Toughening studies on an ABS/PC blend-modified epoxy resin system

Studies were carried out on the toughening of a bifunctional epoxy (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A) matrix system with an ABS/PC thermoplastic blend. The thermoplastic blend was incorporated into the epoxy matrix by particle dispersion and melt-mix methods. The unmodified and modified epoxy resin systems were cured with a stoichiometric quantity of diamino diphenyl methane (DDM). The cured castings were characterized by measurement of glass transition temperature (Tg) by DsC, evaluation of plane strain fracture toughness (Klc) by three-point bending tests and SEM analysis of non-etched and base/acid etched fracture surfaces. In genera] ABS/PC-modified (15% w/w) epoxy-resin-cured systems showed enhanced fracture toughness without lowering the glass transition temperature. The melt-mix method yielded higher fracture toughness than the particle dispersion method; this conclusion was also supported by scanning electron micrographs.

Abstract 1422: Dietary 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) reduces TLR-4 induced acute inflammation and prevents chronic inflammation driven carcinogenesis

Inflammation is a critical component and contributor of carcinogenesis. Toll like receptors (TLRs) are key regulators of innate immunity and inflammatory signaling. Besides various microbe-associated molecular patterns, TLRs can also bind to endogenously generated damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPS) ligands such as heat shock proteins, surfactant protein A18 and homobility group box-1(HMGB1). While HMGB1, a TLR-4 ligand is over-expressed in several human neoplasms, preclinical studies in mouse tumor models have strengthened the role of TLR-4-HMGB1 axis in promoting carcinogenesis. TLR-4 dependent inflammation and stimulation is accompanied with a switch from respiratory to glycolysis dominated metabolism, which is critical for the differentiation and maturation of myeloid cells thus affecting the outcome of an inflammatory disease. In the present studies we investigated the potential of the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) as an energy restriction mimetic agent for countering the acute and chronic inflammation which can be employed as a cancer preventive strategy. Oral administration of 2-DG in drinking water (0.4% w/v) for 7 days reduced the diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) induced acute inflammation reflected by reduced the serum levels of TNF(∼4 fold) and IL-6(∼7 fold). when administered chronically, 2-DG reduced the incidence (∼50%) and the number of papillomas (∼84%) in DMBA-TPA skin carcinogenesis model, which correlated with the reduced levels of TNF. In an acute inflammation model established using LPS (a TLR-4 ligand), we observed that 2-DG reduced the systemic and macrophage specific inflammatory response in LPS injected mice. 2-DG (1mM) significantly reduced the levels of co-stimulatory surface markers (CD80 and CD86) and associated ROS and NOS effecter functions in mouse macrophagic cell line (RAW 264.7). These studies suggest that dietary administration of 2-DG can be used as a strategy for preventing acute inflammation and associated carcinogenesis.

Citation Format: Sanjay Pandey, Saurabh Singh, Vandana Anang, Dhananjay K. Shah, Saurabh Seth, Anant N. Bhatt, Kailash Manda, Bal G. Roy, K Natarajan, Bilikere S. Dwarakanath. Dietary 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) reduces TLR-4 induced acute inflammation and prevents chronic inflammation driven carcinogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1422.

Pattern Recognition Receptors in Cancer Progression and Metastasis

The innate immune system is an integral component of the inflammatory response to pathophysiological stimuli. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and inflammasomes are the major sensors and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of the innate immune system that activate stimulus (signal)-specific pro-inflammatory responses. Chronic activation of PRRs has been found to be associated with the aggressiveness of various cancers and poor prognosis. Involvement of PRRs was earlier considered to be limited to infection- and injury-driven carcinogenesis, where they are activated by pathogenic ligands. With the recognition of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) as ligands of PRRs, the role of PRRs in carcinogenesis has also been implicated in other non-pathogen-driven neoplasms. Dying (apoptotic or necrotic) cells shed a plethora of DAMPs causing persistent activation of PRRs, leading to chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis. Such chronic activation of TLRs promotes tumor cell proliferation and enhances tumor cell invasion and metastasis by regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines, metalloproteinases, and integrins. Due to the decisive role of PRRs in carcinogenesis, targeting PRRs appears to be an effective cancer-preventive strategy. This review provides a brief account on the association of PRRs with various cancers and their role in carcinogenesis.

Identification of human papillomavirus-16 E6 variation in cervical cancer and their impact on T and B cell epitopes

The infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is the most important risk factor for development of cervical cancer. The intra-type variations of HPV have different biological and pathological consequences with respect to disease progression. In the present study, six major Indian variants were experimentally identified in E6 gene of HPV-16 and showed their impact on immunogenicity by in silico methods. Four different phylogenetic lineages were observed in sequences including European (E) prototype, European variant, Asian and American Asian variant classes and complete absence of African phylogenetic lineages. On the prediction of B- and T-cell epitopes, 18 and 23 potent epitopes for MHC-II alleles, 10 potent MHC-I and 15 B-cell epitopes in each reference and variant sequence were identified. Interestingly, the presence of variation H78Y and L83V result in creation of four new epitopes for the HLA-DQA1*0101/DQB1*0501. Out of 15 B-cell predicted epitopes, three most potent epitopes were identified in both reference and variant sequence. Notably the amino acid stretch from amino acid 16-60 and 76-94 are very important for the immunological properties of E6 protein because these regions contain majority of the predicted epitopes. In future, this could control the cervical cancer by targeting these amino acid stretches for the development of HPV-16 vaccine.

Strategies of Reducing the Toxicity of Sugar Mill Effluent by Using Biofertilizer Inoculants

The present investigation has been carried out on Tagetes erecta to search out the effect of sugar mill effluent on growth and yield. In-vivo conditions were set up for the experiment purpose. Pots were filled with soil and treated with different concentrations of sugar mill effluent i.e., 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100% on morphological parameters of test crop. Results of pot culture experiment showed that at 10 % concentrations of sugar mill effluent proved to better to the crops growth and thereafter the growth may reduce over control. In order to mitigate the effluent toxicity certain Biofertilizers inoculants were mixed to the soil along with the same effluent treatments. The study suggests that the Biofertilizers inoculants along with effluent irrigation proved to be better for plants growth.

Strategies of Reducing the Toxicity of Sugar Mill Effluent by Using Biofertilizer Inoculants

The present investigation has been carried out on Tagetes erecta to search out the effect of sugar mill effluent on growth and yield. In-vivo conditions were set up for the experiment purpose. Pots were filled with soil and treated with different concentrations of sugar mill effluent i.e., 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100% on morphological parameters of test crop. Results of pot culture experiment showed that at 10 % concentrations of sugar mill effluent proved to better to the crops growth and thereafter the growth may reduce over control. In order to mitigate the effluent toxicity certain Biofertilizers inoculants were mixed to the soil along with the same effluent treatments. The study suggests that the Biofertilizers inoculants along with effluent irrigation proved to be better for plants growth.

Enhancement of in vitro high-density polyethylene (HDPE) degradation by physical, chemical, and biological treatments

Partially degraded high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was collected from plastic waste dump yard for biodegradation using fungi. Of various fungi screened, strain MF12 was found efficient in degrading HDPE by weight loss and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometric analysis. Strain MF12 was selected as efficient HDPE degraders for further studies, and their growth medium composition was optimized. Among those different media used, basal minimal medium (BMM) was suitable for the HDPE degradation by strain MF12. Strain MF12 was subjected to 28S rRNA sequence analysis and identified as Aspergillus terreus MF12. HDPE degradation was carried out using combinatorial physical and chemical treatments in conjunction to biological treatment. The high level of HDPE degradation was observed in ultraviolet (UV) and KMnO4/HCl with A. terreus MF12 treatment, i.e., FT10. The abiotic physical and chemical factors enhance the biodegradation of HDPE using A. terreus MF12.

Predictors of 24-hour drain volume after coronary artery bypass graft

BACKGROUND

Excessive postoperative hemorrhage in cardiac surgery is a serious complication associated with adverse postoperative events. Also, its associated risk of re-exploration, places a high demand on hospital resources in terms of transfusion needs, ventilatory support requirements, intensive care support, and manpower requirements.

OBJECTIVE

To determine predictors of 24-hour drain volume (pleural and mediastinal) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), in order to focus on preventive measures for patients with identified risk factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty-four consecutive adult patients who had CABG at the Madras Medical Mission, Chennai, India in July 2008 were retrospectively studied. In order to determine risk factors for excessive post-operative bleeding, 11 pre-operative, and 13 operative and 2 post-operative variables were analyzed using univariate analysis and multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Cardiopulmonary bypass was used for all the patients and anti-fibrinolytic in 13 (22.8%). No mortality was recorded. Mean 24-hour post-operative drain volume was 458 ± 270 ml (range 90-1230). Re-exploration for bleeding was required in 2 (3.5%) patients. Predictors of 24-hour drain volume were heparin therapy before commencement of CPB (p=0.024), intra-operative transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (p=0.010), and pre-operative serum ALT value (p=0.047). The strongest predictor was intra-operative transfusion of platelets (p=0.005).

CONCLUSION

To guard against excessive post-operative haemorrhage after CABG, pre-operative stabilisation and correction of coagulation should be achieved. Also the administration of heparin intra-operatively should be individualized and not only based on dose per body weight.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and respiratory chain defects in a rodent model of methotrexate-induced enteritis

The efficacy of methotrexate (MTX), a widely used chemotherapeutic drug, is limited by its gastrointestinal toxicity and the mechanism of which is not clear. The present study investigates the possible role of mitochondrial damage in MTX-induced enteritis. Small intestinal injury was induced in Wistar rats by the administration of 7 mg kg(-1) body wt. MTX intraperitoneally for 3 consecutive days. MTX administration resulted in severe small intestinal injury and extensive damage to enterocyte mitochondria. Respiratory control ratio, the single most useful and reliable test of mitochondrial function, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yll)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction, a measure of cell viability were significantly reduced in all the fractions of MTX-treated rat enterocytes. A massive decrease (nearly 70%) in the activities of complexes II and IV was also observed. The results of the present study suggest that MTX-induced damage to enterocyte mitochondria may play a critical role in enteritis. MTX-induced alteration in mitochondrial structure may cause its dysfunction and decreases the activities of the electron chain complexes. MTX-induced mitochondrial damage can result in reduced adenosine triphosphate synthesis, thereby interfering with nutrient absorption and enterocyte renewal. This derangement may contribute to malabsorption of nutrients, diarrhea, and weight loss seen in patients on MTX chemotherapy.