Studies on the time course of apparent diffusion coefficient and signal intensities on T2- and diffusion-weighted MR Imaging in acute cerebral ischemic stroke

The time course of changes in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and signal intensity on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW MR) imaging in acute ischemic stroke is a very dynamic event. There is an initial reduction in ADCs with no change on T2-W imaging but signal intensity increase on T2-weighted takes place about 6–12 hours after onset of stroke. As necrosis begins to set in, there is a gradual reversal of ADC change, and around 3–10 days post-onset, ADC pseudonormalizes. Twenty-four patients of acute stroke underwent diffusion MR imaging in addition to conventional T1W, T2W, and Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) sequence performed within 12 hours, at 30 days, and at 90 days. The mean signal intensity at b = 0 s/mm2 and at b = 1000 s/mm2 were significantly higher than control values for all time periods. The ratio of signal intensity at b = 0 (rSI b=0) significantly increased from 1.63 ± 0.20 in the acute stage to 2.19 ± 0.24 in the chronic stage (P < 0.001). The ratio of signal intensity on DWI (r SIDWI) decreased from 2.54 ± 0.46 to 1.54 ± 0.22. The mean ADC in the lesion was found to be 41% lower than the mean ADC in the contralateral hemisphere .Linear regression analysis between rADC and log hours showed that pseudonormalization occurred at 6.61 days (P < 0.001). We conclude that the above information could be useful in the management of very early stroke

The BHMT-betaine methylation pathway epigenetically modulates oligodendrocyte maturation.

Research into the epigenome is of growing importance as a loss of epigenetic control has been implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have implicated aberrant DNA and histone methylation in multiple sclerosis (MS) disease pathogenesis. We have previously reported that the methyl donor betaine is depleted in MS and is linked to changes in histone H3 trimethylation (H3K4me3) in neurons. We have also shown that betaine increases histone methyltransferase activity by activating chromatin bound betaine homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT). Here, we investigated the role of the BHMT-betaine methylation pathway in oligodendrocytes. Immunocytochemistry in the human MO3.13 cell line, primary rat oligodendrocytes, and tissue from MS postmortem brain confirmed the presence of the BHMT enzyme in the nucleus in oligodendrocytes. BHMT expression is increased 2-fold following oxidative insult, and qRT-PCR demonstrated that betaine can promote an increase in expression of oligodendrocyte maturation genes SOX10 and NKX-2.2 under oxidative conditions. Chromatin fractionation provided evidence of a direct interaction of BHMT on chromatin and co-IP analysis indicates an interaction between BHMT and DNMT3a. Our data show that both histone and DNA methyltransferase activity are increased following betaine administration. Betaine effects were shown to be dependent on BHMT expression following siRNA knockdown of BHMT. This is the first report of BHMT expression in oligodendrocytes and suggests that betaine acts through BHMT to modulate histone and DNA methyltransferase activity on chromatin. These data suggest that methyl donor availability can impact epigenetic changes and maturation in oligodendrocytes

MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19: AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE

Ayurveda, a branch of AYUSH system of health care in India is considered as alternative/complementary of medicine (CAM) in WHO. Here, it’s products are covered under “drug and cosmetics” act but in abroad it is supplements or functional foods. The aim of Ayurveda is to maintain the wellness of a healthy person and to treat a patient. For treatment Ayurveda adopts 3 approaches i.e. (1) Daivavyapasharya (दैवव्यपाश्रय) (२) Yuktivyapashraya (युक्तिव्यपाश्रय),    (३)Satvavajaya (सत्वावजय), and focuses to enhance the Vyadhikshmatwa (capacity to fight against spread of pathogenesis) by strengthening all 7 dhatus (rasa, rakta, meda, mansa, asthi, majja and shukra).  The disease COVID-19, falls under “Bhootvidya (GrahaVidya)”, which is one of the 8 branches of “Astanga Ayurveda”. It is an “Agantuja” disease, where the disease symptoms appears in 1st stage, followed by its spread in the body. Thus, progress of disease (Samprapti) has been considered under concept of shatkriyakala (6 stages of disease development), which has been given high importance for deciding the stage of disease progress and its treatment protocol. Here, we have described the introduction to Astang Ayurveda, concept of disease pathogenesis and holistic approach of treatment in respect to management of COVID-19. It specifically covers symptom based stage of disease progress and its targeted treatment guideline by including all 3 approaches of treatment, described above. Here the current line of diagnosis, treatment and research related to COVID -19 management has been included, which are reported by basic scientists and physicians of allopathic system. These are indexed in Pubmed and web of science and also described in classical text books of Ayurveda. The same has been reviewed and summarized here, with an objective of possible correlation between the two languages of science of health care

A preliminary analysis of repetitive sequence organisation in <i>Bubalus bubalis</i> genome

62-66The most prevalent feature of eukaryotic genomes is their repetitive DNA sequences, which plays a critical role in genome evolution. Hence, identification and analysis of repetitive DNA regions are vital to understand genome structure and function completely. The investigation of repeats in preliminary draft sample of buffalo genome with 60,999 contigs was carried out through comparison of sequences with those in curated repeat libraries using WU-Blast. It was found that around 80% of the genome can be currently recognized as repetitive elements including simple repeats, satellite, long terminal repeats (LTR) retrotransposons, long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINE), which together cover the total repetitive fraction. Repeat analysis revealed the presence of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA) repeats along with other repeats like DNA/hAT, DNA/TCMAR and a small amount of unknown repeats. A comparative analysis of repeats of the buffalo, cow, mouse and human genomes was also discussed

A modified enrichment protocol for adult caprine skeletal muscle stem cell

To establish an adequate model to study the proliferation and differentiation of adult caprine skeletal muscle in response to bioactive compounds, a pool of satellite cells (SC) was derived from the rectus abdominis muscle of adult goat. Skeletal muscle contains a population of adult stem cells, named as satellite cells that reside beneath the basal lamina of skeletal muscle fiber and other populations of cells. These SC are multipotent stem cells, since cells cultured in the presence of specific cell lineage inducing cocktails can differentiate into several types of mesenchymal lineage, such as osteocytes and adipocytes. In the present study, we have developed a modified protocol for isolating satellite cells (>90%) and examined their myogenic and contractile properties in vitro