Characterization of a Basement Membrane Associated Protein Encoding Gene in Drosophila melanogaster

Title: Characterization of a Basement Membrane Associated Protein Encoding Gene in Drosophila melanogaster Authors: Aref Ranjbar, Mayank Kapadia, Ajay Srivastava, PhD(faculty member, mentor) Basement Membranes (BM) are important for normal development and tumor progression. In order to get a better understanding of BM dynamics we identified genes that encoded BM interacting proteins. One such gene is predicted to be involved in vesicle-mediated transport in Drosophila melanogaster. Here we characterize this gene by utilizing molecular biology techniques like immunohistochemistry, RNA in situ hybridization, and Western blot analysis utilizing antibodies generated in the laboratory. Western blot analysis identified this protein to be ~30.8 Kilo Daltons in size. Anti-body staining indicates tissue and cell specific localization pattern for this protein. This pattern is similar to RNA in situ hybridization pattern observed in various tissues. Data related to this proteins’ involvement in vesicle-mediated transport will be presented

S. cerevisiae Bio-Ethanol Production as a Sustainable Energy Source

We rely on fossil fuels, which will be outdated in a few decades. Many people are looking for solutions to the current energy dilemma in renewable energy, notably biofuels. Among the various biofuels, bioethanol looks to be the most cost- So Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a well-known bioethanol producer. Yeast cells are stressed and inhibited during fermentation, limiting their efficiency for commercial bioethanol generation. Adopt alternative signal transduction mechanisms to defeat these yeast cells. This analysis focuses on common and underutilised carbon feedstocks that can be easily transformed into bioethanol. The several types of protectants, genes, and processes that may be used to design yeast strains are addressed. As a result, we\u27ve proposed techniques for using this profitable option for long-term bioethanol production

Physio-Anatomical consideration of Upsneha & Upsweda with special reference to Garbh Poshan in Ayurveda - A Review

The science of Garbha Vyakaran has been always a subject of great interest for the persons devoted to it. The matter related to the concept of Garbha Vyakaran is systematically described in Ayurvedic literature. Nutrition of embryo mainly concerned with the mechanism involved in both the parts of mother and foetus to meet the requirements for growth and development during intra-uterine life. According to Ayurveda, it is the cessation of menses during pregnancy which affects the mammary glands of the breast and causes lactation for the post-natal feeding of the baby. Apart from the concept of nutritional supply through placenta which is well established in modern science, the relationship in between the changes occurring in the mother and in their body organs, have been tried to explain in the light of present knowledge

Labour admission test: a screening test for foetal distress in labour

Background: Labour is a very short period in the life of a foetus but poses the maximum threat. Improvements in medical technology have made it possible to monitor fetal well-being during labour. The introduction of labour admission test has proven to be of benefit in identifying patients at risk for developing distress and implementing timely intervention.Methods: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the same. This was a prospective study done on 500 patients above 37 weeks of gestation in cephalic presentation. EFM was done using oxford sonicaid 8002 CTG machine and Gem premier 3000 (model no 5700) arterial blood gas analyzer machine was used for determining the pH of fetal blood.Results: Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 15.0 statistical analysis software. p value <0.001 was considered highly significant. Results revealed that a total of 105 (80.77%) babies had fetal distress in category II and III out of 135, whereas only 30 (8.11%) were distressed in category I out of 370. Test had a sensitivity of 77.7% and specificity of 93.15% with a positive predictive value of 80.7% and a negative predictive value of 91.89%.Conclusions: It has become evident that combined use of CTG with cord blood pH is more accurate way of predicting and diagnosing birth asphyxia

Diagnostic accuracy of saline infusion sonography as compared to hysteroscopy in premenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding

Background: In patients with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), differentiating whether the cause is anovulation or anatomic lesions can be challenging. Transvaginal sonography (TVS) has limitation in form of high false negative rate for diagnosing focal intrauterine pathology. To improve the image in TVS, saline injected into uterine cavity can be used as a negative contrast agent. Aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical value of saline infusion sonography (SIS) by comparing its diagnostic accuracy with that of established gold standard i.e. hysteroscopy.Methods: The study was carried out in a referral and teaching public sector hospital in eastern India from July 2015 to June 2016. Study population consisted of 136 premenopausal women with AUB, who were scheduled to undergo diagnostic hysteroscopy. Patients were first evaluated by sis and then followed by hysteroscopy on a later date.Results: Both SIS and hysteroscopy could be successfully performed in 136 out of 144 patients. When all findings by SIS (any pathological findings in uterine cavity vs. none) were combined and compared with hysteroscopy (gold standard), both sensitivity and specificity of sis were 0.88 whereas PPV and NPV were 0.85 and 0.90 respectively.Conclusions: Because of comparable results obtained by evaluating patients by SIS as well as office hysteroscopy, we recommend saline infusion sonography as a valuable tool for evaluating premenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding, before consideration for hysteroscopy

Effect of aquagenic and lithogenic factors on nephro, uretro and urolithiasis

Our study aims to explore different lithogenic and aquagenic factors which lead to the formation of renal calculi. To interpret this, a standard questionnaire is prepared based on the available review data which includes all the variable dietary information&rsquo;s and other physiological parameters responsible for renal calculi. A study sample size of individuals (n=500) varies 19-65 years of age belongs to Delhi and NCR region. Of the 500 individuals more than 35 percent of individuals&rsquo; shows routine consumption of vegetables items includes eggplant, okra and ginger. 77 percent of the total individuals&rsquo; showed routine consumption of seasonal vegetables includes radish, carrot and spinach. 85 percent of the total shows routine uptake of whole wheat, grains, gram, black-pepper, soybean and nuts. 82 percent of the total individuals shows regular seasonal uptake of grapes while 35 percent of total shows routine uptake of strawberry and kiwi. Among beverage consumption 92 percent individuals takes tea, coffee, carbonated drink cola in routine while 46 percent takes Juice- apple, Grape, orange in routine and 75 percent takes whisky, beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages. In order to study the effect of potable water on the formation of renal calculi, water samples were collected from 20 different residential places (RPs) of Delhi- NCR and characterize for pH, calcium, magnesium and sodium

Expectation of forward-backward rapidity correlations in p+pp+p collisions at the LHC energies

Forward-backward correlation strength ($b$) as a function of pesudorapidity intervals for experimental data from $p+\bar{p}$ non-singly diffractive collisions are compared to PYTHIA and PHOJET model calculations. The correlations are discussed as a function of rapidity window ($\Delta \eta$) symmetric about the central rapidity as well as rapidity window separated by a gap ($\eta_{gap}$) between forward and backward regions. While the correlations are observed to be independent of $\Delta \eta$, it is found to decrease with increase in $\eta_{gap}$. This reflects the role of short range correlations and justifies the use of $\eta_{gap}$ to obtain the accurate information about the physics of interest, the long range correlations. The experimental $b$ value shows a linear dependence on $\ln \sqrt{s}$ with the maximum value of unity being reached at $\sqrt{s}$ = 16 TeV, beyond the top LHC energy. However calculations from the PYTHIA and PHOJET models indicate a deviation from linear dependence on $\ln \sqrt{s}$ and saturation in the $b$ values being reached beyond $\sqrt{s}$ = 1.8 TeV. Such a saturation in correlation values could have interesting physical interpretations related to clan structures in particle production. Strong forward-backward correlations are associated with cluster production in the collisions. The average number of charged particles to which the clusters fragments, called the cluster size, are found to also increase linearly with $\ln \sqrt{s}$ for both data and the models studied. The rate of increase in cluster size vs. $\ln \sqrt{s}$ from models studied are larger compared to those from the data and higher for PHOJET compared to PYTHIA. Our study indicates that the forward-backward measurements will provide a clear distinguishing observable for the models studied at LHC energies.Comment: 15 pages, 14 Figures, accepted for publication in International Journal of Modern Physics

Synergistic association of STX1A and VAMP2 with cryptogenic epilepsy in North Indian population

Introduction “Common epilepsies”, merely explored for genetics are the most frequent, nonfamilial, sporadic cases in hospitals. Because of their much debated molecular pathology, there is a need to focus on other neuronal pathways including the existing ion channels. Methods For this study, a total of 214 epilepsy cases of North Indian ethnicity comprising 59.81% generalized, 40.19% focal seizures, and based on epilepsy types, 17.29% idiopathic, 37.38% cryptogenic, and 45.33% symptomatic were enrolled. Additionally, 170 unrelated healthy individuals were also enrolled. Here, we hypothesize the involvement of epilepsy pathophysiology genes, that is, synaptic vesicle cycle, SVC genes (presynapse), ion channels and their functionally related genes (postsynapse). An interactive analysis was initially performed in SVC genes using multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR). Further, in order to understand the influence of ion channels and their functionally related genes, their interaction analysis with SVC genes was also performed. Results A significant interactive two-locus model of STX1A_rs4363087|VAMP2_rs2278637 (presynaptic genes) was observed among SVC variants in all epilepsy cases (P1000-value = 0.054; CVC = 9/10; OR = 2.86, 95%CI = 1.88–4.35). Further, subgroup analysis revealed stronger interaction for the same model in cryptogenic epilepsy patients only (P1000-value = 0.012; CVC = 10/10; OR = 4.59, 95%CI = 2.57–8.22). However, interactive analysis of presynaptic and postsynaptic genes did not show any significant association. Conclusions Significant synergistic interaction of SVC genes revealed the possible functional relatedness of presynapse with pathophysiology of cryptogenic epilepsy. Further, to establish the clinical utility of the results, replication in a large and similar phenotypic group of patients is warranted

Comparative study of efficacy and safety of garenoxacin and moxifloxacin in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis in COPD patients

Background: Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis in COPD (AECB) is the major cause of morbidity, mortality and marked reduction in quality of life and imposes significant burden on both patients and healthcare systems. Bacterial infections causing AECB frequently require antibacterial treatment, so more evidences are needed to guide better antibiotic choice. Objective of the study was planned to compare efficacy and safety of Garenoxacin, a new fluoroquinolone versus moxifloxacin for treatment of Acute exacerbation of Chronic bronchitis in COPD patient.Methods: This was a prospective open label comparative study done in department of pharmacology and T.B & Chest of Government Medical College attached Dr Shusila Tiwari Hospital, Haldwani. 60 subjects with clinical symptoms suggestive of Anthonisen type II AECOPD (any two of following criteria: Increased dyspnea, cough, sputum purulence) were enrolled and randomized to receive either Moxifloxacin 400 mg once daily for 7 days or Garenoxacin 400mg once daily for 7 days. The primary outcome measure was clinical success rate at day 7 visit. Secondary outcome measures were changes in clinical global impression (CGI) scales and incidence of adverse events.Results: The mean age of patient was 60.98±9.9 years and 57.9±9.3 years in the Moxifloxacin and Garenoxacin groups. The clinical success rates were comparable with 86.2% in moxifloxacin group 84.6% and in garenoxacin group. Adverse effects were mild and self limiting. We observed two adverse effects in garenoxacin and three in moxifloxacin group.Conclusions: The result of study showed that garenoxacin is comparable to moxifloxacin in terms of efficacy and safety