T11TS impedes glioma angiogenesis by inhibiting VEGF signaling and pro-survival PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway with concomitant upregulation of PTEN in brain endothelial cells

The crucial role of angiogenesis in malignant glioma progression makes it a potential target of therapeutic intervention in glioma. Previous studies from our lab showed that sheep erythrocyte membrane glycopeptide T11-target structure (T11TS) has potent anti-neoplastic and immune stimulatory effects in rodent glioma model. In the present study we investigated the anti-angiogenic potential of T11TS and deciphered the underlying molecular mechanism of its anti-angiogenic action in malignant glioma. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is crucial for initiating tumor angiogenic responses. The present preclinical study was designed to evaluate the effect of T11TS therapy on VEGF and VEGFR-2 expression in glioma associated brain endothelial cells and to determine the effects of in vivo T11TS administration on expression of PTEN and downstream pro-survival PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway proteins in glioma associated brain endothelial cells. T11TS therapy in rodent glioma model significantly downregulated expression of VEGF along with its receptor VEGFR-2 and inhibited the expression of pro-survival PI3K/Akt/eNOS proteins in glioma associated brain endothelial cells. Furthermore, T11TS therapy in glioma induced rats significantly upregulated brain endothelial cell PTEN expression, inhibited eNOS phosphorylation and production of nitric oxide in glioma associated brain endothelial cells. Taken together our findings suggest that T11TS can be introduced as an effective angiogenesis inhibitor in human glioma as T11TS targets multiple levels of angiogenic signaling cascade impeding glioma neovascularisation.

Molecular basis for identification of species/isolates of gastrointestinal nematode parasites

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism is the most serious constraint throughout the world in small ruminants which causes significant production loss in animals. GI parasites are major contributor to reduce productivity in terms of meat, milk and wool in animals. Control of GI parasite is done primarily by anthelmintic treatment where choice and schedule of treatment is done after identification and quantitation of individual parasite. Identification of GI parasites is done through microscopic method by identifying specific morphological characteristics of egg and larva (L(3)). Since most of parasite eggs are having similar morphological characteristics, identification up to species level through microscopy is not possible in most of cases. To address this issue, molecular techniques are the viable alternative for identification of species as well as molecular level differences within a species (isolates) of parasites. Different DNA based molecular techniques viz. PCR, AFLP, RAPD, RFLP, PCR-SSCP, real time PCR, DNA microarray etc. have been used for identification and to assess the genetic diversity among parasite population. For identification of species, the characteristic sequence of genomic DNA of different species should differ to allow the delineation of species, but at the same time, no/minor variation within the species should exist. In contrast, for purpose of identifying population variants (strains/isolates), a considerable degree of variation in the sequence should exist within a species. Various target regions, including nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or repetitive DNA elements (microsatellite loci), which show considerable variation in the number of repeats within individuals have been employed to achieve the identification of parasites species or strain.

Isolation and molecular characterization of Chikungunya virus from the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, India: evidence of an East, Central, and South African genotype

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an Alphavirus belonging to the family Togaviridae. In 2006, CHIKV infection struck the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, with an attack rate of 60%. There were more than 10 cases with acute flaccid paralysis simulating the Guillian Barre Syndrome. The majority of the patients presented severe joint pain. The cause for such an explosive nature of the outbreak with increased morbidity was not known. The isolation of CHIKV was attempted and succeeded from nine subjects presenting clinical symptoms of Chikungunya fever. The cDNA of all the isolates was sequenced for partial E1 and nsP1 genes. Sequences were aligned based on the double locus sequence typing concept. The phylogenetic analysis shows that sequences of Andaman isolates grouped with the East, Central, and South African genotype of virus isolates from India, Sri Lanka, and Réunion. The genetic distance between Andaman isolates and the Réunion isolates was very small. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the origin of the isolates responsible for the first ever confirmed CHIKV outbreak in these islands to be the East, Central, and South African genotype. In this manuscript, we discuss the involvement of the East, Central, and South African strain with the Chikungunya fever outbreak in this archipelago and double locus sequence typing as a first time approach.

Detection of bovine herpesvirus 1 sequences in yaks (Bos grunniens) with keratoconjunctivitis, using a highly sensitive nested polymerase chain reaction

Thirty-seven yaks (Bos grunniens) with keratoconjunctivitis and 22 healthy yaks were used to investigate the role of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) in keratoconjunctivitis in yaks. Nucleic acid sequences of BoHV-1 glycoproteins B and E were detected in conjunctival swabs from all yaks with keratoconjunctivitis using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In 21 yaks, BoHV-1 sequences were detected along with Moraxella bovis (M. bovis) and Neisseria spp. The amplified BoHV-1 sequences were identical, and no nucleotide variation was observed when compared with a BoHV-1 reference strain using single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of the amplified DNA sequences. Interestingly, BoHV-1 sequences could not be detected in samples from healthy yaks. However, conjunctival swabs from two healthy yaks (9.09%) yielded M. bovis and Neisseria spp. Samples from 35 yaks with keratoconjunctivitis showed positive reactions in an avidin biotin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for BoHV-1 antibodies; all the healthy yaks were seronegative. This is the first report of a possible association of BoHV-1 with keratoconjunctivitis in yaks.

Laser-Target Interactions and its Effect on Surface Morphology of Laser Deposited thin films

The laser-target interactions during pulsed laser evaporation (PLE) of materials have been investigated in detail. Sub-surface temperatures have been calculated to be higher than the surface temperatures during planar surface evaporation of the target material. While the evaporating surface is being cooled due to the latent heat of vaporization, sub-surface superheating occurs due to the finite absorption depth of the laser beam. Detailed computer simulations have been carried out to understand the evaporation characteristics of different targets (Si, YBa2Cu3O7 ) as a function of laser and target variables. For silicon targets irradiated with 25 nanosecond laser pulses (energy density of 10J/cm2, absorption coefficient of 105 cm−1), the sub-surface temperatures were found to be more than 2000°C above the surface evaporation temperatures. The sub-surface superheating increased with increasing energy density and absorption depth. This internal superheating effects may lead to volume evaporation of the target where a solid material in form of particles may be ejected from the target surface. Based on the above understanding, parameters required to reduce the particle density in PLE films are predicted.

Colorectal carcinoma in young adults: a retrospective study on Indian patients: 2000-2008

AIM

To highlight an increased incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) amongst young Indian adults.

METHOD

A retrospective study of 305 cases of CRC admitted to SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, India during 2000-2008 was carried out.

RESULTS

The ratio (0.64) of under-40 to above-40 CRC patients reported in this study is comparable to those from premier Oncology Centers in India (∼0.52) and is higher than those in the Indian National Cancer Registry (∼0.20) and international average (0.07). Distinctive tumour characteristics in younger patients including left-sided lesion (69.7%), presentation at an advanced (III/IV) stage (60%), poor histological differentiation (50%) and predominance of mucin-secreting adenocarcinoma (80%) are similar to those reported in the international literature. Some features are suggestive of hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome, which may be a possible reason for the high proportion of young CRC patients.

CONCLUSION

A high index of suspicion for CRC among young Indian adults is necessary.

Molecular characterization of antigen B2 subunit in two genotypes of Echinococcus granulosus from Indian bubaline isolates, its stage specific expression and serological evaluation

Echinococcus granulosus is a parasitic helminth which affects both man and animals. During infection with larval stage of the organism secretory and membrane-bound (S/M) proteins play a meaningful role for evasion of immune system. Antigen B (AgB) is one of them. Present investigation has defined sequence diversity of AgB2 subunit of cattle and buffalo isolates of the organism. A total of 55 isolates were screened by polymerase chain reaction based single stranded conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). Subsequently, six conformers could be detected. Based on predicted amino acid sequences of 90 amino acid residues, three clusters could be deduced. Sequence information of two buffalo isolates was homologous to AgB4 indicating gene switching phenomenon in between closely related isoforms. Numerical value of Tajima's D test proved negative selection pressure. Using artificial neural network (ANN), B cell linear epitope and stretches of agretope were predicted. Three clusters could be defined on the basis of B cell linear epitope. Out of three clusters, two showed more than 50% binding propensity with same MHCII alleles whereas, cluster 3 exhibited binding propensity with other MHCII alleles (DRB1_1501, DRB1_1502). Relative expression of AgB2 was more in active cysts (1.636 ± 0.092) followed by degenerating (0.449 ± 0.037) and calcified (0.255 ± 0.008). This result suggested that relative expression of AgB2 declines with progression of the disease. Using recombinant AgB2 sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the ELISA test was 96.7, 94.7 and 95.9%, respectively. No cross reactivity was found with common cestode and trematode infected cattle and buffalo because cross reactive antigen was expressed intracellularly. Finally, this was concluded that AgB2 is the suitable immunological marker for detection, diagnosis and progression of the disease.

An epidemiological study of dementia under the aegis of mental health program, Maharashtra, Pune chapter

BACKGROUND

There has been an exponential growth in the number of elderly population in India. This study aims to determine the prevalence of dementia in an urban center of Pune and to evaluate the corresponding socio-demographic correlates along with psychiatric morbidity in the study sample.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study population in Pune and Kirkee cantonments was selected based on 2001 census data. The number of people over 65 years numbered 6721 and 2145 of them were randomly selected for a door-to-door survey. They were initially administered household questionnaire and then subjected to a screening tool. Each participant underwent a brief mental state examination and data was collected on the basis of a structured proforma. Patients underwent a detailed cognitive profile using subtests from CSI-D (community screening instrument - dementia), which included a Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) word list, word fluency and delayed recall. Information pertaining to socio-demographic factors in participants and caregivers, caregiver-burden and behavioral and psychological symptoms in participants too were collected from the questionnaire. Radio imaging investigation was also carried out to quantify the deficit. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to compute the results.

RESULTS

Findings revealed that prevalence of dementia in the sample population of elderly aged above 65 years was 4.1%. Socio-demographic factors which conferred a statistically higher risk for dementia were identified to be older age, low socio-economic status, low level of education, presence of family history, whereas, marriage was found to be protective. Burden of care was associated with caring for elderly with dementia with increasing severity of dementia. Patients with dementia performed poorly on cognitive test battery. Social network had a protective effect in respect with severity of dementia. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) majority of cases of Alzheimer's Dementia (AD) and Vascular Dementia (VaD) were noted to have both gray and white matter involvement.

CONCLUSION

Poor awareness is a key public-health problem. Society plays an important role in the ageing process. The withdrawal of the elderly from the previous societal roles,reduction in all types of interactions i.e. shift of attention from outer world to the inner world, reduction in the power and prestige of the elderly enhance aging process. Aging in Indian culture though a disability is much stressful today in Indian culture as in others.

Effect of heat killed Mycobacterium phlei on body weight gain and management of caecal coccidiosis in broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunotherapeutic potential of heat killed Mycobacterium phlei in broiler chicken against experimentally produced Eimeria tenella infection. The selected dose of E. tenella oocyst (5x10(3) sporulated oocysts per bird) was capable of producing a mild form of caecal coccidiosis as observed by significant difference in body weight gain, clinical findings and caecal lesion score. Heat killed M. phlei was fed orally at 10 mg per bird with sterile PBS vehicle at alternate day for four doses. Our study reveals that per day body weight gain was significantly (p<0.01) higher for healthy control compared to coccidia infected group. The group fed M. phlei along with coccidial challenge showed significantly (p<0.05) higher body weight gain than infected control group. Heat killed M. phlei feeding also found effective to reduce the caecal lesion score significantly (p<0.05) in comparison to E. tenella infected untreated group. IgA concentrations in serum and bile at 7-day post challenge of coccidial oocyst was also significantly (p<0.01) higher in M. phlei fed group when compared to coccidia infected and healthy control group. We concluded that use of heat killed M. phlei has a beneficial role as an immunostimulant against caecal coccidiosis in broiler chicken.

Search for muon-neutrino to electron-neutrino transitions in MINOS

This Letter reports on a search for nu(mu) --> nu(e) transitions by the MINOS experiment based on a 3.14x10(20) protons-on-target exposure in the Fermilab NuMI beam. We observe 35 events in the Far Detector with a background of 27+/-5(stat)+/-2(syst) events predicted by the measurements in the Near Detector. If interpreted in terms of nu(mu) --> nu(e) oscillations, this 1.5sigma excess of events is consistent with sin2(2theta(13)) comparable to the CHOOZ limit when |Delta m2|=2.43x10(-3) eV2 and sin2(2theta(23))=1.0 are assumed.

Use of zinc chloride as alternative stimulant for in vitro study of nitric oxide production pathway in avian splenocyte culture

Nitric Oxide (NO) plays an important role for regulation of cellular and vascular response of inflammation and initiates killing mechanism in the host-defense reactions. NO production is regulated through inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) pathway in response to infections and injurious agents besides pro-inflammatory cytokines secreted by the host. Evaluation of NO pathway is one of the major targets which can evaluate various immunomodulators for their therapeutic interaction on innate immune system. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and concavalin A (ConA) are used as standard mitogen for peripheral blood mononuclear cells and splenocyte of mammalian and avian cell culture. During the present investigation ZnCl(2) has been explored as standard mitogen and result was comparable with standard mitogen. The result has been evaluated on the basis of relative mRNA expression of iNOS and interferon gamma and nitrite assay. Observation indicated significantly higher expression of both biomolecules in comparison to control, LPS, ConA treated group. This study indicated that, ZnCl(2) can also be used as standard stimulant for molecular mining of innate immunity.

A report on the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in yaks (Bos poephagus) in the cold desert area of North Sikkim, India

Faecal samples were collected from 348 yaks(Bos poephagus) in and around Gurudogmer Plateau, a cold desert area in North Sikkim, India. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infection was recorded at 10.05% in both the organized and traditionally managed farms of yak. The pattern of infection was either single (2.58%) or mixed (7.47%) with a faecal egg count range of 100-200 eggs per gram of faeces in positive animals. Among the helminths, Haemonchus spp. infection was predominant (6.89%) followed by Nematodirus spp. (1.72%), Cooperia spp. (1.43%) and Dicrocoelium spp. (0.29%).