Detection and mode of action of retinoids on ovarian development in the mud crab, Scylla serrata

In the current study, the retinoic acid isomers such as 9-cis retinoic acid and all-trans retinoic acid were detected in the mature ovaries of mud crabs, Scylla serrata using HPLC analysis. Given the detection of retinoids in the ovaries, an attempt has been made to elucidate the possible role of retinoic acid in the regulation of reproduction in mud crabs. Injection of 9-cis retinoic acid induced ovarian maturation in intact mud crabs as evidenced by a significance elevation in the ovarian index (226.76%; P<0.001), and oocyte diameter (150.61%; P<0.001) accompanied by accumulation of yolk globules in the oocytes as compared to the untreated crabs. Further, a significant increase (258.63%; P<0.0001) in the circulatory ecdysteroid levels were also observed in 9-cis retinoic acid injected mud crabs over vehicle injected crabs. From the results, it can be postulated that retinoic acid-induced stimulation of ovarian maturation at least in part mediates ecdysteroids in the mud crabs., 0.371 and 0.217 year-1, respectively and the exploitation rate was calculated as 0.369

Association of calpain 10 gene UCSNP-43 polymorphism (rs3792267) with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: The principle features of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are insulin resistance (IR), hyperandrogenism (HA), obesity (Ob), oligo/anovulation and polycystic ovaries (PCO). PCOS is known to be associated with increased risk of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and genes related to T2DM may also play a role in PCOS pathogenesis. Our aim is to study the association of CAPN-10 gene UCSNP-43 (rs3792267) polymorphism with PCOS. Methods: Case-control study, involved 204 women with PCOS and 204 healthy, sex and age matched controls. Anthropometric and biochemical profile were taken in a well designed proforma. Isolation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and genotype analysis was done for all the study population using PCR-RFLP.Results: No significant difference in allele and genotype frequencies of the CAPN-10, UCSNP- 43 (rs3792267) gene polymorphism were seen between the cases and controls. Frequency of A allele was 0.15 in PCOS and 0.19 in controls (OR 0.7207, CI 0.5 to 1.039 and p value 0.0793), indicates that the A allele is not associated with PCOS in our population, and show equal distribution of genotypes in PCOS patients and controls. The AA genotype conferred lack of association for developing PCOS (OR 0.4925, CI 0.1215 to 1.9968 and p value 0.3214). But the AA genotype showed elevated body mass index, waist to hip ratio, insulin resistance, triglyceride levels and decreased high density lipoprotein levels when compared to AG and GG genotypes of PCOS patients with controls.Conclusions: In conclusion, there is no disease risk association of CAPN-10 gene UCSNP-43 (rs3792267) polymorphism with PCOS

Association of insulin-like growth factor 2 Apa1 A820G gene (rs680) polymorphism with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: Hyperandrogenism is the cornerstone of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) as per androgen excess society - 2006 criteria. Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF 2) gene stimulates ovarian androgen secretion and is involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. The objective of this study was to study the association of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene Apa1 A820G (rs680) polymorphism with PCOS.Methods: Prospective genetic case-control study, involving 204 women with PCOS and 204 healthy, sex and age matched controls. Anthropometric and biochemical profile were taken in a well-designed proforma. Isolation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by salting out method and genotype analysis was done for all the study population using PCR-RFLP.Results: We have demonstrated an association between IGF2 Apa1 A820G gene (rs680) polymorphism and PCOS. Frequency of G allele was 0.40 in PCOS and 0.08 in controls (OR 7.639, CI 5.08 to 11.47, and P value <0.0001) indicates that the G allele is associated with PCOS in our population. The GG genotype conferred a significant risk of developing PCOS (OR 19.645, CI 2.569 to 148.61 and P value 0.0039). We found the significant association of GG genotype with body mass index and insulin resistance in PCOS when compared with controls.Conclusions: This study suggests that IGF 2 gene Apa1 A820G polymorphism is associated with PCOS and could be used as a relevant molecular marker to identify women with risk of developing PCOS in our population and may provide an understanding about the etiology of PCOS

Association of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor gene ser680 asn (rs6166) polymorphism with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of female anovulatory infertility, with a prevalence of 6-10% among women of reproductive age, characterized by clinical and / or biochemical androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction and polycystic ovaries. Sex hormones and hormone receptors play a fundamental role in folliculogenesis. Aim of the study was to study the association of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) Ser680Asn; rs6166 gene polymorphism with PCOS in our study population.Methods: Genetic case-control study, involving 204 women with PCOS and 204 healthy, sex and age matched controls. Anthropometric and biochemical profile were taken in a well-designed proforma. Isolation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by salting out method and genotype analysis was done for all the study population using Polymerase chain reaction – Restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).Results: We have demonstrated an association between FSHR gene, Ser680SAsn (rs6166) polymorphism and PCOS. Frequency of A allele was 0.61 in PCOS and 0.44 in controls (OR 1.98, CI 1.5-2.6, and P value <0.0001) indicates that the A allele is associated with PCOS in our study population. The AA genotype conferred a significant risk of developing PCOS (OR 2.069, CI 1.33-3.211 and P value 0.0012). We found significant elevation of body mass index, LH, LH/FSH with AA genotype of PCOS when compared with controls.  The GG genotype showed increased basal FSH levels, insulin resistance in PCOS compared to other genotypes.Conclusions: FSHR Ser680Asn (rs6166) gene polymorphism is associated with PCOS, and can be used as a relevant molecular biomarker to identify risk of PCOS in our population

Studies on variable swirl intake system for DI diesel engine using computational fluid dynamics

It is known that a helical port is more effective than a tangential port to attain the required swirl ratio with minimum sacrifice in the volumetric efficiency. The swirl port is designed for lesser swirl ratio to reduce emissions at higher speeds. But this condition increases the air fuel mixing time and particulate smoke emissions at lower speeds. Optimum swirl ratio is necessary according to the engine operating condition for optimum combustion and emission reduction. Hence the engine needs variable swirl to enhance the combustion in the cylinder according to its operating conditions, for example at partial load or low speed condition it requires stronger swirl, while the air quantity is more important than the swirl under very high speed or full load and maximum torque conditions. The swirl and charging quantity can easily trade off and can be controlled by the opening of the valve. Hence in this study the steady flow rig experiment is used to evaluate the swirl of a helical intake port design for different operating conditions. The variable swirl plate set up of the W06DTIE2 engine is used to experimentally study the swirl variation for different openings of the valve. The sliding of the swirl plate results in the variation of the area of inlet port entry. Therefore in this study a swirl optimized combustion system varying according to the operating conditions by a variable swirl plate mechanism is studied experimentally and compared with the computational fluid dynamics predictions. In this study the fluent computational fluid dynamics code has been used to evaluate the flow in the port-cylinder system of a DI diesel engine in a steady flow rig. The computational grid is generated directly from 3-D CAD data and in cylinder flow simulations, with inflow boundary conditions from experimental measurements, are made using the fluent computational fluid dynamics code. The results are in very good agreement with experimental results

Recent Progress of Gold-Based Nanostructures towards Future Emblem of Photo-Triggered Cancer Theranostics: A Special Focus on Combinatorial Phototherapies

Cancer is one of the most dangerous health problems in the millennium and it is the third foremost human cause of death in the universe. Traditional cancer treatments face several disadvantages and cannot often afford adequate outcomes. It has been exhibited that the outcome of several therapies can be improved when associated with nanostructures. In addition, a modern tendency is being developed in cancer therapy to convert single-modal into multi-modal therapies with the help of existing various nanostructures. Among them, gold is the most successful nanostructure for biomedical applications due to its flexibility in preparation, stabilization, surface modifications, less cytotoxicity, and ease of bio-detection. In the past few decades, gold-based nanomaterials rule cancer treatment applications, currently, gold nanostructures were the leading nanomaterials for synergetic cancer therapies. In this review article, the synthesis, stabilization, and optical properties of gold nanostructures have been discussed. Then, the surface modifications and targeting mechanisms of gold nanomaterials will be described. Recent signs of progress in the application of gold nanomaterials for synergetic cancer therapies such as photodynamic and photo-thermal therapies in combination with other common interventions such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and will be reviewed. Also, a summary of the pharmacokinetics of gold nanostructures will be delivered. Finally, the challenges and outlooks of the gold nanostructures in the clinics for applications in cancer treatments are debated

Impact of maternal iron deficiency anaemia on the expression of the newly discovered multi-copper ferroxidase, Zyklopen, in term placentas

In the present study, we investigated the effect of maternal iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) on expression of the newly discovered iron transporter, Zyklopen in term placenta, in 200 pregnant women. Placental expression of Zyklopen was studied by mRNA analysis and immunohistochemistry for the protein. In addition neonatal anthropometric parameters were also analysed. 58.8% of 200 subjects were anaemic. Both Zyklopen mRNA as well as protein expression in the placenta showed a statistically significant increase with increasing severity of anaemia. Although all the neonatal anthropometric parameters were lower in newborns of anaemic mothers, none showed any statistical significance. Zp mRNA levels did not show any significant correlation with newborn and placental parameters (except newborn skinfold thickness and head circumference). Similar to mRNA expression, Zp IHC expression correlated positively, albiet non-significantly, with newborn length and Hb levels, the correlation was however negative with birth weight, head circumference, mid-arm circumference unlike the mRNA expression, where it positively correlated with the above parameters. Our study for the first time demonstrated a definite increase in expression of Zyklopen at both mRNA and protein levels in term placenta, in maternal IDA.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in a pregnant mother can lead to anaemia in the developing foetus; which is frequently observed to be of lesser severity than that in the mother. Recently a copper-containing oxidase called Zyklopen was discovered which was involved in iron efflux in BeWo cells. The gene encoding Zyklopen has been identified with a putative C-terminal membrane-spanning sequence and high sequence identitical to hephaestin (Heph) and ceruloplasmin (Cp), the other known vertebrate multicopper ferroxidase (MCF). Protein expression of this new MCF was observed in multiple diverse mouse tissues, including placenta and mammary gland. What do the results of this study add? Zyklopen protein immunohistochemical expression showed a statistically significant increase with increasing severity of anaemia. Similarly, placental mRNA expression of the Zyklopen gene was observed to be higher in anaemic mothers when compared to non-anaemic mothers. Our study for the first time demonstrated a definite increase in expression of Zyklopen at both protein and mRNA levels in term placenta, in maternal IDA. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study will help us to understand better, the increased potential for influx of iron from mother to foetus in the condition of maternal iron deficiency. This study will help to determine how placental iron transport proteins can be regulated in response to maternal and neonatal iron status and will further our existing knowledge on relationships between maternal and neonatal iron status and mechanisms by which placental iron transport is modified in relation to these parameters