AN ETHNOBOTANICAL EXPLORATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN MANAR BEAT, KARAMADAI RANGE, WESTERN GHATS, TAMIL NADU

Objectives: This investigation provides an ethnobotanical information that truly focused on the traditional medicinal plants used by Irula community inhaled in Manar beat to treat various human diseases. Ethnobotanical study about medicinal plants was carried out from January 2018 to December 2018 in Manar beat, Karamadai range, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. Methods: The traditional in-depth knowledge of medicinal plants was collected during group discussion, interviews, and guided field walks along with tribe. All the traditional medicinal plants collected during the field visit were identified with local floras and the identity was authenticated by Botanical Survey of India. Results: A total of 89 medicinally important endemic, threatened and endangered aromatic herbal plants distributed in 71 genera and 42 families were collected and identified. Among the surveyed plants, Fabaceae and Moraceae with eight species were the largest plant families, respectively. Leaves (35%) are most widely used plant part of reported plants and decoction forms are mostly used by Irulas. The surveyed plants were checked for conservation status in Red Data List formulated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature; around nine species were listed out. Conclusion: The documentation of the medicinal herbal plants will be a good reference to all the young researches to carry out various conservation works

Pregled lijekova protiv raka koji ciljano djeluju na mikrotubule

The entire world is looking for effective cancer therapies whose benefits would outweigh their toxicity. One way to reduce resistance to chemotherapy and its adverse effects is the so called targeted therapy, which targets specific molecules (“molecular targets”) that play a critical role in cancer growth, progression, and metastasis. One such specific target are microtubules. In this review we address the current knowledge about microtubule-targeting agents or drugs (MTAs/MTDs) used in cancer therapy from their synthesis to toxicities. Synthetic and natural MTAs exhibit antitumor activity, and preclinical and clinical studies have shown that their anticancer effectiveness is higher than that of traditional drug therapies. Furthermore, MTAs involve a lower risk of adverse effects such as neurotoxicity and haemotoxicity. Several new generation MTAs are currently being evaluated for clinical use. This review brings updated information on the benefits of MTAs, therapeutic approaches, advantages, and challenges in their research.U cijelome se svijetu traga za djelotvornim liječenjem protiv raka čije bi koristi prevagnule nad štetnim djelovanjem. Jedan od načina da se smanji otpornost na kemoterapiju i njezine štetne učinke svakako je takozvano ciljano liječenje, usmjereno na pojedine molekule (molekulske ciljeve) koje imaju važnu ulogu u rastu, napredovanju i metastaziranju raka. Primjer takvih specifičnih ciljeva su mikrotubuli. U ovom se preglednom radu osvrćemo na najnovije spoznaje o lijekovima koji ciljano djeluju na mikrotubule (engl. microtubule-targeting agents/drugs, krat. MTA/MTD), a rabe se u liječenju raka. Takvi prirodni i sintetizirani lijekovi djeluju protutumorski, a pretklinička istraživanja i klinička ispitivanja pokazuju da je njihova djelotvornost veća nego ona tradicionalnih lijekova. Osim toga, ti lijekovi donose manji rizik od štetnih učinaka poput neurotoksičnosti i hemotoksičnosti. Upravo se klinički ocjenjuju nove generacije nekoliko lijekova koji ciljano djeluju na mikrotubule. Ovdje donosimo najnovije spoznaje o njihovim koristima, pristupima liječenju, prednostima i izazovima u istraživanju

Interaction between FTO gene variants and lifestyle factors on metabolic traits in an Asian Indian population

Background Lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity have been shown to modify the association between fat mass and obesity–associated (FTO) gene variants and metabolic traits in several populations; however, there are no gene-lifestyle interaction studies, to date, among Asian Indians living in India. In this study, we examined whether dietary factors and physical activity modified the association between two FTO single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs8050136 and rs11076023) (SNPs) and obesity traits and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods The study included 734 unrelated T2D and 884 normal glucose-tolerant (NGT) participants randomly selected from the urban component of the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES). Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated interviewer administered semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Physical activity was based upon the self-report. Interaction analyses were performed by including the interaction terms in the linear/logistic regression model. Results There was a significant interaction between SNP rs8050136 and carbohydrate intake (% energy) (Pinteraction = 0.04), where the ‘A’ allele carriers had 2.46 times increased risk of obesity than those with ‘CC’ genotype (P = 3.0 × 10−5) among individuals in the highest tertile of carbohydrate intake (% energy, 71 %). A significant interaction was also observed between SNP rs11076023 and dietary fibre intake (Pinteraction = 0.0008), where individuals with AA genotype who are in the 3rd tertile of dietary fibre intake had 1.62 cm lower waist circumference than those with ‘T’ allele carriers (P = 0.02). Furthermore, among those who were physically inactive, the ‘A’ allele carriers of the SNP rs8050136 had 1.89 times increased risk of obesity than those with ‘CC’ genotype (P = 4.0 × 10−5). Conclusions This is the first study to provide evidence for a gene-diet and gene-physical activity interaction on obesity and T2D in an Asian Indian population. Our findings suggest that the association between FTO SNPs and obesity might be influenced by carbohydrate and dietary fibre intake and physical inactivity. Further understanding of how FTO gene influences obesity and T2D through dietary and exercise interventions is warranted to advance the development of behavioral intervention and personalised lifestyle strategies, which could reduce the risk of metabolic diseases in this Asian Indian population

Serum Uric Acid and Adiposity: Deciphering Causality Using a Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Approach

Background: Although the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and adiposity is well established, the direction of the causality is still unclear in the presence of conflicting evidences. We used a bidirectional Mendelian randomization approach to explore the nature and direction of causality between SUA and adiposity in a population-based study of Caucasians aged 35 to 75 years. Methods and Findings: We used, as instrumental variables, rs6855911 within the SUA gene SLC2A9 in one direction, and combinations of SNPs within the adiposity genes FTO, MC4R and TMEM18 in the other direction. Adiposity markers included weight, body mass index, waist circumference and fat mass. We applied a two-stage least squares regression: a regression of SUA/adiposity markers on our instruments in the first stage and a regression of the response of interest on the fitted values from the first stage regression in the second stage. SUA explained by the SLC2A9 instrument was not associated to fat mass (regression coefficient [95 % confidence interval]: 0.05 [20.10, 0.19] for fat mass) contrasting with the ordinary least square estimate (0.37 [0.34, 0.40]). By contrast, fat mass explained by genetic variants of the FTO, MC4R and TMEM18 genes was positively and significantly associated to SUA (0.31 [0.01, 0.62]), similar to the ordinary least square estimate (0.27 [0.25, 0.29]). Results were similar for the other adiposity markers. Conclusions: Using a bidirectional Mendelian randomization approach in adult Caucasians, our findings suggest tha

Association of genetic variation in FTO with risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes with data from 96,551 East and South Asians

Aims/hypothesis: $FTO$ harbours the strongest known obesity-susceptibility locus in Europeans. While there is growing evidence for a role for $FTO$ in obesity risk in Asians, its association with type 2 diabetes, independently of BMI, remains inconsistent. To test whether there is an association of the $FTO$ locus with obesity and type 2 diabetes, we conducted a meta-analysis of 32 populations including 96,551 East and South Asians. Methods: All studies published on the association between $FTO$-rs9939609 (or proxy [r$^2$ > 0.98]) and BMI, obesity or type 2 diabetes in East or South Asians were invited. Each study group analysed their data according to a standardised analysis plan. Association with type 2 diabetes was also adjusted for BMI. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to pool all effect sizes. Results: The $FTO$-rs9939609 minor allele increased risk of obesity by 1.25-fold/allele (p = 9.0 × 10$^{−19}$), overweight by 1.13-fold/allele (p = 1.0 × 10$^{−11}$) and type 2 diabetes by 1.15-fold/allele (p = 5.5 × 10$^{−8}$). The association with type 2 diabetes was attenuated after adjustment for BMI (OR 1.10-fold/allele, p = 6.6 × 10$^{−5}$). The $FTO$-rs9939609 minor allele increased BMI by 0.26 kg/m2 per allele (p = 2.8 × 10$^{−17}$), WHR by 0.003/allele (p = 1.2 × 10$^{−6}$), and body fat percentage by 0.31%/allele (p = 0.0005). Associations were similar using dominant models. While the minor allele is less common in East Asians (12–20%) than South Asians (30–33%), the effect of $FTO$ variation on obesity-related traits and type 2 diabetes was similar in the two populations. Conclusions/interpretation: $FTO$ is associated with increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, with effect sizes similar in East and South Asians and similar to those observed in Europeans. Furthermore, $FTO$ is also associated with type 2 diabetes independently of BMI. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00125-011-2370-7) contains peer-reviewed but unedited supplementary material, which is available to authorised users

MICROPROPAGATION OF AN ENDANGERED AND ENDEMIC MEDICINAL PLANT CAYRATIA PEDATA VAR. GLABRA

Objective: The objective of the present study was to develop standardization protocol for the successful in vitro mass propagation of Cayratia pedata var. glabra through leaf and stem explants, since it is a rare, endangered, and endemic medicinal plant using biotechnological involvements and to conserve this endangered species. Methods: The application of biotechnological principles for the establishment of micropropagation under in vitro conditions has been studied by following the methods. The explants, namely, leaf and stem harvested from in vivo plants were thoroughly washed and properly sterilized with sterilients. The explants were transferred to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with growth regulators 6-benzyladenine (BAP) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) in the concentration range of 0.5–3.0 mg/l which were tested for callus induction and morphogenesis. The elongated shoots were transferred to MS medium supplemented with NAA at different concentrations for root induction. Results: The explants collected from the field (shola) were treated in different steriliants with various concentrations at different time for sterilization. Among the various combinations tried, the Teepol treatment for 10 min followed by bavistin 20 min, antibiotics, namely, ampicillin and rifampicin for 20 min, 70% alcohol for 30 s, and 0.12 % HgCl2 for 3 min was found to be effective. The explants were cultured in MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of BAP and NAA. The results noted that an increase in the concentration of BAP concomitantly reduced the frequency of callus formation. The maximum callusing frequency and more number of shoot formation was observed in the lower concentration of BAP (0.5 mg/l) in combination with NAA (0.2 mg/l). The callus obtained from all the above combinations was sub-cultured on MS medium with same combinations of BAP and NAA. The maximum frequency of root formation in leaf callus was 85% and 75% in stem callus and both were achieved on MS medium with NAA (1 mg/l) after 2 weeks. Conclusions: The current investigation provides a competent in vitro propagation method for C. pedata var. glabra which could be commercialized for developing identical plants with high-quality mass multiplication rate and for better conservation of the germplasm. Both the methods described here are well suited for the mass multiplication of this critically endangered and endemic climber species

Pattern and presentation of panfacial fractures at a tertiary reference center based in Central Kerala, South India

Aim: We aimed to describe the pattern and clinical presentation of panfacial fractures and to analyze if the panfacial fractures differ from other maxillofacial injuries concerning the time of intervention and duration of hospital stay, thereby evaluating if panfacial fractures place a burden on our hospital which is a tertiary reference center in South India. Materials and methods: This was a prospective study conducted for a duration of two years from January 2018 to January 2020 among 28 patients who reported with panfacial fractures. Descriptive data were entered and chi-square test was done to find out the association between categorical variables. Results: Patients who reported with panfacial fractures were young adults (n = 17, 60.7%), males (92.8%) predominantly. Among those with a history of Road Traffic Accidents (n = 23, 82%), 91% (n = 21) did not use any protective devices. Conclusions: Males, young adults, use of two-wheelers, consumption of alcohol before driving, and avoidance of protective devices were most commonly associated with panfacial fractures (p < 0.05). Based on the study, panfacial fractures place a burden on the hospital in terms of the need for special care and prolonged stay period and operating time compared to other maxillofacial injuries (p < 0.05)

Association study of 25 type 2 diabetes related Loci with measures of obesity in Indian sib pairs.

Obesity is an established risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and they are metabolically related through the mechanism of insulin resistance. In order to explore how common genetic variants associated with T2D correlate with body mass index (BMI), we examined the influence of 25 T2D associated loci on obesity risk. We used 5056 individuals (2528 sib-pairs) recruited in Indian Migration Study and conducted within sib-pair analysis for six obesity phenotypes. We found associations of variants in CXCR4 (rs932206) and HHEX (rs5015480) with higher body mass index (BMI) (β=0.13, p=0.001) and (β=0.09, p=0.002), respectively and weight (β=0.13, p=0.001) and (β=0.09, p=0.001), respectively. CXCR4 variant was also strongly associated with body fat (β=0.10, p=0.0004). In addition, we demonstrated associations of CXCR4 and HHEX with overweight/obesity (OR=1.6, p=0.003) and (OR=1.4, p=0.002), respectively, in 1333 sib-pairs (2666 individuals). We observed marginal evidence of associations between variants at six loci (TCF7L2, NGN3, FOXA2, LOC646279, FLJ39370 and THADA) and waist hip ratio (WHR), BMI and/or overweight which needs to be validated in larger set of samples. All the above findings were independent of daily energy consumption and physical activity level. The risk score estimates based on eight significant loci (including nominal associations) showed associations with WHR and body fat which were independent of BMI. In summary, we establish the role of T2D associated loci in influencing the measures of obesity in Indian population, suggesting common underlying pathophysiology across populations