Transcription pattern of key molecular chaperones in heat shocked caprine cardiac fibroblasts

The present study was attempted to unveil the impact of heat stress on transcription pattern of major heat shock response genes in caprine cardiac fibroblasts. Cardiac tissues (n = 6) were collected and primary cardiac cell culture was done. Cultured cardiac fibroblasts were kept in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 and 95% air at 38.5 °C. Cardiac cells achieved 70-75% confluence after 72 hours of incubation. Heat stress was induced on confluent cardiac fibroblasts at 42 °C for 0 (control), 20, 60, 100 and 200 min. Quantitative RT-PCR for β2m (internal control), HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and HSP110 was done and their transcription pattern was assessed by Pfaffl method. HSP60, HSP90, and HSP110 transcription did not differ at 20 min, up-regulated (p < 0.05) from 60 to 200 min and registered highest at 200 min of heat exposure. HSP70 transcription was gradually escalated (p < 0.05) time dependently from 20 to 200 min and reached zenith at 200 min of heat exposure. Differential induction in transcription of key molecular chaperones at various durations of heat exposure might reduce cardiac fibroblasts apoptosis and thus could maintain cardiac tissue function during heat stress.

Hyper-transcription of heat shock factors and heat shock proteins safeguard caprine cardiac cells against heat stress

The present study was undertaken to document the transcriptional abundance of heat shock factors and heat shock proteins and their role in survivability of caprine cardiac cells during heat stress. Cardiac tissues were collected from different goats (n = 6) and primary cardiac cell culture was done in an atmosphere of 5% CO₂ and 95% air at 38.5 °C. Cardiac cells accomplished 70-75% confluence after 72 h of incubation. Confluent cardiac cells were exposed to heat stress at 42 °C for 0 (control), 20, 60, 100 and 200 min. Quantitative RT-PCR for β2m (internal control), heat shock factors (HSF1, HSF2, HSF4, HSF5), heat shock proteins (HSP10, HSP40), and Caspase-3 was done and their transcriptional abundance was assessed by Pfaffl method. Transcriptional abundance of HSF1, HSF2, and HSF4 did not change at 20 min, increased (P < 0.05) from 60 to 200 min and reached zenith at 200 min of heat exposure. However, transcriptional abundance of HSF5 was gradually escalated (P < 0.05) from 20 to 200 min and registered highest at 200 min of heat exposure. Transcriptional abundance of HSP10 and HSP40 followed an similar pattern like that of HSF5. Transcriptional abundance of Caspase-3 was significantly down-regulated at 200 min of heat exposure. It could be speculated that over-expression of HSFs and HSPs might have reduced Caspase-3 expression at 200 min of heat exposure suggesting their involvement in cardiac cells survival under heat stress. Moreover, hyper-expression of HSFs and HSPs could maintain the integrity and endurance of cardiac tissues of goats under heat stress.

Synthesis of mesoscale ordered two-dimensional π-conjugated polymers with semiconducting properties

Two-dimensional materials with high charge carrier mobility and tunable band gaps have attracted intense research effort for their potential use in nanoelectronics. Two-dimensional π-conjugated polymers constitute a promising subclass because the band structure can be manipulated by varying the molecular building blocks while preserving key features such as Dirac cones and high charge mobility. The major barriers to the application of two-dimensional π-conjugated polymers have been the small domain size and high defect density attained in the syntheses explored so far. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of mesoscale ordered two-dimensional π-conjugated polymer kagome lattices with semiconducting properties, Dirac cone structures and flat bands on Au(111). This material has been obtained by combining a rigid azatriangulene precursor and a hot dosing approach, which favours molecular diffusion and eliminates voids in the network. These results open opportunities for the synthesis of two-dimensional π-conjugated polymer Dirac cone materials and their integration into devices.

Impact of thermal stress on expression dynamics of HSP60 in cardiac fibroblast cells of goat

The present study was aimed to determine the impact of thermal stress on expression dynamics of heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) mRNA in cultured cardiac fibroblast cells of the goat. The heart tissues (n = 6) from different goats were used for the culture study. The cardiac fibroblast cells were cultured and subjected to thermal stress at 42 °C for 0, 20, 60 and 100 min. The relative abundance of HSP60 mRNA was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The cardiac cells exposed to thermal stress at 42 °C for 0 min was taken as control. The relative abundance of HSP60 mRNA did not change at 20 min of thermal stress as compared to control. Thereafter, the relative abundance of HSP60 mRNA was significantly up-regulated (p < 0.05) at 60 min and 100 min of thermal stress. However, the highest mRNA expression of HSP60 was noticed at 100 min of thermal stress. The present study indicates that, thermal stress modulates the mRNA expression HSP60 in cultured caprine cardiac fibroblast cells.

Impact of heat stress on transcriptional abundance of HSP70 in cardiac cells of goat

The present study was aimed to document the effect of heat stress on the transcriptional abundance of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) mRNA in cultured cardiac cells of goat. The heart tissues (n = 6) from different goats were used for the culture study. The cardiac cells obtained from different heart tissues were cultured in 24 well cell culture plates and incubated in a humidified CO₂ (5%) incubator at 37 °C. The cardiac cells were allowed to become 75-80% confluent after 72 h of incubation. Thereafter, the cardiac cells were subjected to heat exposure at 42 °C (heat exposed) for 0, 20, 60 and 100 min. The cardiac cells exposed to heat stress at 42 °C for 0 min was taken as control. The relative abundance of HSP70 mRNA was gradually up-regulated (p < .05) from 20 to 100 min of heat exposure and reached the zenith (p < .05) at 100 min of heat challenge. The present finding highlights that, HSP70 could possibly act as a cytoprotective factor and may promote cardiac cell survival against the detrimental effect of heat stress. Moreover, this study may serve as the harbinger to conduct further research work on expression kinetics of HSP70 in cardiac cells of goat including other livestock species.

Clinical characteristics of renal cell carcinoma: Five years review from a tertiary hospital in Eastern India

BACKGROUND

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the one of the dreadful urological carcinoma. In comparison to the West, it is very rarely seen in Asia as well in India. Very small number of studies is available in this geographical area.

AIMS

We studied the demographic pattern, presentation, risk factors and survival of RCC in an Eastern Indian institution. We characterized and compared these data with available literature Settings and Design: Retrospective study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 81 patients of RCC from January 2008 to December 2012 were enrolled. Their pre-operative data were reviewed. They were followed as per institutional follow-up protocol.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Kaplan-Meier plot was constructed for survival analysis. Comparison of survival curves was performed by Logrank test. P < 0.05 was considered to be significant.

RESULTS

A total of 75 patients were analyzed with a mean follow-up of 26.3 ± 17.7 months. The mean age of presentation in our study was 52.79 years with a peak at 5th decade. Nearly 73.33% patients having one or more risk factors. 9 out of 10 had presented with some symptoms. The survival for localized RCC was 100% and significantly greater than advanced RCC (P < 0.0001). Similarly in the stage III, significant greater survival (P < 0.0001) was noted compare to stage IV.

CONCLUSIONS

The age of presentation of RCC in India has been found in 5th decade, which is a decade earlier than the western countries. Symptomatic RCC is still majority in India. Organ confined tumors have good prognosis. When it metastasizes to lymph node or distant organ, the outcome is poor. Our results may form the basis for further studies and it may be used as future reference.

Age-specific changes in electrocardiographic parameters in bipolar limb leads of conscious female native cats of Odisha

Aim:

To study and compare the age-specific changes in electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters in bipolar limb leads of conscious female native cats of Odisha.

Materials and Methods:

20 healthy female native cats aged between 4 and 36 months of age were selected for the study. These queens were divided into two groups of 10 animals each. Group 1 constituted the queens aged 4-10 months (before puberty) with a mean weight of 2.28 kg (±0.4 standard error [SE]), and those aged 11-36 months (after puberty) with a mean weight of 3.72 kg (±0.6 SE) were in Group 2. The ECG was recorded with a 12-lead standard ECG recorder, Cardiart 108 T-MK VII-BPL (India) in the Leads I, II, and III.

Results:

The mean heart rates were 160.73 (±7.83) beats/min and 139.09 (±2.72) beats/min in the cats aged 4-10 months and 11-36 months, respectively. Significant differences existed among Q- and R-wave amplitudes and duration of QT-interval in Lead I. In Lead II, duration of QT and RR intervals, duration of ST-segment and amplitudes of P- and R-waves varied significantly. Significant differences were also observed in the P- and R-wave amplitudes in Lead III. The mean electrical axis was 63.11 (±1.98°) and 50.03 (±4.86°) in the cats aged 4-10 months and 11-36 months, respectively.

Conclusion:

Since the ECG studies on conscious cats are scanty, and the number of native cats being presented in veterinary hospitals and clinics has increased drastically, there is a need to establish the reference values for ECG parameters in conscious native cats so that the cardiovascular abnormalities can be predicted.

Tubular duplication of the oesophagus presenting with dysphagia

Duplications of the alimentary tract are rare congenital malformations, with the ileum being the most commonly affected site, followed by the oesophagus. Among oesophageal duplications, cystic duplication is the most common and the tubular variety, the rarest. Herein, we report a rare case of tubular oesophageal duplication, complicated by adenosquamous carcinoma at the lower end of the oesophagus, in a 32-year-old man who presented with progressive dysphagia. Although proton pump inhibitors may relieve dysphagia, oesophagectomy and gastric interpositioning should be the first-line treatment for patients with tubular oesophageal duplication, in order to reduce the risk of malignant transformation at the lower end of the oesophagus.

Reactional state in lepromatous leprosy simulating Sweet's syndrome

Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) or Type-2 lepra reaction is a manifestation of type-III hypersensitivity response, and usually occurs in certain cases of lepromatous and borderline lepromatous leprosy. ENL may present as widespread crops of erythematous, inflamed nodules and papules. Rare variants of ENL mimicking pemphigus or Sweet's syndrome (SS) have been documented. Here, we report an unusual case of persistent ENL in a 52-year-old lady, which we could diagnose with the help of skin biopsy and histopathological examination.

Acute acalculus cholecystitis in dengue fever

Atypical manifestations of dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) involving different organs are being increasingly recognised, especially in the dengue endemic areas. We report an atypical presentation of DF in a 22 year old lady presenting with fever and acute pain in the right hypochondrium, diagnosed to be acute acalculus cholecystitis (AAC).

Laparoscopic versus open pyeloplasty: Comparison of two surgical approaches -- a single centre experience of three years

BACKGROUND:

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) causes hydronephrosis and progressive renal impairment may ensue if left uncorrected. Open pyeloplasty remains the standard against which new technique must be compared. We compared laparoscopic (LP) and open pyeloplasty (OP) in a randomized prospective trial.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A prospective randomized study was done from January 2004 to January 2007 in which a total of 28 laparoscopic and 34 open pyeloplasty were done. All laparoscopic pyeloplasties were performed transperitoneally. Standard open Anderson Hynes pyeloplasty, spiral flap or VY plasty was done depending on anatomic consideration. Patients were followed with DTPA scan at three months and IVP at six months. Perioperative parameters including operative time, analgesic use, hospital stay, and complication and success rates were compared.

RESULTS:

Mean total operative time with stent placement in LP group was 244.2 min (188-300 min) compared to 122 min (100-140 min) in OP group. Compared to OP group, the post operative diclofenac requirement was significantly less in LP group (mean 107.14 mg) and OP group required mean of (682.35 mg). The duration of analgesic requirement was also significantly less in LP group. The postoperative hospital stay in LP was mean 3.14 Days (2-7 days) significantly less than the open group mean of 8.29 days (7-11 days).

CONCLUSION:

LP has a minimal level of morbidity and short hospital stay compared to open approach. Although, laparoscopic pyeloplasty has the disadvantages of longer operative time and requires significant skill of intracorporeal knotting but it is here to stay and represents an emerging standard of care.

Genito-urinary tuberculosis revisited--13 years' experience of a single centre

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis had been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as 'public health emergency' in 1993. Extra pulmonary tuberculosis (E.P.T.B.) comprises 20-25% total burden of the disease in which genitourinary tuberculosis (GU.T.B.) is 4%. Timely diagnosis and treatment will prevent the sequelae of this disease.

AIMS

To know the varied clinical presentations, diagnostic modalities and management of G.U.T.B.

METHODS

During a 13-year-period, 117 retrospective cases of GUTB were admitted in the tertiary care centre. They were analyzed for clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities and management.

RESULTS

Young patients mainly in third decade of life were commonly affected with higher incidence in females. In our study, the most common presentation was irritative voiding symptoms (66.47%) followed by haematuria (47.60%). Although it can affect the entire organ in genito-urinary system but, in the present study, kidney was the most affected organ (64.9%) following ureter (27.35%), urinary bladder (17.09%), prostate (3.4%) and epididymis (5.19%). In this study, we had not encountered any case of testicular and penile tuberculosis. Among the different diagnostic modalities in this study, the diagnostic positivity rate was 41.6% for the urine AFB test, 55.4% for the urine M. tuberculosis culture test and 67.7% for PCR. Chest x-ray was positive in 25.6% (30). ESR was raised in 62.5% and Mantoux test was positive in 61.2% patients.

CONCLUSION

A high index of suspicion and a wide range of investigations may be required to achieve a complete diagnosis of genitourinary tuberculosis. Though short course chemotherapy with four-drug-regimen for six-month-duration is the mainstay of treatment, surgical interventions were required in 60% of cases of this study.

The safety and efficacy of endoscopic incision of orthotopic ureterocele in adult

Endoscopic incision is a good management option for orthotopic ureterocele. But most of the literature has shown its efficacy only in children. We have done this retrospective study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic incision of orthotopic ureterocele in adults. From March 2004 to January 2008, at our center, 26 adults underwent transurethral, transverse incision of an ureterocele. The perioperative data of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. The literature was reviewed to identify all the reported options for management of this relatively rare condition in adults. Unilateral ureterocele was present in 24 patients and two patients had bilateral ureterocele. One patient had associated upper tract stones. Three patients had associated stones in ureterocele. Transurethral, transverse incision of ureterocele was given in all patients. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 50.5 h. Twenty-three patients were available for follow-up at three, six and 12 months. All patients were symptom free. At three months ultrasound and intravenous urography revealed no residual ureterocele but four patients showed residual hydronephrosis, but with a decrease in the grade indicating decompression. Micturating cystourethrography revealed vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR) in two patients and the reflux persisted in one patient even at 6 months. We conclude that in adults, management with endoscopic incision of orthotopic ureterocele is safe and effective. VUR may occur in a few cases.

Upper gastro-intestinal bleeding - Rare presentation of renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) constitutes 2-3% of all adult malignancies and often diagnosed incidentally. Classical tried of RCC now rarely seen, it behaves unpredictably and having diverge range of clinical manifestation including paraneoplastic syndromes. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding due to stomach metastasis of RCC is uncommon and to the best of our knowledge, only few cases are reported in world literature and most of them were diagnosed during follow-up after complete treatment of RCC but in our case, it was the primary manifestation of disease. Our case also demonstrates the importance of imaging in undiagnosed cases of upper GI bleeding.

Atypical central nervous system involvement in acute organophosphorous poisoning

Extrapyramidal syndrome is an uncommon sequelae of acute organophosphorous (OP) poisoning. It is a manifestation of the intermediate syndrome described in OP poisoning. It may or may not be associated with neuroimaging changes in the striatum. We present a case of acute OP poisoning with interesting positive CT scan findings.

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome causing refractory anaemia

Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare angiomatosis characterized by distinctive cutaneous and gastrointestinal venous malformations that result in gastrointestinal haemorrhage and iron-deficiency anaemia secondary to the bleeding episodes. We hope to emphasize the possibility of recurrent melaena in BRBNS and heighten physicians' awareness about the disease to contribute to its early detection.

Mandibular osteomyelitis and multiple skeletal complications in Albers-Schönberg disease

Albers-Schönberg disease, or autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type II, is the most common form of the rare disease, osteopetrosis. Mandibular osteomyelitis is a rare complication of the disease. A host of other skeletal complications may also occur. Mandibular osteomyelitis along with bilateral severe coxa vara and pars fracture is very rare in Albers-Schönberg disease. We present the occurrence of these complications in a 24-year-old man with Albers-Schönberg disease. His mandibular osteomyelitis was successfully treated.

Diffuse nodular hyperplasia of Brunner's gland presenting as upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage

Brunner's gland adenoma is a very unusual cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We report a 16-year-old boy who presented with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage from diffuse nodular hyperplasia of Brunner's gland without involvement of the first part of the duodenum. The patient was managed conservatively during his hospital stay, and was doing well without any recurrence after nine months of follow-up.

Lungs: victim of synchronous double malignancies

A 20 year young man was referred to our institution with superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, multiple lung opacities and a mass lesion in the right upper zone (RUZ). CT-guided FNAC from the mass lesion was consistent with the diagnosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). A lump in his left testis was detected during clinical examination. Both FNAC and excisional biopsy of the testicular mass confirmed the diagnosis of immature teratoma with choriocarcinoma, a form of non-seminomatous germ cell tumour (NSGCT). With chemotherapy all metastatic lesions of lung and SVC syndrome disappeared, and the tumour-marker levels decreased. However, the opacity in RUZ progessed to involve right recurrent laryngeal nerve at thoracic inlet, metastasized to the brain, and the patient expired after 4th cycle of chemotherapy. This case of synchronous double primary malignancies (SDPM) is being reported for its rarity.

Syndrome of remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema (RS3PE)

RS3PE syndrome, often mimicking rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), has puzzled the rheumatologists until late'80s. Though the nature of the disease still remains illusive, the outcome is excellent. This present study analyzes the clinical, radiological and immunogenetical characteristics of five patients diagnosed with RS3PE syndrome, with review of literature.

Carcinoma of the gall bladder presenting as dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis (DM), manifested as paraneoplastic syndrome, is not a very common clinical entity but its association with various internal malignancies is well-documented in literature. We present such a case of DM associated with characteristic skin lesions and subacute onset of proximal muscle weakness, acquired from a very rare malignancy like adenocarcinoma of gall bladder.

High-efficiency gene delivery for expression in mammalian cells by nanoprecipitates of Ca–Mg phosphate

Transfer of desirable genetic sequences into mammalian cells is an essential tool for analysis of gene structure, functions and regulation and industry-based production of therapeutically important proteins and pivotal for gene therapy and DNA vaccination strategies. Considering some severe limitations of viral systems including immunogenicity, carcinogenicity and so on, synthetic nonviral systems are highly desirable in the above applications. However, existing nonviral techniques are extremely inefficient compared to the viral ones. Therefore, we report here on the development of a highly efficient synthetic device for gene delivery and expression into mammalian cells, based on controllable growth of nanoapatite particles. Mg2+ incorporation into the apatite particles caused significant inhibition of particle growth, resulting in retention of nanosized particles which contributed remarkably to the cellular uptake of DNA and its subsequent expression (>10-fold) compared with classical calcium phosphate coprecipitation, one of the most widely used transfection methods.

Amiodarone-induced systemic lupus erythematosus

Drug-induced lupus is not a very common entity. Drugs like hydralazine, procainamide have been reported to induce lupus, but so far there is no case report of amiodarone-induced lupus in Indian literature. A case of atrial fibrillation in an elderly man who came with systemic features of lupus after amiodarone therapy for one and half years is reported.

Typhoid hepatitis

Though typhoid fever is quite common, typhoid hepatitis is a very rare entity which may have a variety of presenting features similar to other more common conditions. One case of typhoid hepatitis is reported here because of its ratity.

In vitro propagation of Mussaenda erythrophylla Schum and Thom cv. scarlet through multiple shoot regeneration

Axillary bud explants were induced to form shoots on Murashige and Skoog's (MS)' basal medium. Best yield (9 shoots per explant) was obtained when the medium was supplemented with adenine sulphate (40 mg/L) and 6-benzylaminopurine (2.25 mg/L). The shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium supplemented with indole butyric acid (0.5 mg/L) and having thiamin-HCl (800 mg/L). Regenerated plantlets were successfully acclimatized. This is the first report of micropropagation in the genus Mussaenda without callus intervention.