Modulation of ocular inflammatory responses by EP1 receptors in mice

The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of EP1 receptors in intraocular inflammation and to determine possible interplay between EP1, EP2 and EP4 receptors. The eyes of separate groups of EP1 receptor knockout and wild type mice were: 1) treated topically with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) or the EP2 receptor selective agonist, butaprost; 2) given intravitreal injection of LPS; or 3) paracentesis performed. Another group of knockout mice were pretreated topically with an EP4 receptor selective antagonist prior to paracentesis or LPS treatment. Results demonstrated a significant increase (50% or more) in the protein levels of aqueous humor of the EP1 knockout mice in response to PGE2, paracentesis or LPS. The leukocyte infiltration in the aqueous humor of the knockout mice was 47% higher when compared with that in the wild type controls in response to LPS injection. No significant change was observed in the protein levels in response to butaprost. Pretreating the knockout mice with an EP4 receptor antagonist prior to paracentesis and LPS treatment substantially reduced the aqueous humor protein levels. Also, the leukocyte count in the aqueous humor of the knockout mice in response to LPS was reduced 4 fold after pretreatment with EP4 receptor antagonist when compared with the findings in knockout mice receiving LPS only. We concluded that EP1 receptor has no modulatory effect on EP2 receptors but there is definitely cross-talk between EP1 and EP4 receptors.

A deficit of detoxification enzymes: pesticide sensitivity and environmental response in the honeybee

The honeybee genome has substantially fewer protein coding genes ( approximately 11 000 genes) than Drosophila melanogaster ( approximately 13 500) and Anopheles gambiae ( approximately 14 000). Some of the most marked differences occur in three superfamilies encoding xenobiotic detoxifying enzymes. Specifically there are only about half as many glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs), cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) and carboxyl/cholinesterases (CCEs) in the honeybee. This includes 10-fold or greater shortfalls in the numbers of Delta and Epsilon GSTs and CYP4 P450s, members of which clades have been recurrently associated with insecticide resistance in other species. These shortfalls may contribute to the sensitivity of the honeybee to insecticides. On the other hand there are some recent radiations in CYP6, CYP9 and certain CCE clades in A. mellifera that could be associated with the evolution of the hormonal and chemosensory processes underpinning its highly organized eusociality.

Ocular inflammatory responses in the EP2 and EP4 receptor knockout mice

PURPOSE

To examine the role of EP2 and EP4 receptors in murine ocular inflammation.

METHODS

Prostaglandin EP2 and EP4 receptor knockout and wild-type mice were treated topically with prostaglandin E2, SDF-1, and RANTES and lipopolysaccharide by intravitreal injection. Paracentesis was performed by puncturing the cornea. The increase in the level of aqueous humor protein and the number of leukocytes were measured and the vascular leakage of protein was visualized using fluorescein angiography.

RESULTS

In the EP2 receptor knockout mice, there was significant inhibition of the disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier caused by lipopolysaccharides, paracentesis, prostaglandin E2, SDF-1, and RANTES. Reductions in the disruption in the blood-aqueous barrier and leukocyte infiltration after lipopolysaccharide injection and paracentesis were significant, but there was no increase in the aqueous humor protein level after prostaglandin E2 treatment in EP4 receptor knockout mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present experiments suggest that EP2 and EP4 receptors partly mediate the disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier and leukocyte infiltration induced by prostaglandin E2, SDF-1, RANTES, and lipopolysaccharides.

Ocular inflammatory responses in the EP2 and EP4 receptor knockout mice

PURPOSE

To examine the role of EP2 and EP4 receptors in murine ocular inflammation.

METHODS

Prostaglandin EP2 and EP4 receptor knockout and wild-type mice were treated topically with prostaglandin E2, SDF-1, and RANTES and lipopolysaccharide by intravitreal injection. Paracentesis was performed by puncturing the cornea. The increase in the level of aqueous humor protein and the number of leukocytes were measured and the vascular leakage of protein was visualized using fluorescein angiography.

RESULTS

In the EP2 receptor knockout mice, there was significant inhibition of the disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier caused by lipopolysaccharides, paracentesis, prostaglandin E2, SDF-1, and RANTES. Reductions in the disruption in the blood-aqueous barrier and leukocyte infiltration after lipopolysaccharide injection and paracentesis were significant, but there was no increase in the aqueous humor protein level after prostaglandin E2 treatment in EP4 receptor knockout mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present experiments suggest that EP2 and EP4 receptors partly mediate the disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier and leukocyte infiltration induced by prostaglandin E2, SDF-1, RANTES, and lipopolysaccharides.

Increased apoptosis in rat brain after rapid eye movement sleep loss

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep loss impairs several physiological, behavioral and cellular processes; however, the mechanism of action was unknown. To understand the effects of REM sleep deprivation on neuronal damage and apoptosis, studies were conducted using multiple apoptosis markers in control and experimental rat brain neurons located in areas either related to or unrelated to REM sleep regulation. Furthermore, the effects of REM sleep deprivation were also studied on neuronal cytoskeletal proteins, actin and tubulin. It was observed that after REM sleep deprivation a significantly increased number of neurons in the rat brain were positive to apoptotic markers, which however, tended to recover after the rats were allowed to undergo REM sleep; the control rats were not affected. Further, it was also observed that REM sleep deprivation decreased amounts of actin and tubulin in neurons confirming our previous reports of changes in neuronal size and shape after such deprivation. These findings suggest that one of the possible functions of REM sleep is to protect neurons from damage and apoptosis.

Role of human leucocyte antigens matching in renal transplantation

Matching human leucocyte antigens between donors and recipients of solid organ transplantation is essential for short and long term graft survival. Some physicians believe that human leucocyte antigens matching is not essential in renal transplantation. The beneficial effects of human leucocyte antigens-B antigen matching are seen if graft is functioning at least 2 years or more and benefits of human leucocyte antigens-A antigen matching seen if graft is functioning at least for 3 years or more. The one year graft survival rate in first transplant (UNOS registry, USA) being 95% in human leucocyte antigens identical donor, 91% in one haplomatched living related donor and 81% in cadaver related donor. Due to poor techniques to identify the antigens, even six antigen-matched kidneys are rejected. The other reasons with six antigens matching being immunological reaction to non-human leucocyte antigens and non-immunological factors. Kidneys from unrelated donor like spouse with 5 or 6 antigen mismatch (0 to 1 antigen match only) have graft survival approximately equivalent to three-antigen match (haplomatch) family donor. With ischaemia, there is up regulation of antigens on the endothelial surface and predispose to post-transplant rejection. The beneficial effect of maternal graft survival over paternal graft survival suggests prior antigen exposure similar to blood transfusion may help to develop some degree of tolerance.

Assessment of nutrition in cancer patients and its effect on treatment outcome—A study from a developing country

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Background: In developing countries one-third of the people suffer from mal-nutrition. It has been shown that a good nutritional status can reduce complications of treatment, strengthen the immune system and contribute to the patient’s general well being throughout treatment. A good nutritional status is therefore essential for optimal treatment of a cancer patient. The aim of our study was to see the nutritional status of cancer patients on diagnosis and effect of nutrition on outcome of therapy. Methods: In this study we prospectively analyzed the nutritional status of 500 cancer patients in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute, a tertiary cancer center of eastern India during period from January 2004 to December 2005. The age range of the patients was 19 years to 74 years (median age 46 years). The parameter analyzed were weight for age, total protein, serum albumin and mid arm circumference. The weight for age and mid arm circumference were taken as normal if they were between 3rd and 97th percentile curve of the growth chart recommended by the Indian Council of Medical Research. The albumin level and the total protein were considered normal if the value is equal to or more than 3gm% and 5.8gm%. Result: It was seen that total 120 patients (24%) were low weight for age and 100 patients (20%) had low mid arm circumference. Total 90 patients (18%) had low serum albumin while 130 patients (26%) were low serum protein. Low weight for age, low serum albumin and low mid arm circumference were significant factors in disease free survival and toxicity of chemotherapy (p value < .001) Conclusion: We conclude that mal-nutrition is a major finding in cancer patients in developing country like ours. The patient with mal-nutrition had less disease free survival and more toxicities during therapy as compared to well-nourished patients.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Sequence analysis of the non-structural 3A and 3C protein-coding regions of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype Asia1 field isolates from an endemic country

A total of 18 foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype Asia1 field isolates belonging to two different lineages (including the divergent group) as delineated earlier in VP1-based phylogeny were sequenced in the non-structural 3A and 3C protein-coding regions. The phylogenetic trees representing the regions coding for the non-structural proteins were very similar to that of the structural VP1 protein-coding region. Phylogenetic comparison at 3C region revealed clustering of Asia1 viruses with the isolates of serotypes O, A and C in the previously identified clade. Comparison of amino acid sequences identified lineage-specific signature residues in both the non-structural proteins. Overall analysis of the amino acid substitutions revealed that the 3A coding region was more prone to amino acid alterations than 3C region.

Genetic diversity in the Block 2 region of the merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) of Plasmodium falciparum: additional complexity and selection and convergence in fragment size polymorphism

Fragment size in the Block 2 repetitive region of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) has commonly been used as a molecular marker in studies of malaria transmission dynamics and host immunity in Plasmodium falciparum malaria. In this study, we further explore the genetic variation in MSP-1 Block 2 underlying potential problems faced while studying the immune responses elicited by this vaccine target and while using it as a molecular marker in epidemiologic investigations. We describe the distribution of a new Block 2 recombinant allele family in samples collected from western Kenya and other malarious regions of the world and provide evidence that this allele family is found worldwide and that all MR alleles most likely originated from a single recombination event. We test whether the number of tandem repeats (i.e. fragment size) can be considered neutral in an area of high transmission in western Kenya. In addition, we investigate the validity of the assumption that Block 2 alleles of the same size and allele family are identical by examining MSP1 Block 2 amino acid sequences obtained from full-length MSP-1 clones generated from infected Kenyan children and find that this assumption does not hold. We conclude that the worldwide presence of a new allele family, the effect of positive natural selection, and the lack of conserved amino acid motifs within alleles of the same size suggest a higher level of complexity that may hamper our ability to elucidate allele family specific immune responses elicited by this vaccine target and its overall use as genetic marker in other types of epidemiologic investigations.

Sarcoma-like mural nodules in ovarian mucinous cystadenomas--a report of two cases

Sarcoma-like mural nodule is a very rare occurrence in a mucinous tumour of the ovary. Two such nodules having morphologically benign features with osteoclastic giant cells, in the wall of mucinous cystadenoma are described. In addition, these nodules exhibited reactive vascular proliferations. The sarcoma-like nodules are associated with a favourable outcome and must be distinguished from other malignant nodules composed of sarcoma or anaplastic carcinoma that may also occur in the wall of mucinous ovarian tumours.

Investigation of the kinetics of histidine-rich protein 2 and of the antibody responses to this antigen, in a group of malaria patients from India

Although immunological tests based on the detection of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) from the parasites permit the rapid diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, such tests are not yet sufficiently sensitive to detect every bloodsmear-positive case. Some individuals infected with P. falciparum may appear test-negative because of the presence of anti-HRP2 antibodies in their sera. A longitudinal follow-up of HRP2 antigenaemia and antibody responses to this antigen has now been conducted in a group of 45, bloodsmear-positive malaria cases of various ages, both during acute infection with P. falciparum and after antimalarial treatment. Pre-treatment, 'day-0' samples of fingerprick blood were tested for HRP2 (in antigen-capture ELISA) and for antigen-specific IgM and IgG (in indirect ELISA). The patients were then treated, with standard doses of chloroquine, before being retested, for HRP2 and anti-HRP2 antibodies, on days 7, 15 and 28. The level of antigenaemia, which on day 0 was found to be positively correlated with parasitaemia (r = 0.741; P < 0.001), had only fallen by an insignificant amount by day 7 but showed further, significant falls between days 7 and 15 (P < 0.001) and between days 15 and 28 (P < 0.01). Although no significant relationship was observed between the blood concentrations of HRP2 and anti-HRP2 IgM or IgG on days 0 or 7, the level of HRP2 antigenaemia was found to be positively correlated with the concurrent titre of anti-HRP2 IgM on day 15 (r = 0.612; P < 0.001) and day 28 (r = 0.501; P < 0.001). The titres of HRP2-specific IgG gradually increased over the 28 days of follow-up but were not found to be significantly correlated with the decreasing levels of HRP2 antigenaemia. When the 45 day-0 samples of blood were tested for HRP2 in a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), three appeared negative, probably because of interference from the circulating, free, anti-HRP2 antibodies in the plasma. The three RDT-negative samples were significantly different from the 42 RDT-positive, having relatively low HRP2 antigenaemias (P < 0.001) and relatively high titres of anti-HRP2 IgM (P < 0.05) and IgG (P < 0.001). Control samples of blood, from four patients infected with P. vivax and five healthy, normal individuals, were considered ELISA-negative for HRP2 and anti-HRP2 IgM or IgG. It appears that, during human infection with P. falciparum, serum levels of HRP2 antigen remain elevated for at least 7 days post-treatment, despite the host's development of antigen-specific immune responses both before and after treatment.

Sarcoma-like mural nodules in ovarian mucinous cystadenomas--a report of two cases

Sarcoma-like mural nodule is a very rare occurrence in a mucinous tumour of the ovary. Two such nodules having morphologically benign features with osteoclastic giant cells, in the wall of mucinous cystadenoma are described. In addition, these nodules exhibited reactive vascular proliferations. The sarcoma-like nodules are associated with a favourable outcome and must be distinguished from other malignant nodules composed of sarcoma or anaplastic carcinoma that may also occur in the wall of mucinous ovarian tumours.

Langmuir-Blodgett films of 9-phenyl anthracene molecules incorporated into different matrices

This communication reports the surface pressure (pi) versus area per molecule (A) isotherm characteristics of the mixed films of 9-phenyl anthracene (PA) in stearic acid (SA) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) matrices, at the air-water interface. The mixed Langmuir films at the air-water interface have been observed to be easily transferred onto solid substrates to form uniform Langmuir-Blodgett films. By changing various parameters, namely molefraction, surface pressure of lifting and number of layers, the mixed Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of various types have been fabricated successfully and their spectroscopic characteristics have been reported. From the isotherm characteristics and the area per molecule versus molefraction plot, it is evident that the PA molecules are successfully incorporated into mixed Langmuir-Blodgett films. UV-vis absorption spectroscopic study of the mixed LB films at various molefractions of PA in two different matrices reveal that formation of I-type aggregate in PMMA matrix whereas both I- and H-type aggregates are playing their dominant role in SA matrix. Moreover, fluorescence spectroscopic study reveals reabsorption effect. Molecular movement persists in the freshly prepared LB films, as is evident from the time dependent changes in both UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectra of the mixed LB films in both matrices. From our observation it is evident that about 200 h is required to get the LB films in a stable condition. Dimers and higher order n-mers are formed at a higher surface pressure of 30 mNm(-1).

Genetic comparison of large fragment of the 5'untranslated region among foot-and-mouth disease viruses with special reference to serotype Asia1

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the most economically important disease of cloven-hoofed animals, is endemic in India. Sequence analysis revealed that phylogenetic grouping of type Asia1 field isolates on the basis of the large fragment of the 5'untranslated region (5'LF-UTR) was quite similar to that based on the sequences of the capsid-coding (VP1) region of the same viruses. The existence of two distinct lineages of type Asia1 suggested by the study on the VP1 region was further supported by the detection of a difference in length and predicted secondary structure of the 5'LF-UTR between the two lineages. Sequence variability between the isolates of the two lineages was also observed within the different domains of the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) around conserved motifs like the GNRA,- RAAA,- and the polypyrimidine tract. Certain group and lineage-specific signature nucleotides pertaining to FMDV type Asia1 in the 5'LF-UTR have been identified. The present study shows that the 5'LF-UTR of FMDV serotype Asia1 field isolates are variable in relation to the length and probable secondary structure of the IRES.

Enhancement of the tumour inhibitory activity, in vivo, of diospyrin, a plant-derived quinonoid, through liposomal encapsulation

Diospyrin, a bisnaphthoquinonoid plant product, shows inhibitory activity against murine tumour in vivo and human cancer cell lines in vitro. Efforts have further been made to obtain synthetic derivatives of diospyrin with the objective of improved therapeutic effects. With the goal to reduce the toxicity towards normal cells and enhance the efficacy to tumour cells, diospyrin was encapsulated in liposomal vesicle and its antitumour potential was observed on the growth of Ehrlich ascites tumour in Swiss mice. It was found that the longevity of the tumour-bearing mice was significantly enhanced by treatment with liposomal diospyrin as compared with the free drug. Biochemical assay of liver function enzymes, viz. LDH, AP, GOT and GPT in blood serum of the tumour-bearing mice showed substantial alterations in the activity of these enzymes. These parameters were, however, restored to near normal level when the drug treatment was given encapsulated in a liposome. Histopathological studies on the liver tissues indicated a near normal pathological status in the treated animals despite being challenged by tumour cells. This study on diospyrin has shown, for the first time, an enhancement of its antitumour effect in vivo through liposomal encapsulation.

1-Aryl-4,6-diamino-1,2-dihydrotriazine as antimalarial agent: a new synthetic route

Some novel derivatives of 1-aryl-4,6-diamino-1,2-dihydrotriazines have been synthesized using neat technology under microwaves. These were tested in vitro against both sensitive and resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains for antimalarial activity.

Autosomal dominant brachydactyly, coloboma and anterior segment dysgenesis

A three-generation family presenting with ocular developmental abnormalities, including anterior segment dysgenesis and coloboma, associated with brachydactyly and clinodactyly is presented. Several conditions incorporating ocular and bony limb abnormalities have been described. However, we believe that this family manifests a previously undescribed syndrome due to autosomal dominant or possibly x-linked inheritance with variable expression.