mapping literature onto the gender-nutrition pathways linking agriculture to nutrition (Kadiyala et al., 2014), we also point to conceptual and methodological directions for further exploration emerging from our work. Key amongst these are a focus on seasonality, poverty, and gender relations, moving beyond both an exclusive focus on women as a unified and homogenous group, and agriculture as an unchanging and common set of activities and production processes. Our analysis suggests the need for a more contextualised approach, and for a richer cross-disciplinary framework for effectively addressing the ways in which women’s work mediates agriculture’s role in improving child and maternal nutrition in South Asia.This article is part of the research generated by the Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia Research (LANSA) research consortium, and is funded by UK aid from the UK government

HTLV-1 Tax Mediated Downregulation of miRNAs Associated with Chromatin Remodeling Factors in T Cells with Stably Integrated Viral Promoter

RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural cellular mechanism to silence gene expression and is predominantly mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs) that target messenger RNA. Viruses can manipulate the cellular processes necessary for their replication by targeting the host RNAi machinery. This study explores the effect of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) transactivating protein Tax on the RNAi pathway in the context of a chromosomally integrated viral long terminal repeat (LTR) using a CD4+ T-cell line, Jurkat. Transcription factor profiling of the HTLV-1 LTR stably integrated T-cell clone transfected with Tax demonstrates increased activation of substrates and factors associated with chromatin remodeling complexes. Using a miRNA microarray and bioinformatics experimental approach, Tax was also shown to downregulate the expression of miRNAs associated with the translational regulation of factors required for chromatin remodeling. These observations were validated with selected miRNAs and an HTLV-1 infected T cells line, MT-2. miR-149 and miR-873 were found to be capable of directly targeting p300 and p/CAF, chromatin remodeling factors known to play critical role in HTLV-1 pathogenesis. Overall, these results are first in line establishing HTLV-1/Tax-miRNA-chromatin concept and open new avenues toward understanding retroviral latency and/or replication in a given cell type

Response of Astrocytes to Pressure

Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in mammalian brain; however their function in the response to brain injury are poorly understood. Reactive astrocytes mediate the response to neural injury in two waves; initially they eliminate damaged neurons and alert the immune system to the injury. Following this, astrocytes begin the formation of the glial scar. To study the role of astrocytes, we observe changes in gene expression, physiological changes, and behavioral changes in Xenopus laevis tadpoles after brain injury occurs. There was no difference in death rates between the pressure and the control groups. The behavior analysis between the control group and the brain injury (pressure) group shows an alteration in behavior pattern as early as 48 hours. However, these differences minimizes with longer hours of recovery. The exact role and mechanism of astrocyte to reactive astrocyte remains unclear in Xenopus laevis. Further study will be designed using a transgenic line where response to an injury can be monitored “live” with a particular astrocyte marker.Biology and Biochemistry, Department ofHonors Colleg

Awareness about menstruation and menstrual hygiene management among females in the reproductive age group working as class 4 workers in Sumandeep Vidyapeeth campus

Background: Too often especially in the developing world mindsets, customs and institutional biases prevent women from achieving menstrual health. Thus objective of the study is to assess the practices of menstrual hygiene among women in the reproductive age group working as class 4 workers in sumandeep vidyapeeth campus. Methods: It was a cross sectional study in which total 80 class 4 female workers from Sumandeep Vidyapeeth campus were taken as study population. Data was collected through pre-structured questionnaires. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were used for the preparation of results. Results: Among 80 reproductive age group women, 71.25% women had a regular cycle. 62.5% women had abdominal pain during menstruation. 52.5% women were using sanitary napkins for menstruation. 42.5% women were not using sanitary napkins due to its high cost. Conclusion: This study was conducted to a certain menstrual hygiene among women in reproductive age group and to improve the knowledge and practices among them. The study revealed the menstrual hygiene was far from satisfactory among many women in study population. It becomes necessary to educate girls and young adults about the physiology of menstruation and hygiene management well before menarche