Largest Real-World Data of Regional Nodal Irradiation Using Ultra-Hypofractionated 5-Fraction Adjuvant Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer from a Single Institute in India

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Safety data for ultra-hypofractionated (UHFRT) 5-daily fractions of the supraclavicular fossa (SCF) radiation therapy (RT) have been reported only on 384 patients treated in trial setting in UK-FAST-Forward (n = 286) and HYPORT study (n = 98). Internal Mammary nodal (IMN) RT has been reported only in 6 patients from HYPORT study. We report acute and late toxicities in largest real world regional nodal irradiation (RNI) cohort of not only with 5-daily but also with 5-weekly once RT regimen.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Of 1435 patients (1463 breasts) who received 5-fraction RT in an IEC approved registry and prospectively followed, we report 999 consecutive cases receiving RNI with a median age of 49 years (IQR:42-56years). During pandemic all patients were treated with 5-fr regimens only to limit hospital visits whereas prior to and subsequently only in patients with advanced age or with issues precluding daily 15-20 treatments. Of these, 431 (43.1%) had locally advanced BC, and 280 (28%) patients presented with ≥cN2 disease. Median cT and pT sizes were 4cm (IQR:3-6cm) and 2.8cm (IQR:1.5-4cm) respectively. Tumor was Her2 positive in 290(29%) and TNBC in 220(22%). Of these 999 cases, 611 received NACT, 647 had mastectomy and 351 had breast conserving surgery (BCS). Simultaneous integrated tumor bed boost (SIB) was given in 341 (97.1%) of BCS cases.

RESULTS

The fractionation used was 26 Gy/5-daily fractions (SIB = 32 Gy) in 762 and 28.5 Gy/ 5 once weekly fractionation (SIB = 33 Gy) in 232 cases. RNI included SCF in all 999 and IMN in 168 patients. Of the 831 cases not requiring IMN RT, 573 (70.4%) had 3D conformal RT (n = 573/831,70.4%) whereas Inverse-planned intensity modulated RT was used in 152/168 (90.4%) patients requiring IMN RT. All Mono-isocentric technique was used for all RNI cases treated with 3D CRT. Nearly half of the patients treated with SIB received additional boost dose with electrons (50.5%) and the remaining with IMRT. In these 999 patients treated with UHFRT the peak RTOG grade ≥II skin and pharyngeal toxicity was 7.2% and 8.1% respectively. Among the 341 BCS cases who received SIB with UHFRT, the RTOG acute grade II and III skin toxicity was seen in 6.6% and 0.3% cases respectively. The maximum skin toxicity at 2 weeks after completion of RT of grade ≥II was significantly higher with 5-weekly compared to daily regimen (16.1 vs 4.6, p<0.01). In contrast, the maximum pharyngeal toxicity of grade ≥II was significantly higher with 5-daily compared to weekly fractionation (8.8% vs 5.2%, p = 0.04). At median follow-up of 25 months (CI:23.6-26.3 months), none of our patients had developed symptomatic radiation pneumonitis, brachial plexopathy or any major cardiac event.

CONCLUSION

Five-fraction adjuvant breast cancer RT is well tolerated with low acute toxicity burden even among patients requiring regional nodal irradiation. No brachial plexopathy was observed in cases treated with mono-isocentric RNI but longer follow-up is required to inform about the late toxicities and locoregional control rates.

Assessment of genetic diversity in Colletotrichum falcatum Went accessions based on RAPD and ISSR markers

Sugarcane is susceptible to red rot disease caused by phytopathogenic fungus Colletotrichum falcatum Went which ultimately affect the economy of farmers as well as sugar based industry. One of the various ways to control this devastating disease is to develop disease resistance sugarcane cultivar and this requires the complete understanding of genetic makeup of pathogen. Although South Gujarat is well known sugarcane cultivating area, less published data can be found about PCR-based genetic diversity in prevalent C. falcatum accessions. So, present investigation aims at finding molecular variation among the ten accessions of C. falcatum using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers. A total of 35 RAPD and 39 ISSR primers were screened across 10 C. falcatum accessions, of which 15 RAPD and 21 ISSR primers have showed consistent amplification. Statistics related to genetic variation were estimated using NTSYS-PC by means of Dice's coefficient. The results revealed 80.6% and 68.07% polymorphism and similarity coefficient ranged from 0.43 to 0.91 and 0.73 to 0.93 in RPAD and ISSR analysis respectively. The dendrogram generated using RAPD, ISSR and combined RAPD-ISSR grouped accessions into different clusters which reveal considerable level molecular variation among the C. falcatum accessions. It is also evident from PCA plots that accessions are rather dispersed with tested marker systems indicating good genetic base. So, in nut shell, we found considerable genetic variation and relatedness within C. falcatum accessions collected from different areas of south Gujarat, India using RAPD and ISSR markers.

Separation Dynamics of Air-to-Air Missile and Validation with Flight Data

<p class="p1">Prediction of flight characteristics of a store in the vicinity of an aircraft is vitally important for ensuring the safety of the aircraft and effectiveness of the store to meet the mission objective. Separation dynamics of an agile air-to-air-Missile from a fighter aircraft is numerically simulated using an integrated store separation dynamics suite. Chimera cloud of points along with a grid-free Euler solver is used to obtain aerodynamic force on the missile and the force is integrated using a rigid body dynamics code to obtain the missile position. In the present work, the suite is applied to a flight test case and sensitivity of trajectory variables on launch parameters is studied. Further, the results of the suite are compared with the flight data. The predicted body rates and Euler angles of missile compare well with the flight data.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>

Assessment of genetic diversity in Costus pictus accessions based on RAPD and ISSR markers

Costus pictus, belonging to the family Costaceae, is one of the valuable medicinal plants with its anti-diabetic property. Despite ever-increasing demand from the pharmaceutical industry, this species is being less exploited at molecular level. Hence, an effort has been made in the present study to characterize the 15 accessions of C. pictus collected from different geographical regions of India through random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers. A total of 25 RAPD and 20 ISSR primers were used in the present study. The RAPD analysis generated 343 loci, of which 124 were polymorphic with an average of 4.96 loci per primer. While, ISSR primers produced 177 loci, of which 77 were polymorphic with an average of 3.85 loci per primer. The similarity coefficients ranged from 0.86-0.99, 0.84-0.95 and 0.86-0.96 for RAPD, ISSR and combined RAPD-ISSR, respectively. The UPGMA dendrogram generated using these data showed low level of divergence among the accessions from South and West regions. Further, accession-specific bands were also revealed by RAPD and ISSR markers which might be contributed to specific trait. This investigation was an understanding of genetic variation within the C. pictus accessions. The present finding indicates that both the marker tools RAPD and ISSR combined or individually can be used in determining the genetic relationship between the accessions. It may be concluded that data of hereditary differences appeared among the C. pictus accessions could be utilized for their conservation and reproducing programs.

Peptide-based fluorescence biosensors for detection/measurement of nanoparticles

The ability to detect and quantify nanoparticles is essential but there is currently no simple, sensitive, and rapid method for the detection of nanomaterials. We have developed a novel peptide-based fluorescence-based biosensor for detection and measurement of negatively charged engineered nanoparticles (ENPs). A peptide biosensor (seven lysine residues linked to a cysteine through a three glycine residue linker) with attached fluorescent probes-fluorescein-5-maleimide (F5M) and tetramethylrhodamine-5-maleimide (TMR5M)-was constructed. The fluorescent probes allow close monitoring of the molecular interaction of the labeled peptide with ENPs. The ENP-peptide interaction induces the formation of agglomerates that can be detected and measured by changes in the fluorescence intensities of the labeled peptides or/and by differential light scattering. The relative fluorescence intensities of F5M and TMR5M decreased in a concentration-dependent manner on interaction with various types of negatively charged ENPs (ZnO, Fe₃O₄, CeO, and single-walled carbon nanotubes). Differential light scattering measurements also showed increases in the hydrodynamic size of the complex. The interactions were not affected by the pH of aqueous media, where humic acid (1 μg/mL) quenched the fluorescence intensity of F5M by approximately 25 %, whereas that of TMR5M was completely quenched. Interference by humic acid at lower concentrations was less prevalent. This novel method is a simple, rapid, and inexpensive in situ assay that shows promise as a primary-level testing technique for detection of ENPs in environmental samples. Graphical Abstract Detection of nanomaterials in aqueous solutions using fluorescently-labeled designer peptides.

An experimental assessment on the performance of different lubrication techniques in grinding of Inconel 751

The application of emulsion for combined heat extraction and lubrication requires continuous monitoring of the quality of emulsion to sustain a desired grinding environment; this is applicable to other grinding fluids as well. Thus to sustain a controlled grinding environment, it is necessary to adopt an effectively lubricated wheel-work interface. The current study was undertaken to assess experimentally the ​ effects of different grinding environments such as dry, minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) and Cryo-MQL on performance, such as grinding force, temperature, surface roughness and chip morphology on Inconel 751, a higher heat resistance material posing thermal problems and wheel loading. The results show that grinding with the combination of both liquid nitrogen (LN₂) and MQL lowers temperature, cutting forces, and surface roughness as compared with MQL and dry grinding. Specific cutting energy is widely used as an inverse measure of process efficiency in machining. It is found from the results that specific cutting energy of Cryo-MQL assisted grinding is 50–65% lower than conventional dry grinding. The grindability of Inconel 751 superalloy can be enhanced with Cryo-MQL condition.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, pain perception, and disease activity score may serve as important predictive markers for sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis

The implementation of new treatment strategies based on current recommendations has enabled a greater number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to achieve remission. However, there are no definite predictors of sustained remission. Moreover, the absence of clear consensus on the time of withdrawal or reduction of treatment further adds to the treatment burden. This pilot study was intended to evaluate the prognostic potential of various RA-related parameters. All the enrolled subjects (n=124) were clinically evaluated on the basis of various parameters including age, gender, duration of illness before the initiation of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, tender and swollen joints (28 joints), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin percentage, lymphocyte count, total white-blood cell counts, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Student's t-test and discriminant function analysis were performed. The specificity of all parameters and their best possible cut-off to predict relapse were calculated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. A significant difference in terms of pain perception, NLR, tendency to have a significant tender joint count and absolute lymphocyte counts was identified between the patients in sustained remission and those in relapse. The ROC analysis indicated that NLR was consistent in predicting remission. CRP, ESR, and/or disease activity score may not be very effective in differentiating patients with sustainable remission/low disease activity. NLR along with patient's perception of pain may assist in predicting sustained remission.

Road Traffic Related Injury Research and Informatics. New Opportunities for Biomedical and Health Informatics as a Contribution to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals?

The United Nations has recently adopted 17 sustainable development goals for 2030, including ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, and making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Road injuries remain among the ten leading causes of death in the world, and are projected to increase with rapidly increasing motorisation globally. Lack of comprehensive data on road injuries has been identified as one of the barriers for effective implementation of proven road safety interventions. Building, linking and analysing electronic patient records in conjunction with establishing injury event and care registries can substantially contribute to healthy lives and safe transportation. Appropriate use of new technological approaches and health informatics best practices could provide significant added value to WHO's global road safety work and assist Member States in identifying prevention targets, monitoring progress and improving quality of care to reduce injury-related deaths. This paper encourages the initiation of new multidisciplinary research at a global level.

Synthesis of orotidine by intramolecular nucleosidation

An intramolecular nucleosidation approach, using orotate as a leaving group, provides easy access to orotidine in high yields.

Effect of L-aspartic acid on the growth, structure and spectral studies of Zinc (tris) Thiourea Sulphate (ZTS) single crystals

Single crystals of pure and L-aspartic acid doped Zinc (Tris) Thiourea Sulphate (ZTS) were grown from aqueous solution by solution growth method. The cell parameters and structure of the grown crystals were determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The presence of functional group in the compound has been confirmed by FTIR and FT-Raman analysis. The optical transparency range has been studied through UV-Vis spectroscopy. TGA/DTA studies show thermal stability of the grown crystals. Microhardness study reveals that the hardness number (Hv) increases with load for pure and doped ZTS crystals. Dielectric studies have been carried out and the results are discussed. The second harmonic generation was confirmed for l-aspartic acid doped ZTS which is greater than pure ZTS.

Microwave-assisted preparation of nucleoside-phosphoramidites

Microwave-assisted phosphitylation of nucleosides is an efficient method for the preparation of phosphoramidites.

Metabolomic analysis of cold acclimation of Arctic Mesorhizobium sp. strain N33

Arctic Mesorhizobium sp. N33 isolated from nodules of Oxytropis arctobia in Canada's eastern Arctic has a growth temperature range from 0 °C to 30 °C and is a well-known cold-adapted rhizobia. The key molecular mechanisms underlying cold adaptation in Arctic rhizobia remains totally unknown. Since the concentration and contents of metabolites are closely related to stress adaptation, we applied GC-MS and NMR to identify and quantify fatty acids and water soluble compounds possibly related to low temperature acclimation in strain N33. Bacterial cells were grown at three different growing temperatures (4 °C, 10 °C and 21 °C). Cells from 21 °C were also cold-exposed to 4°C for different times (2, 4, 8, 60 and 240 minutes). We identified that poly-unsaturated linoleic acids 18:2 (9, 12) & 18:2 (6, 9) were more abundant in cells growing at 4 or 10 °C, than in cells cultivated at 21 °C. The mono-unsaturated phospho/neutral fatty acids myristoleic acid 14:1(11) were the most significantly overexpressed (45-fold) after 1 hour of exposure to 4 °C. As reported in the literature, these fatty acids play important roles in cold adaptability by supplying cell membrane fluidity, and by providing energy to cells. Analysis of water-soluble compounds revealed that isobutyrate, sarcosine, threonine and valine were more accumulated during exposure to 4 °C. These metabolites might play a role in conferring cold acclimation to strain N33 at 4 °C, probably by acting as cryoprotectants. Isobutyrate was highly upregulated (19.4-fold) during growth at 4 °C, thus suggesting that this compound is a precursor for the cold-regulated fatty acids modification to low temperature adaptation.

The human urine metabolome

Urine has long been a "favored" biofluid among metabolomics researchers. It is sterile, easy-to-obtain in large volumes, largely free from interfering proteins or lipids and chemically complex. However, this chemical complexity has also made urine a particularly difficult substrate to fully understand. As a biological waste material, urine typically contains metabolic breakdown products from a wide range of foods, drinks, drugs, environmental contaminants, endogenous waste metabolites and bacterial by-products. Many of these compounds are poorly characterized and poorly understood. In an effort to improve our understanding of this biofluid we have undertaken a comprehensive, quantitative, metabolome-wide characterization of human urine. This involved both computer-aided literature mining and comprehensive, quantitative experimental assessment/validation. The experimental portion employed NMR spectroscopy, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), direct flow injection mass spectrometry (DFI/LC-MS/MS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) experiments performed on multiple human urine samples. This multi-platform metabolomic analysis allowed us to identify 445 and quantify 378 unique urine metabolites or metabolite species. The different analytical platforms were able to identify (quantify) a total of: 209 (209) by NMR, 179 (85) by GC-MS, 127 (127) by DFI/LC-MS/MS, 40 (40) by ICP-MS and 10 (10) by HPLC. Our use of multiple metabolomics platforms and technologies allowed us to identify several previously unknown urine metabolites and to substantially enhance the level of metabolome coverage. It also allowed us to critically assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of different platforms or technologies. The literature review led to the identification and annotation of another 2206 urinary compounds and was used to help guide the subsequent experimental studies. An online database containing the complete set of 2651 confirmed human urine metabolite species, their structures (3079 in total), concentrations, related literature references and links to their known disease associations are freely available at http://www.urinemetabolome.ca.

Growth and characterization of KDP crystals doped with L-aspartic acid

Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate (KDP) doped with L-aspartic acid has been grown by solvent slow evaporation technique from a mixture of aqueous solution of KDP and 0.7% of L-aspartic acid at room temperature. The grown crystals were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, UV-visible, FTIR analysis. The doping of aspartic acid was confirmed by FTIR spectrum. The Nonlinear optical property (SHG) of L-aspartic acid doped KDP has been confirmed. Microhardness studies were carried out on the grown crystal.

Differential metabolite profiles and salinity tolerance between two genetically related brown-seeded and yellow-seeded Brassica carinata lines

Brassica carinata (Ethiopian mustard) has previously been identified as a potential crop species suitable for marginal land in the North American prairies due to its relatively high salt tolerance. Two genetically related B. carinata lines with brown-seeded (BS) and yellow-seeded (YS) phenotypes were assessed for their tolerance to sodium sulfate. Specifically, each line was greenhouse-grown under 0, 50 and 100mM of salt, and analyzed after four weeks and eight weeks of treatment. Generally, the height of the BS line was greater than the YS line under both salt treatments, indicating enhanced salt tolerance of the BS line. NMR-based metabolite profiling and PCA analyses indicated a more pronounced shift in key stem metabolites after four weeks of treatment with the YS line compared to the BS line. For example, tryptophan and formate levels increased in the YS line after four weeks of 100mM salt treatment, while proline and threonine levels varied uniquely compared to other metabolites of the lines. Together, the data indicate that the brown-seeded line has greater sodium tolerance than the yellow-seed line, provide clues to the biochemical underpinnings for the phenotypic variation, and highlight the utility of B. carinata as a biorefinery crop for saline land.

The utility of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging versus surgery for the characterization of müllerian anomalies in the pediatric and adolescent population

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the utility of transabdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of American Society for Reproductive Medicine (†)(ASRM)-classified müllerian anomalies compared to surgical findings in the pediatric and adolescent population.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary academic center.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-eight patients with müllerian anomalies seen in our pediatric and adolescent gynecology clinic were identified both on the basis of ICD-9 codes and having magnetic resonance imaging at Texas Children's Hospital between 2004 and 2009.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURE

Correlation among transabdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging findings with surgical findings.

RESULTS

Mean age was 12.2 (± 4.1) years. Twenty-eight patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging and required surgical intervention, and 88.5% demonstrated correlative consistency with surgical findings. Twenty-two patients underwent ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and surgery, which revealed consistency among ultrasound and surgical findings (59.1%) and consistency among magnetic resonance imaging and surgical findings (90.9%). In ASRM diagnoses evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging, surgical findings correlated in 92% (Pearson 0.89). Overall, 55.2% of patients had a renal malformation.

CONCLUSIONS

Magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard imaging modality for müllerian anomalies and is an effective technique for noninvasive evaluation and accurate classification of the type of anomaly in the pediatric and adolescent population. Magnetic resonance imaging should be considered as an adjunct to transabdominal ultrasound to evaluate müllerian anomalies.

Exenatide decreases hepatic fibroblast growth factor 21 resistance in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a mouse model of obesity and in a randomised controlled trial

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Systemic fibroblast growth factor (FGF)21 levels and hepatic FGF21 production are increased in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients, suggesting FGF21 resistance. We examined the effects of exenatide on FGF21 in patients with type 2 diabetes and in a diet-induced mouse model of obesity (DIO).

METHODS

Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (n = 24) on diet and/or metformin were randomised (using a table of random numbers) to receive additional treatment consisting of pioglitazone 45 mg/day or combined therapy with pioglitazone (45 mg/day) and exenatide (10 μg twice daily) for 12 months in an open label parallel study at the Baylor Clinic.

RESULTS

Twenty-one patients completed the entire study and were included in the analysis. Pioglitazone treatment (n = 10) reduced hepatic fat as assessed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy, despite a significant increase in body weight (Δ = 3.7 kg); plasma FGF21 levels did not change (1.9  ±  0.6 to 2.2  ±  0.6 ng/ml [mean ± SEM]). However, combined pioglitazone and exenatide therapy (n = 11) was associated with a significant reduction of FGF21 levels (2.3  ±  0.5 to 1.1  ±  0.3 ng/ml) and a greater decrease in hepatic fat. Besides weight gain observed in the pioglitazone-treated patients, lower extremity oedema was observed as a side effect in two of the ten patients. Three patients who received pioglitazone and exenatide combination therapy complained of significant nausea that was self-limiting and did not require them to leave the study. In DIO mice, exendin-4 for 4 weeks significantly reduced hepatic triacylglycerol content, decreased hepatic FGF21 protein and mRNA, and enhanced phosphorylation of hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, although no significant difference in weight and body fat was observed. Hepatic FGF21 correlated inversely with hepatic AMPK phosphorylation

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

In type 2 diabetes mellitus, combined pioglitazone and exenatide therapy is associated with a reduction in plasma FGF21 levels, as well as a greater decrease in hepatic fat than that achieved with pioglitazone therapy. In DIO mice, exendin-4 treatment reduces hepatic triacylglycerol and FGF21 protein, and enhances hepatic AMPK phosphorylation, suggesting an improvement of hepatic FGF21 resistance.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 01432405.

The human serum metabolome

Continuing improvements in analytical technology along with an increased interest in performing comprehensive, quantitative metabolic profiling, is leading to increased interest pressures within the metabolomics community to develop centralized metabolite reference resources for certain clinically important biofluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, urine and blood. As part of an ongoing effort to systematically characterize the human metabolome through the Human Metabolome Project, we have undertaken the task of characterizing the human serum metabolome. In doing so, we have combined targeted and non-targeted NMR, GC-MS and LC-MS methods with computer-aided literature mining to identify and quantify a comprehensive, if not absolutely complete, set of metabolites commonly detected and quantified (with today's technology) in the human serum metabolome. Our use of multiple metabolomics platforms and technologies allowed us to substantially enhance the level of metabolome coverage while critically assessing the relative strengths and weaknesses of these platforms or technologies. Tables containing the complete set of 4229 confirmed and highly probable human serum compounds, their concentrations, related literature references and links to their known disease associations are freely available at http://www.serummetabolome.ca.

Decreased L-ascorbate content mediating bolting is mainly regulated by the galacturonate pathway in Oncidium

We investigated the alteration in l-ascorbate (AsA, reduced form) content and the expression pattern of its related genes during the phase transition in Oncidium orchid. During the vegetative growth, a high H2O2 level was associated with a high content of the reduced form of AsA. During the bolting period, the AsA content and H2O2 level were greatly reduced in parallel with increased expression of OgLEAFY, the gene encoding a key transcription factor integrating different flowering-inducing pathways. This observation suggests that reduced AsA content, due to it having been consumed in scavenging H2O2, is a prerequisite for mediating the phase transition in Oncidium. A survey of the AsA biosynthetic pathway revealed that the gene expression and enzymatic activities of the products of relevant genes of the galacturonate (GalUA) pathway, such as polygalacturonase (OgPG), pectin methylesterase (OgPME) and galacturonate reductase (OgGalUAR), were markedly decreased during the bolting period, as compared with during the vegetative stage. However, the genes whose products were involved in the Smirnoff-Wheeler pathway retained a similar expression level in the two growth stages. The data suggested that OgPME of the GalUA pathway was the pivotal gene in regulating AsA biosynthesis during the bolting period. Further elucidation by overexpressing OgPME in Arabidopsis demonstrated a considerable increase in AsA content, as well as a resulting delayed-flowering phenotype. Our results strongly imply that the reduced level of AsA, regulating bolting for phase transition, resulting in part from its consumption by scavenging H2O2, was mainly caused by the down-regulation of the GalUA pathway, not the Smirnoff-Wheeler pathway.

Carbohydrate mobilization and gene regulatory profile in the pseudobulb of Oncidium orchid during the flowering process

The pseudobulb of Oncidium orchid is a storage organ for supplying water, minerals and carbohydrates to the developing inflorescence. Different patterns of mannan, starch and pectin metabolism were observed in the pseudobulb of three developmental stages by histochemical staining and high performance anion exchange chromatographic (HPAEC) analysis. Copious pectin was strongly stained by ruthenium red in young pseudobulbs demonstrating that mannan and pectin were preferentially accumulated in the young pseudobulb sink at inflorescence pre-initiation stage. Concomitant with the emergence of the inflorescence, mannan and pectin decreased gradually and converted to starch. The starch, synthesized at the inflorescence developing stage, was eventually degraded at the floral development stage. A systematic survey on the subtractive EST (expression sequence tag) library of pseudobulb in the inflorescence pre-initiation stage revealed the presence of five groups of gene homologues related to sucrose, mannan, starch, pectin and other carbohydrate metabolism. The transcriptional level of 13 relevant genes related to carbohydrate metabolism was characterized from pseudobulbs of three different developmental stages. The specific activities of the enzymes encoded by these genes were also assayed. The expression profiles of these genes show that the transcriptional levels largely correlated with the enzyme activities, which were associated with the respective carbohydrate pools. These results demonstrated a novel functional profile of polysaccharide mobilization pathway as well as their relevant gene expression in the pseudobulb of Oncidium orchid during the flowering process.

Successive explosions in Mumbai the economic center of India

Terrorist activities in India are increasing day by day with sophistication in modus operandi. Mumbai the economic center of India was attacked by a series of bomb blasts at twelve different places within a span of an hour on 12th March 1993. The main explosive used was RDX [Krishnamurthy R, Malve MK, Shinde BM. J Indian Acad Forensic Sci 1996;35(1& 2):46-61.]. After about 10 years, terrorist activity of late has again erupted taking a toll on innocent lives, with the use of explosives causing death and destruction. On 2.12.02 a public bus at Ghatkopar was blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED) with two casualties. On 27.1.03 the public vegetable market at Vileparle was targeted causing heavy damage and panic among common people. On 13.3.03 a fully packed local train compartment at Mulund railway station was blown up by an improved explosive device and the casualties ranged up to 10. In most of the explosions the explosives used were RDX, NC-NG, etc. The blasts that occurred at the Zaveri bazaar and the gateway of India on 25/8/03 showed the presence of big craters at the blast site and on analysis the presence of RDX and petroleum oil.

Pentopyranosyl oligonucleotide systems. Part 11: Systems with shortened backbones: (D)-beta-ribopyranosyl-(4'-->3')- and (L)-alpha-lyxopyranosyl-(4'-->3')-oligonucleotides

The (L)-alpha-lyxopyranosyl-(4'-->3')-oligonucleotide system-a member of a pentopyranosyl oligonucleotide family containing a shortened backbone-is capable of cooperative base-pairing and of cross-pairing with DNA and RNA. In contrast, corresponding (D)-beta-ribopyransoyl-(4'-->3')-oligonucleotides do not show base-pairing under similar conditions. We conclude that oligonucleotide systems can violate the 'six-bonds-per-backbone-unit' rule by having five bonds instead, if their vicinally bound phosphodiester bridges can assume an antiperiplanar conformation. An additional structural feature that seems relevant to the cross-pairing capability of the (L)-alpha-lyxopyranosyl-(4'-->3')-oligonucleotide system is its (small) backbone/basepair axes inclination. An inclination which is similar to that in B-DNA seems to be a prerequisite for an oligonucleotide system's capability to cross-pair with DNA.

Isolation of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in the tonsillopharynx of school children in Madras City and correlation with their clinical features

Today, rheumatic fever is the most common cause of heart disease in children and young adults, and it accounts for about half of all cardiovascular diseases causing death in the first four decades of life, in India. In the present study, conducted during 1991-1992 at Chennai, India, a total of 666 school girls aged 5-15 years were examined clinically for one or more of the following signs and symptoms: repeated sore throat, joint pain/swelling, epistaxis, chest pain, breathlessness, palpitation, abdominal pains, etc. Out of the 666 children screened, 124 were recruited for the present study, based on their meeting one or more of the above mentioned clinical criteria. They were screened for the presence of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, and for antistreptolysin O and C-reactive protein. Thus, the aim of the present study was to reduce the load of streptococcal infection and the consequent risk of developing rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. In the present study group, 89.5% of the children indicated a history of repeated sore throat. However, only 4.0% of the children in the study group were positive for group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. The antistreptolysin O and C-reactive protein levels were higher in 11- to 15-year-old patients than in 5- to 10-year-old patients in the study group.

Drosophila transcription factor AP-2 in proboscis, leg and brain central complex development

We report loss- and gain-of-function analyses that identify essential roles in development for Drosophila transcription factor AP-2. A mutagenesis screen yielded 16 lethal point mutant alleles of dAP-2. Null mutants die as adults or late pupae with a reduced proboscis, severely shortened legs (~30% of normal length) lacking tarsal joints, and disruptions in the protocerebral central complex, a brain region critical for locomotion. Seven hypomorphic alleles constitute a phenotypic series yielding hemizygous adults with legs ranging from 40–95% of normal length. Hypomorphic alleles show additive effects with respect to leg length and viability; and several heteroallelic lines were established. Heteroallelic adults have moderately penetrant defects that include necrotic leg joints and ectopic growths (sometimes supernumerary antennae) invading medial eye territory. Several dAP-2 alleles with DNA binding domain missense mutations are null in hemizygotes but have dominant negative effects when paired with hypomorphic alleles. In wild-type leg primordia, dAP-2 is restricted to presumptive joints. Ectopic dAP-2 in leg discs can inhibit but not enhance leg elongation indicating that functions of dAP-2 in leg outgrowth are region restricted. In wing discs, ectopic dAP-2 cell autonomously transforms presumptive wing vein epithelium to ectopic sensory bristles, consistent with an instructive role in sensory organ development. These findings reveal multiple functions for dAP-2 during morphogenesis of feeding and locomotor appendages and their neural circuitry, and provide a new paradigm for understanding AP-2 family transcription factors.

An evaluation of the effects of Rorschach EB style on the diagnostic utility of the Depression Index

Several empirical studies have found the Rorschach Depression Index (DEPI) to have questionable diagnostic utility. Studies using adolescent samples suggest that the DEPI has limited sensitivity and fails to differentiate effectively between adolescents with and without depression diagnoses. The present study was conducted to evaluate Viglione, Brager, and Haller's suggestion that the DEPI may have better discriminative ability for individuals with extratensive problem-solving styles, measured by the Rorschach EB (Erlebnistypus) variable, compared to those with introversive and ambitent styles. Comparisons were conducted between adolescents with depression-related diagnoses and adolescents with other diagnoses for each of the three EB groups. The results failed to support the hypothesized greater discriminative power of DEPI for depressed extratensives, and suggest caution in using the DEPI to evaluate adolescent depression.

Chemical etiology of nucleic acid structure: the alpha-threofuranosyl-(3'-->2') oligonucleotide system

TNAs [(L)-alpha-threofuranosyl oligonucleotides] containing vicinally connected (3'-->2') phosphodiester bridges undergo informational base pairing in antiparallel strand orientation and are capable of cross-pairing with RNA and DNA. Being derived from a sugar containing only four carbons, TNA is structurally the simplest of all potentially natural oligonucleotide-type nucleic acid alternatives studied thus far. This, along with the base-pairing properties of TNA, warrants close scrutiny of the system in the context of the problem of RNA's origin.

Inactivation of lysozyme by sonication under conditions relevant to microencapsulation

Controlled release dosage forms of proteins and other biomolecules can be prepared by microencapsulating them in polymeric microspheres. Proteins are subjected to potentially damaging effects of sonication and exposure to organic solvents during the microencapsulation process. The relatively stable enzyme lysozyme was dissolved in aqueous buffer and sonicated in the presence of methylene chloride to mimic the initial step of the microencapsulation process. The stability of lysozyme was evaluated by determining the enzyme activity before and after sonication, size-exclusion chromatography, native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and by measuring the amount of precipitates formed. Following sonication, the total protein introduced was distributed between a soluble and an insoluble fraction. Sonication of lysozyme solutions in the presence of methylene chloride led to an increase in precipitates. The precipitates were enzymatically inactive, did not dissolve easily, and were held by non-covalent interactions. No fragments or aggregates of lysozyme were detectable in the soluble fraction. Sonicating aqueous lysozyme solutions with and without methylene chloride decreased the specific activity of the enzyme in the soluble fraction. Excipients such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), mannitol, sucrose, and tween 80 were included in the sonication mixtures containing lysozyme. With the exception of tween 80, the addition of the excipients to aqueous solutions of lysozyme led to a greater decrease in the specific activity of lysozyme when sonicated in the presence of methylene chloride. DMSO caused the greatest loss of enzyme activity following sonication. Sonication of lysozyme with water, methylene chloride, and DMSO yielded methyl radicals, which were trapped with alpha-phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone and detected by ESR spectroscopy.

Concentration of simple aldehydes by sulfite-containing double-layer hydroxide minerals: implications for biopoesis

Environmental conditions play an important role in conceptual studies of prebiotically relevant chemical reactions that could have led to functional biomolecules. The necessary source compounds are likely to have been present in dilute solution, raising the question of how to achieve selective concentration and to reach activation. With the assumption of an initial 'RNA World', the questions of production, concentration, and interaction of aldehydes and aldehyde phosphates, potential precursors of sugar phosphates, come into the foreground. As a possible concentration process for simple, uncharged aldehydes, we investigated their adduct formation with sulfite ion bound in the interlayer of positively charged expanding-sheet-structure double-layer hydroxide minerals. Minerals of this type, initially with chloride as interlayer counter anion, have previously been shown to induce concentration and subsequent aldolization of aldehyde phosphates to form tetrose, pentose, and hexose phosphates. The reversible uptake of the simple aldehydes formaldehyde, glycolaldehyde, and glyceraldehyde by adduct formation with the immobilized sulfite ions is characterized by equilibrium constants of K=1.5, 9, and 11, respectively. This translates into an observable uptake at concentrations exceeding 50 mM.

Ectopic expression of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and peripherin in the respiratory epithelium of mice lacking transcription factor AP-2alpha

The vertebrate transcription factor activator protein-2 (AP-2alpha) is involved in craniofacial morphogenesis. In the nasal placode AP-2alpha expression delineates presumptive respiratory epithelia from olfactory epithelia, with AP-2alpha expression restricted to the anterior region of the respiratory epithelium (absent from the olfactory epithelium) at later stages. To address the role AP-2alpha plays in differentiation of cell groups in the nasal placode, the spatiotemporal expression pattern of four markers normally associated with olfactory epithelial structures was analyzed in mice lacking AP-2alpha. These markers were the intermediate filament protein peripherin, the neuropeptide luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and the olfactory transcription factor Olf-1. Development of cells expressing these markers was similar in both genotypes until embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5), indicating that the main olfactory epithelium and olfactory pit formation was normal. At E13.5 in mutant mice, ectopic LHRH neurons and peripherin axons were detected in respiratory epithelial areas, areas devoid of Olf-1 and NCAM staining. Over the next few days, an increase in total nasal LHRH neurons occurred. The increase in nasal LHRH neurons could be accounted for by LHRH neurons arising and migrating out of respiratory epithelial regions on peripherin-positive fibers. These results indicate that AP-2alpha is not essential for the separation of the olfactory and respiratory epithelium from the nasal placode and is consistent with AP-2alpha preventing recapitulation of developmental programs within the respiratory epithelium that lead to expression of LHRH and peripherin phenotypes.

Transcription factor activator protein-2 is required for continued luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone expression in the forebrain of developing mice

LHRH is the neuropeptide responsible for reproductive function. Prenatally, LHRH expression begins when neurons are in the olfactory pit and continues as these cells migrate into the brain. Thus, LHRH neurons maintain neuropeptide expression through very distinct environments. The regulatory interactions that control onset and continued expression of the LHRH phenotype are unknown. To begin to address this question primary LHRH neurons were removed from nasal explants at different ages. A complementary DNA (cDNA) subtraction screen was performed comparing a 3.5-days in vitro LHRH neuron [approximately embryonic day 15 (E15) in vivo] to two 10.5-days in vitro LHRH neurons (approximately postnatal day 1 in vivo). The transcription factor activator protein-2 (AP-2alpha) was differentially expressed and was present in the developmentally younger LHRH neuron. In vivo analysis revealed that LHRH neurons expressed AP-2 as they migrated across the cribriform plate and into the forebrain beginning on E13.5, but that coexpression of LHRH and AP-2 was no longer detected in postnatal day 1 animals. This suggested a regulatory role for AP-2 in LHRH neurons. Analysis of animals lacking AP-2alpha revealed a dramatic decrease in forebrain LHRH neurons between E13.5 and E14.5, correlating with normal onset of AP-2 expression in LHRH neurons as they entered the central nervous system. Nasal cells robustly expressing LHRH were still present on E 14.5. The continued presence of forebrain LHRH cells is proposed based on a second marker, galanin, and lack of increased apoptotic/necrotic cells in this region. A decrease in LHRH messenger RNA in forebrain neurons indicates regulation of LHRH occurred at the transcriptional or posttranscriptional level in mutant animals. These results indicate a developmentally restricted involvement of the transcription factor AP-2 in LHRH expression once the LHRH neurons have migrated into the forebrain, but before establishment of an adult-like distribution.