Efficiency dynamics among onion growers in Maharashtra: a comparative analysis of drip irrigation adopters and non-adopters

BACKGROUND

Onions are economically and nutritionally important vegetable crops. Despite advances in technology and acreage, Indian onion growers face challenges in realizing their full productivity potential. This study examines the technical efficiency of onion growers, the factors influencing it, and the constraints faced by those adopting drip irrigation in the Ghod river basin of western Maharashtra. A sample of 480 farmers including those practicing drip irrigation and those not practicing it, was selected from Junnar, Shirur, Parner, and Shrigonda blocks of the basin. The primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Analytical tools such as the Cobb-Douglas production function (represents technological relationship between multiple inputs and the resulting output), a single-stage stochastic frontier model, the Tobit model, and descriptive statistics were used to assess the technical efficiency of onion production at the farm level.

RESULTS

According to the maximum likelihood estimates of the stochastic frontier analysis, drip adopters exhibited a mean technical efficiency of 92%, while for non-adopters it was 65%. It indicates that the use of drip irrigation technology is associated with higher technical efficiency. The association of technical efficiency and socio-economic characters of households showed that education, extension contacts, social participation, and use of information sources had a positive influence on technical efficiency, while family size had a negative influence on the drip irrigation adopters. For non-drip adopters, significant positive effects were observed for landholding, extension contact, and information source use. The major constraints faced by drip system adopters included a lack of knowledge about the proper operating techniques for drip systems and the cost of maintenance.

CONCLUSION

The differences with inputs associated with two irrigation methods showed that the response of inputs to increase onion yield is greater for farmers who use drip irrigation than for farmers who do not, and are a result of the large differences in the technical efficiencies. These inefficiencies and other limitations following the introduction of drip irrigation, such as lack of knowledge about the proper operations, need to be addressed through tailored training for farmers and further interventions.

Impact of radiation therapy on healthy and cancerous cell dynamics: a Mathematical analysis

This study proposes a novel therapeutic model for cancer treatment with radiation therapy by analyzing the interactions among cancer, immune and healthy cells through a system of three ordinary differential equations. In this model, the natural influx rate of mature immune cells is assumed constant and is denoted by, a. The overall effect of radiation therapy on cancer cells is represented by a parameter, s; which is the surviving fraction of cells as determined by the Linear Quadratic (LQ) model. Conditions for the stability of equilibria in the interaction model modified to include the surviving fraction, are systematically established in terms of the dose and model parameters. Numerical simulations are performed in Wolfram MATHEMATICA software, investigating a spectrum of initial cell population values irradiated with 60Co γ -ray Low-LET radiation and High-LET 165 keV / μ m Ni-ion radiation to facilitate improved visualization and in-depth analysis. By analyzing the model, this study identifies threshold values for the absorbed dose D for particular values of the model and radiation parameters for both High Linear Energy Transfer (high-LET) and Low Linear Energy Transfer (low-LET) radiations that ensure either eradication or minimization of cancer cells from a patient's body, providing valuable insights for designing effective cancer treatments.

A two-galectin network establishes mesenchymal condensation phenotype in limb development

Previous work showed that Gal-1A and Gal-8, two proteins belonging to the galactoside-binding galectin family, are the earliest determinants of the patterning of the skeletal elements of embryonic chicken limbs, and further, that their experimentally determined interactions in the embryonic limb bud can be interpreted via a reaction-diffusion-adhesion (2GL: two galectin plus ligands) model. Here, we use an ordinary differential equation-based approach to analyze the intrinsic switching modality of the 2GL network and characterize the network behavior independent of the diffusive and adhesive arms of the patterning mechanism. We identify two states: where the concentrations of both the galectins are respectively, negligible, and very high. This bistable switch-like system arises via a saddle-node bifurcation from a monostable state. For the case of mass-action production terms, we provide an explicit Lyapunov function for the system, which shows that it has no periodic solutions. Our model therefore predicts that the galectin network may exist in low expression and high expression states separated in space or time, without any intermediate states. We test these predictions in experiments performed with high density cultures of chick limb mesenchymal cells and observe that cells inside precartilage protocondensations express Gal-1A at a much higher rate than those outside, for which it was negligible. The Gal-1A and -8-based patterning network is therefore sufficient to partition the mesenchymal cell population into two discrete cell states with different developmental (chondrogenic vs. non-chondrogenic) fates. When incorporated into an adhesion and diffusion-enabled framework this system can generate a spatially patterned limb skeleton.

Improving maternal update rates within the first hour of NICU admission

BACKGROUND

Timely communication is essential in attaining maternal satisfaction, developing an excellent physician-patient rapport, and increasing trust. This study reports a significant improvement in maternal communication rates through the quality improvement method.

METHODS

An educational module was developed, and NICU staff was presented with the slides, followed by a performance questionnaire to demonstrate understanding. The first phase was completed by obtaining feedback from mothers through a questionnaire. The first plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycle, carried out for eight weeks looking at the rates of the maternal update provided within an hour of admission of their neonates to the NICU, was followed by the second PDSA cycle, carried out for ten weeks. The improvement was calculated using conventional statistics and a statistical process control chart.

RESULTS

During the first phase of the study, thirty-six percent of the mothers were updated within an hour of admission of their neonates to the NICU. During the first PDSA cycle, we did not notice a special cause variation or process change. A significant shift, eight consecutive points above the mean, was noted on the control chart during PDSA cycle 2. The mean±SD of the weekly update rate increased significantly during PDSA cycle 2 (76.8±11) compared to PDSA cycle 1 (47.5±14), p-value = 0.0002.

CONCLUSION

We improved the maternal update rates through the educational module following the QI improvement model using the PDSA cycles.

TB disease patterns by HIV and diabetes status

BACKGROUND: TB is commonly categorised as pulmonary (PTB) or extrapulmonary TB (EPTB). Knowledge of TB disease patterns (PTB and/or EPTB) and determining risk factors remains limited.METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in Indian patients with presumed TB. Clinical and imaging data were used to develop refined case definitions for PTB, concurrent PTB and EPTB (PTB + EPTB) and EPTB without PTB (EPTB). These groups were analysed by HIV (HIV+/-) and diabetes mellitus (DM+/-) status.RESULTS: Of 172 HIV-/DM- patients with TB, 48% had PTB, 23% PTB + EPTB and 29% had EPTB, totalling 52% with any EPTB (PTB + EPTB or EPTB). In HIV+/DM- patients with TB (n = 35), 6% had PTB, 40% had PTB + EPTB and 54% had EPTB, accounting for 94% with EPTB. In HIV-/DM+ patients with TB (n = 61), 61% had PTB, 28% had PTB + EPTB and 11% had EPTB, representing 39% with EPTB.CONCLUSION: Refined case definitions revealed high proportions of EPTB even without HIV or DM. HIV further altered the TB disease pattern towards EPTB and DM towards PTB. Therefore, the dichotomy between PTB or EPTB does not represent the actual spectrum of TB disease. EPTB should receive higher priority in research and clinical practice.

ONCOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF HUMAN ORTHOPNEUMOVIRUS IN CANCER CELL LINES

Oncolytic virotherapy is an emerging biotherapeutic platform for selectively infecting cancer cells and triggering apoptosis in a number of malignant cells due to robust viral replication. Studies related to the oncolytic activity of human orthopneumovirus (hOPV) are conflicting.

AIM

This study was designed to elucidate the possible role of hOPV in the modulation of cell growth and apoptosis in cancer cell lines including human epidermoid carcinoma (HEp-2), lung epithelial cell line (A549), and breast cancer cell line (MCF-7).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The oncolytic activity of hOPV on cancer cells was studied in vitro. The virus titers were determined by tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50/mL) in A549 cell. The cytotoxic effect of the virus on HEp-2, A549, and MCF-7 was determined using MTT and trypan blue dye exclusion test assays. hOPV in the infected cells was detected using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assays. The relative expression of apoptosis-related genes (CASP-3, -8, -9, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, TP53, P21) during virus infection was estimated using rRT-PCR assay in comparison with the house-keeping gene (GAPDH).

RESULTS

hOPV infection inhibited the growth of HEp-2, A549, and MCF-7 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. At a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 5, hOPV reduced the viability of A549 cells to about 16%, HEp-2 to 22%, and MCF-7 to 28% (p = 0.001), while no significant inhibitory effect was observed when cells were infected at MOI of 1 and 2. hOPV mRNA and antigens were detected in infected HEp-2, A549, and MCF-7 cells by RT-PCR and IIF. Upon hOPV infection, expression of CASP-3, -8, -9, as well as Bax, TP53, and p21 mRNA increased while expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL anti-apoptotic genes decreased. In hOPV-infected A549 cells, the fold increase of CASP-8 and CASP-9, Bax, TP53, and P21 expression exceeded significantly compared to that in HEp-2 or MCF-7 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide evidence that hOPV could be a potential candidate for oncolytic virotherapy.

Online KidClot education for patients and families initiating warfarin therapy: The eKITE study

Anticoagulation with Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) has always posed challenges in terms of monitoring requirements. These challenges were further exacerbated in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic, with limited access to and/or avoidance of laboratory testing. The importance of utilizing point of care (POC) health technology for individualized patient management is salient. The foundation of effective home INR monitoring is establishing patient knowledge about their therapy and INR testing proficiency. The eKITE series was developed to support patients in establishing foundational knowledge required for VKA (warfarin) management and INR monitoring. The primary objectives were to evaluate eKITE, a patient-oriented innovative online education program for warfarin therapy, participant learning stress, and patient preference for online learning. This multi-center prospective study provided patients access to warfarin online education. Participants were required to complete written quizzes assessing warfarin knowledge of key concepts proficiency and identifying knowledge deficits. Patient preference, evaluating calm (lack of anxiety) while learning, and an INR on a home meter was completed. Participants performed INR tests at home and reported INRs by telephone. The analysis included 144 children and caregivers enrolled at five US and CDN sites. Most indications for anticoagulation were cardiac (congenital or acquired heart disease) with varied INR target ranges. Mean knowledge scores for warfarin and INR self-testing modules were 97%, with low anxiety with TTR of 84%. Patient preferred online learning. eKITE is an effective teaching modality for warfarin/home INR monitoring with safe INR testing and warfarin management that is appropriate for pediatrics and adults alike. PROLOGUE: The whir in the hallways is deafening. Lights bright, alarms are ringing in a chorus of unsynchronized beeps and screeches. It has been more than a week since I have slept. Snuggled beside me is my precious child, whining and equally irritated with the asynchronous symphony, further compounded by anxiety, procedures, and pain. The sun has broken. The staff smiles are welcoming and incessant, as one after one, they approach hurried, urgent, assiduous, their need to coach me for our upcoming departure to the warmth of home. Each provides essential information that I will require to keep my child, my treasure, safe and healthy. Yet, my eyes are heavy, blurred, and my brain foggy, trapped in a dark heavy cloud. How am I to follow? Comprehend? and retain anything? As they instruct, my precious child yearns for loving arms, compassion and love, whining, crying in disquiet. Overwhelmed does not adequately describe my ineffable exhaustion. Amidst this, how am I to learn about warfarin? Such a challenging medication, with so much to know. Concentrate, I tell myself, focus; now is my only opportunity to learn. I must be alert. It seems to be nonsensical.

Steroids use in non-oxygen requiring COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Corticosteroids have become the mainstay treatment in severe COVID-19. However, its role is mild disease is controversial due to lack of robust scientific evidence. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess effect of steroids in mild COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and medRxiv were searched from 31 December 2019 to 14 May 2021 for studies that reported effectiveness of steroids in non-oxygen requiring COVID-19 patients in terms of progressing to severe disease, mortality, duration of fever, duration of viral clearance and length of hospital stay (LOHS). Studies on inhalational steroids, case reports and reviews were excluded. Risk of bias (ROB) was assessed by the Cochrane's ROB tool and ROBANS tool. Quantitative data synthesis was done using the generic inverse variance method.

RESULTS

A total of 6411 studies were identified, 2990 articles were screened after exclusion. Seven studies which fit the criteria (involving 2214 non-oxygen requiring COVID-19 patients) were included and analysed. Overall odds of progression to severe disease among the non-oxygen requiring COVID-19 patients receiving steroids was 5.97 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27-27.99, I2 = 0%] and odds of death (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.01-1.79; I2 = 0%) as compared to the patients not receiving steroids. Mean duration of fever (7.4 days), duration to viral clearance (18.9 days) and LOHS (20.8 days) were significantly higher in the steroid arm, as compared to that in no-steroid arm (6.7, 16.5 and 15.2 days, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Steroids in non-oxygen requiring COVID-19 patients can be more detrimental than beneficial.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

The study was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42021254951).

COVID-19-associated mucormycosis presenting to the Emergency Department-an observational study of 70 patients

BACKGROUND

Mucormycosis (MM) is a deadly opportunistic fungal infection and a large surge in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) is occurring in India.

AIM

Our aim was to delineate the clinico-epidemiological profile and identify risk factors of CAM patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED).

DESIGN

This was a retrospective, single-centre, observational study.

METHODS

We included patients who presented with clinical features or diagnosed MM and who were previously treated for COVID-19 in last 3 months of presentation (recent COVID-19) or currently being treated for COVID-19 (active COVID-19). Information regarding clinical features of CAM, possible risk factors, examination findings, diagnostic workup including imaging and treatment details were collected.

RESULTS

Seventy CAM patients (median age: 44.5 years, 60% males) with active (75.7%) or recent COVID-19 (24.3%) who presented to the ED in between 6 May 2021 and 1 June 2021, were included. A median duration of 20 days (interquartile range: 13.5-25) was present between the onset of COVID-19 symptoms and the onset of CAM symptoms. Ninety-three percent patients had at least one risk factor. Most common risk factors were diabetes mellitus (70%) and steroid use for COVID-19 disease (70%). After clinical, microbiological and radiological workup, final diagnosis of rhino-orbital CAM was made in most patients (68.6%). Systemic antifungals were started in the ED and urgent surgical debridement was planned.

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 infection along with its medical management have increased patient susceptibility to MM.

Mid-term follow-up of percutaneous access for standard and complex EVAR using the ProGlide device

OBJECTIVES

Endovascular Aneurysm Repair is an established treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm which requires arterial access via the groin. Most centres perform percutaneous ultrasound-guided access into the common femoral artery for delivery of the stent graft. The profile of endovascular devices necessitates large sheath sizes, therefore formal closure of the arterial puncture site is required. Various percutaneous devices are available, with data lacking on efficacy and mid-term safety profile. We present outcomes from a single centre with the Perclose ProGlide™ (Abbott Vascular Devices, CA, USA) suture-mediated system, using the well described "pre-close" technique.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Data were collected from operative records and electronic medical records. Patients undergoing standard (EVAR) or complex (F/B-EVAR) aneurysm repair between March 2015 and September 2019 were included. Complications were recorded per-patient and per-groin procedure.

RESULTS

266 patients were included; 182 (68.4%) standard infrarenal EVAR, 84 (31.6%) F/B-EVAR. There were a total of 484 groin procedures performed. Intraoperative Perclose ProGlide™ success was 98.1% (per patient) or 99.0% (per groin procedure). 30-day groin complication rate was 6.1% (per patient) or 3.1% (per groin procedure). There were no pre- or peri-operative factors which predicted the occurrence of groin complications. The rate of groin complications was not related to sheath size.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support the use of percutaneous access with a pre-close technique for a variety of endovascular aneurysm repair procedures with both large- and small-bore access. The Perclose ProGlide™ system provides excellent mid-term complication-free and reintervention-free outcomes for groin procedures.

Effect of temperature and insect herbivory on the regulation of glucosinolate-myrosinase system in Lepidium latifolium

The glucosinolate-myrosinase (GLS-MYR) system is an important component of plant-insect interactions. However, there is no report on its performance in field conditions where the plants are subjected to both abiotic and biotic pressures simultaneously. We investigated the GLS-MYR system in a Himalayan ecotype of Lepidium latifolium that is recognized for its adaptive potential in field conditions. In order to understand the independent contribution of temperature and Pieris brassicae herbivory on the components of the GLS-MYR system, different conditions were simulated in the growth chamber. During field conditions, the final GLS hydrolysis products were found to be regulated by the metabolic GLS levels, the temperature conditions, and the density of insect interactions. These factors influence the expression of the hydrolyzing and specifier proteins, which further affects the GLS hydrolysis products. Our results suggest that the production of hydrolysis products is differentially affected under field conditions. While allyl isothiocyanate is significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by temperature but not insect density, 1-cyano-2,3-epithiopropane is not affected by either. The study shows that the outcome of the GLS-MYR system in a plant is a consequence of the combinatorial effect of ecophysiological factors and the insect interactions that eventually decide the performance of a plant in an environment.

Matrix adhesion and remodeling diversifies modes of cancer invasion across spatial scales

The metastasis of malignant epithelial tumors begins with the egress of transformed cells from the confines of their basement membrane (BM) to their surrounding collagen-rich stroma. Invasion can be morphologically diverse: when breast cancer cells are separately cultured within BM-like matrix, collagen I (Coll I), or a combination of both, they exhibit collective-, dispersed mesenchymal-, and a mixed collective-dispersed (multimodal)- invasion, respectively. In this paper, we asked how distinct these invasive modes are with respect to the cellular and microenvironmental cues that drive them. A rigorous computational exploration of invasion was performed within an experimentally motivated Cellular Potts-based modeling environment. The model comprised of adhesive interactions between cancer cells, BM- and Coll I-like extracellular matrix (ECM), and reaction-diffusion-based remodeling of ECM. The model outputs were parameters cognate to dispersed- and collective- invasion. A clustering analysis of the output distribution curated through a careful examination of subsumed phenotypes suggested at least four distinct invasive states: dispersed, papillary-collective, bulk-collective, and multimodal, in addition to an indolent/non-invasive state. Mapping input values to specific output clusters suggested that each of these invasive states are specified by distinct input signatures of proliferation, adhesion and ECM remodeling. In addition, specific input perturbations allowed transitions between the clusters and revealed the variation in the robustness between the invasive states. Our systems-level approach proffers quantitative insights into how the diversity in ECM microenvironments may steer invasion into diverse phenotypic modes during early dissemination of breast cancer and contributes to tumor heterogeneity.

Peri-operative management of percutaneous fetoscopic spina-bifida repair: a descriptive review of five cases from the United Kingdom, with focus on anaesthetic implications

We present a case-based review of the first five percutaneous fetoscopic in-utero spina bifida repair procedures undertaken in the UK. Our focus is on implications of anaesthesia and analgesia for the mother and fetus, provision of uterine relaxation and fetal immobilisation while providing conditions conducive to surgical access. Minimising risks for fetal acidosis, placental and fetal hypoperfusion, maternal and fetal sepsis and maternal fluid overload were the foremost priorities. We discuss optimisation strategies undertaken to ensure fetal and maternal well-being under anaesthesia, shortcomings in the current approach, and possible directions for improvement.

Tweaking genome-editing approaches for virus interference in crop plants

Plant viruses infect various economically important crops and cause a serious threat to agriculture. As of now, conventional strategies employed are inadequate to circumvent the proliferation of rapidly evolving plant viruses. In this regard, recent advancement in genome-editing approach looks promising to produce plants resistant to DNA/RNA virus infections. Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system has been emerged as a promising genome-editing tool that has received special interest because of its ease, competence and reproducibility. Recent studies have demonstrated that CRISPR/Cas9 system has great potential to confer plant immunity by either directly targeting or cleaving the viral genome in both RNA and DNA viruses. Similarly, the approach can be used for targeting the host susceptibility genes more particularly in case of RNA viruses. In the present review, different approaches and strategies being used to improve plant resistance against devastating viruses are discussed in view of recent advances in CRISPR systems. This review also describes the major pitfalls of CRISPR/Cas9 system that utilizes highly efficient and novel platforms to engineer interference to single and multiple plant RNA viruses.

IMRiS phase II study of IMRT in limb sarcomas: Results of the pre-trial QA facility questionnaire and workshop

INTRODUCTION

Soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities (STSE) are rare malignancies. We report current UK practice for immobilisation of soft tissue sarcoma of STSE, as part of the initial study set-up within the IMRiS trial, a phase II study of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in primary bone and soft tissue sarcoma.

METHODS

A facility questionnaire (FQ) was circulated to 29 IMRiS centres investigating the variation in immobilisation devices, planning techniques, and imaging protocols. A workshop was held to address concerns raised by centres. It focused on STSE immobilisation and patient set-up. Robustness of patient set-up at each centre was evaluated based on the following criteria: evidence of local set-up audit, calculation of margins based on set-up audit results, imaging frequency, and number of patients treated per centre per annum.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven (93%) questionnaires were returned. 30% (8/27) of responders routinely treated STSE with IMRT. The remaining 70% (19/27) had little or no experience with IMRT for STSE. Vacuum bags were the most frequent immobilisation device (9/27), followed by thermoplastic shells (7/27). Nine centres had audited their local set-up; however, only 4 had calculated margins in response to the results. Ten centres were classified as having high level of robustness.

CONCLUSIONS

Immobilisation devices and planning techniques for STSE are inconsistent across centres. Robustness of set-up is an important tool to ensure quality of results in a multicentre trial setting with such different levels of experience. The IMRiS trial Quality Assurance programme encourages centres to assess robustness of set-up through local audit and subsequent calculation of treatment margins.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This is the first study that used robustness criteria to tailor QA support to individual centres.

Detection of QTL for panicle architecture in F2 population of rice

Panicle traits are the most important agronomic characters which directly relate to yield in rice. Panicle length (PL) being one of the major components of rice panicle structure is controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs). In our research, conducted at Research Farm of SKUAST-J, crosses of parental lines K343 and DHMAS were made for generating F₂ mapping population, which were then transplanted into the field using augmented design-I. The F₂ population was used for phenotypic evaluation, development of linkage map and identification of QTLs on the chromosomes by using SSR markers. A total of 450 SSR markers were used for screening both the parents of which 53 highly polymorphic markers were selected and used for genotyping of 233 genotypes of F₂population. Linkage map was generated using MAPMAKER/EXP3.0 software, seven linkage groups were found distributed on 11 chromosomes of rice. QTLs were detected using QTL Cartographer (v2.5) software. Based on 1000 permutation tests, a logarithm of odds (LOD) threshold value 2.0 and 3.0 was set. Composite interval mapping was used to map QTLs in populations derived from bi-parental crosses. The phenotypic data, genotypic data and the genetic linkage map generated identified total three QTLs of which one was identified for PL qPL2, located at 85.01 cM position with 2.1 LOD value and in between the marker intervals RM324-RM208, this QTL explained the phenotype variation by 4.36%. The other two QTLs were identified for spikelet density (SD) qSD3.1 and qSD3.2, located at 28.91 and 39.51 cM, respectively, both with a flanking marker RM6832 on chromosome 3. The LOD value and phenotypic variation explained for qSD3.1 and qSD3.2 was 3.00 and 3.25; 9.70 and 12.34% respectively. The reported QTLs identified in the study suggested a less diversity in the parents used and also the rejection of not so useful markers from the used set of markers for PL and SD.

Myrosinase: insights on structural, catalytic, regulatory, and environmental interactions

Glucosinolate-myrosinase is a substrate-enzyme defense mechanism present in Brassica crops. This binary system provides the plant with an efficient system against herbivores and pathogens. For humans, it is well known for its anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-bacterial, cardio-protective, and central nervous system protective activities. Glucosinolate and myrosinase are spatially present in different cells that upon tissue disruption come together and result in the formation of a variety of hydrolysis products with diverse physicochemical and biological properties. The myrosinase-catalyzed reaction starts with cleavage of the thioglucosidic linkage resulting in release of a D-glucose and an unstable thiohydroximate-O-sulfate. The outcome of this thiohydroximate-O-sulfate has been shown to depend on the structure of the glucosinolate side chain, the presence of supplementary proteins known as specifier proteins and/or on the physiochemical condition. Myrosinase was first reported in mustard seed during 1939 as a protein responsible for release of essential oil. Until this date, myrosinases have been characterized from more than 20 species of Brassica, cabbage aphid, and many bacteria residing in the human intestine. All the plant myrosinases are reported to be activated by ascorbic acid while aphid and bacterial myrosinases are found to be either neutral or inhibited. Myrosinase catalyzes hydrolysis of the S-glycosyl bond, O-β glycosyl bond, and O-glycosyl bond. This review summarizes information on myrosinase, an essential component of this binary system, including its structural and molecular properties, mechanism of action, and its regulation and will be beneficial for the research going on the understanding and betterment of the glucosinolate-myrosinase system from an ecological and nutraceutical perspective.

Abstract P6-20-10: Role of GPR110 in breast cancer

Our long-term goal is to discover adhesion GPCR targets in breast cancer. Our previous studies have found GPR110 to be overexpressed in tumorigenic cell population as well as in anti-HER2 drug-resistant derivatives of HER2+ breast cancer cells. In subsequent studies, we found that GPR110 knockdown inhibited anchorage-independent cell growth, mammosphere formation, and invasion/migration of HER2+ breast cancer cells. Conversely, overexpression of GPR110 by lentiviral delivery of cDNA enhanced anchorage-independent cell growth, mammosphere formation, and invasion/migration in HER2+ breast cancer cells. In addition, GPR110 overexpression led to increase in the % of Aldefluor-positive tumorigenic cell population, further emphasizing the role of GPR110 as a mediator of tumorigenesis in addition to the metastatic processes in HER2+ breast cancer. Among various subtypes of breast cancer, GPR110 expression was higher in HER2+ and basal subtypes, most of which are triple-negative (negative for ER, PR, and HER2), compared to luminal A and B subtypes. GPR110 was either gene amplified or upregulated in 4% of all breast cancers based on the publicly available TCGA dataset. GPR110 overexpression predicted poorer recurrence-free survival in triple-negative breast cancer. Furthermore, GPR110 was overexpressed in brain metastatic lesions compared to mammary tumors in patient-derived xenograft models of triple-negative breast cancer (WHIM2 and WHIM30). Knocking down GPR110 reduced anchorage-dependent and -independent cell growth, mammosphere formation, and invasion/migration of triple-negative breast cancer cells. Overall, our results suggest that GPR110 may be a potential drug target in HER2+ and triple-negative breast cancer. Drug discovery efforts to identify GPR110 antagonists will provide useful pharmacological tools for validating GPR110 as a drug target in breast cancer. Since GPR110 is also overexpressed in various other types of cancer, understanding the mechanism of GPR110 upregulation and signaling in cancer is an important future direction.

This work was supported by the Department of Defense Grants W81XWH-14-1-0340 and W81XWH-14-1-0341 to Drs. Trivedi and Schiff, respectively.

Citation Format: Bhat R, Qin L, De Angelis C, Sahay D, Bhargava D, Creighton C, Yadav P, Yazdanfard S, Alrawi A, Yadav V, Vasaikar S, Nanda S, Sethunath V, Fu X, Zhang B, Narkar V, Schiff R, Trivedi M. Role of GPR110 in breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-20-10.

CRISPR/Cas approach: A new way of looking at plant-abiotic interactions

It is not the most grounded of the species that survive, nor the most shrewd, however one most receptive to change. Crop plants being sessile are subjected to various abiotic stresses resulting significant yield losses about an average of more than 50 percent, thus greatly threatening the global crop production. In this regard, plant breeding innovations and genetic engineering approaches have been used in the past for generating stress tolerant crop genotypes, but due to complex inheritance of abiotic stress tolerance these approaches are not enough to bring significant trait improvement and to guarantee world's future sustenance security. Although, RNA interference (RNAi) technology has been utilized amid the most recent decades to produce plants tolerant to environmental stress. But this technique ordinarily prompts to down-regulate as opposed to complete inhibition of target genes. Therefore, scientist/researchers were looking for techniques that should be efficient, precise and reliable as well as have potential to solve the issues experienced by previous approaches, and hence the CRISPR/Cas system came into spotlight. Although, only few studies using CRISPR/Cas approach for targeting abiotic stress tolerance related genes have been reported, but suggested its effective role for future applications in molecular breeding to improve abiotic stress tolerance. Hence, genome engineering via CRISPR-Cas system for targeted mutagenesis promise its immense potential in generating elite cultivars of crop plants with enhanced and durable climate resilience. Lastly, CRISPR-Cas will be future of crop breeding as well as to target minor gene variation of complex quantitative traits, and thus will be the key approach to release global hunger and maintain food security.

Stent Graft Exclusion of Pseudo-Aneurysm Arising from PTFE Hemodialysis Graft after Recurrence following Ultrasound Guided Thrombin Injection

There are various non-invasive or minimally invasive techniques for management of pseudoaneurysms including ultrasound guided compression, ultrasound guided thrombin injection and covered stent placement. We report a case where a covered stent graft was successfully used for the treatment of a pseudoaneurysm directly arising from a PTFE graft which recurred 3 months following treatment with ultrasound guided thrombin injection.

Lectin-gated and glycan functionalized mesoporous silica nanocontainers for targeting cancer cells overexpressing Lewis X antigen

Gated mesoporous silica nanoparticles can deliver payload upon the application of a predefined stimulus, and therefore are promising drug delivery systems. Despite their important role, relatively low emphasis has been placed on the design of gating systems that actively target carbohydrate tumor cell membrane receptors. We describe herein a new Lewis X (Le^x) antigen-targeted delivery system comprising mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) loaded with ATTO 430LS dye, functionalized with a Le^x derivative (1) and capped with a fucose-specific carbohydrate-binding protein (Aleuria aurantia lectin (AAL)). This design takes advantage of the affinity of AAL for Le^x overexpressed receptors in certain cancer cells. In the proximity of the cells, AAL is detached from MSNs to bind Le^x, and selectins in the cells bind Le^x in the gated MSNs, thereby inducing cargo delivery. Gated MSNs are nontoxic to colon cancer DLD-1 cells, and ATTO 430LS dye delivered correlated with the amount of Le^x antigen overexpressed at the DLD-1 cell surface. This is one of the few examples of MSNs using biologically relevant glycans for both capping (via interaction with AAL) and targeting (via interaction with overexpressed Le^x at the cell membrane).

Detection of Free Radicals in Electron Beam-Irradiated Mucuna pruriens (L. DC.) Seeds by Electron Spin Resonance

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was employed to detect free radicals in raw Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean) seeds after electron beam irradiation (Microtron source: 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15 and 30 kGy) and conventional processing (roasting, powdering and cooking). The ESR signal of irradiated seeds (g=2.0055±0.0001) was more prominent in the seed coat than cotyledon. Seed coat of irradiated samples showed dose-dependent linear increase of this signal (g = 2.0055) accompanied by a weak triplet (satellite peak; aH = 3 mT) produced exclusively by radiolysis and could be used as an indication of successful irradiation. Irradiated cotyledon portion devoid of satellite peak (triplet) showed a linear increase in signal intensity up to 10 kGy with a sharp decline at higher doses (15 and 30kGy). Stability of radiation-induced ESR signals after 6 months of storage (25 ± 1°C) revealed the presence of a weak triplet with a substantial loss of signal intensity. Thermal effects such as roasting and powdering of seeds increased the signal intensity (g = 2.0055) similar to or in greater proportion than irradiation. Phenolics in seeds, which contribute significantly to detect free radicals in vegetative parts of a plant showed a waning trend in seed coat, while it was vice versa in cotyledon. Textural studies revealed significant loss in firmness after irradiation (p<0.05), which might favour in minimising the cooking time. Results of the present study might help to divulge the beneficial effects of application of electron beam irradiation technology as a better alternative to fumigants in seed preservation for safety and quarantine purposes.

Dynamics of glucosinolate-myrosinase system during Plutella xylostella interaction to a novel host Lepidium latifolium L

Plutella xylostella L. is a notorious pest of cruciferous crops causing worldwide losses of $4-5 billion per year. Developing classical biological control to this pest include an introduction of host plants that act as natural enemies showing deviation from the preference-performance regimen in the evolutionary ecology of plant-insect interactions. The present study was designed to understand the role of glucosinolate-myrosinase system during P. xylostella interactions with a novel host. Adult moth preference and larval performance study were conducted on a novel host Lepidium latifolium L. (LL) that has high sinigrin content and was compared with its laboratory host Arabidopsis thaliana (AT). The glucosinolate-myrosinase system was studied in a time course experiment during larval feeding in choice and no-choice experiments. Adult moths visit and prefers LL over AT for oviposition. Conversely, LL leaves were not preferred and proved detrimental for P. xylostella larvae. Aliphatic and indolic glucosinolates were found to decrease significantly (p≤0.05) in AT during initial 12h of P. xylostella challenge, whereas, they were not affected in LL. Also, MYB transcription factor expression and myrosinase activity in LL do not suggest a typical host response to a specialist insect. This preference-performance mismatch of P. xylostella on LL mediated by glucosinolate pattern suggests that this novel plant could be utilized in P. xylostella management.

Disorders of the lymphatic system of the abdomen

The lymphatic system of the abdomen comprises of the cisterna chyli, its major and minor lymphatic tributaries, and lymph nodes. Disorders of the lymphatic system of the abdomen are rarely encountered and consist of primary and secondary types. Abdominal lymphangiomas constitute the majority and have characteristic imaging features. Complicated lymphangiomas may pose a diagnostic dilemma. Generalised systemic lymphangiomatosis is a rare condition and affects major organs with a poor prognosis. Retroperitoneal lymphangiectasia in the appropriate setting might predict underlying infection, such as filariasis. Other acquired conditions include iatrogenic or treatment-induced chylocoele. Chylous ascites can be secondary to multiple causes and can be confirmed by biochemical testing and lymphangiogram in appropriate settings.

Physiological and biochemical plasticity of Lepidium latifolium as 'sleeper weed' in Western Himalayas

To understand the spread of native populations of Lepidium latifolium growing in different altitudes in Ladakh region of Western Himalayas, photosynthetic and fluorescence characteristics were evaluated in relation to their micro-environment. Three sites representing sparsely populated (SPS), moderately populated (MPS) and densely populated site (DPS) were selected. Results showed that the DPS had higher photosynthetic accumulation than MPS and SPS. The higher transpiration rate at DPS despite lower vapor pressure deficit and higher relative humidity suggest the regulation of its leaf temperature by evaporative cooling. Intrinsic soil parameters such as water holding capacity and nutrient availability also play crucial role in higher biomass here. The quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), ΦPSII) and light curve at various PPFDs suggests better light harvesting potential and light compensation point at DPS than the other two sites. Concomitantly, plants at SPS had significantly higher lipid peroxidation, suggesting a stressful environment, and higher induction of antioxidative enzymes. Metabolic content of reduced glutathione also suggests an efficient mechanism in DPS and MPS than SPS. High light intensities at MPS are managed by specialized contrive of carotenoid pigments and PsbS gene product. Large pool of violaxanthin and lutein plays an important role in this response. It is suggested that L. latifolium is present as 'sleeper weed' that has inherent biochemical plasticity involving multiple processes in Western Himalayas. Its potential spread is linked to site-specific micro-environment, whereby, it prefers flat valley bottoms with alluvial fills having high water availability, and has little or no altitudinal effect.

Purification and Characterization of a Novel Redox-Regulated Isoform of Myrosinase (β-Thioglucoside Glucohydrolase) from Lepidium latifolium L

Myrosinase (ExPASy entry EC 3.2.1.147) is involved in the hydrolysis of glucosinolates to isothiocyanates, nitriles, and thiocyanates that are responsible for various ecological and health benefits. Myrosinase was purified from the leaves of Lepidium latifolium, a high-altitude plant, to homogeneity in a three-step purification process. Purified enzyme exists as dimer in native form (∼160 kDa) with a subunit size of ∼70 kDa. The enzyme exhibited maximum activity at pH 6.0 and 50 °C. With sinigrin as substrate, the enzyme showed Km and Vmax values of 171 ± 23 μM and 0.302 μmol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively. The enzyme was found to be redox-regulated, with an increase in Vmax and Kcat in the presence of GSH. Reduced forms of the enzyme were found to be more active. This thiol-regulated kinetic behavior of myrosinase signifies enzyme's strategy to fine-tune its activity in different redox environments, thus regulating its biological effects.

Thermoresponsive block copolymer micelles with tunable pyrrolidone-based polymer cores: structure/property correlations and application as drug carriers

Residue structure affects the physicochemical properties, drug loading efficiency, and thermoresponsive drug release profiles of block copolymer micelles with pyrrolidone-based polymer cores.

Effect of residue structure on the thermal and thermoresponsive properties of γ-substituted poly(N-acryloyl-2-pyrrolidones)

We discuss the results of an investigation into the structure/property correlations of γ-substituted poly(N-acryloyl-2-pyrrolidone)s, a recently reported class of pyrrolidone-based polymers prepared from pyroglutamic acid, a bio-derived resource.

The use of cinacalcet in pregnancy to treat a complex case of parathyroid carcinoma

We present the case of a patient with metastatic parathyroid carcinoma whose hypercalcaemia was medically managed through two pregnancies. The diagnosis was made when the patient presented with chronic knee pain and radiological findings consistent with a brown tumour, at the age of 30. Her corrected calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were significantly elevated. Following localisation studies, a right parathyroidectomy was performed with histology revealing parathyroid carcinoma, adherent to thyroid tissue. Aged 33, following biochemical recurrence of disease, the patient underwent a second operation. A subsequent CT and FDG–PET revealed bibasal pulmonary metastases. Aged 35, the patient was referred to our unit for treatment of persistent hypercalcaemia. The focus of treatment at this time was debulking metastatic disease using radiofrequency ablation. Despite advice to the contrary, the patient conceived twice while taking cinacalcet. Even though there are limited available data regarding the use of cinacalcet in pregnancy, both pregnancies continued to term with the delivery of healthy infants, using intensive medical management for persistent hypercalcaemia.

Dysferlin regulates cell membrane repair by facilitating injury-triggered acid sphingomyelinase secretion

Dysferlin deficiency compromises the repair of injured muscle, but the underlying cellular mechanism remains elusive. To study this phenomenon, we have developed mouse and human myoblast models for dysferlinopathy. These dysferlinopathic myoblasts undergo normal differentiation but have a deficit in their ability to repair focal injury to their cell membrane. Imaging cells undergoing repair showed that dysferlin-deficit decreased the number of lysosomes present at the cell membrane, resulting in a delay and reduction in injury-triggered lysosomal exocytosis. We find repair of injured cells does not involve formation of intracellular membrane patch through lysosome-lysosome fusion; instead, individual lysosomes fuse with the injured cell membrane, releasing acid sphingomyelinase (ASM). ASM secretion was reduced in injured dysferlinopathic cells, and acute treatment with sphingomyelinase restored the repair ability of dysferlinopathic myoblasts and myofibers. Our results provide the mechanism for dysferlin-mediated repair of skeletal muscle sarcolemma and identify ASM as a potential therapy for dysferlinopathy.

Modeling the morphodynamic galectin patterning network of the developing avian limb skeleton

We present a mathematical model for the morphogenesis and patterning of the mesenchymal condensations that serve as primordia of the avian limb skeleton. The model is based on the experimentally established dynamics of a multiscale regulatory network consisting of two glycan-binding proteins expressed early in limb development: CG (chicken galectin)-1A, CG-8 and their counterreceptors that determine the formation, size, number and spacing of the "protocondensations" that give rise to the condensations and subsequently the cartilaginous elements that serve as the templates of the bones. The model, a system of partial differential and integro-differential equations containing a flux term to represent local adhesion gradients, is simulated in a "full" and a "reduced" form to confirm that the system has pattern-forming capabilities and to explore the nature of the patterning instability. The full model recapitulates qualitatively and quantitatively the experimental results of network perturbation and leads to new predictions, which are verified by further experimentation. The reduced model is used to demonstrate that the patterning process is inherently morphodynamic, with cell motility being intrinsic to it. Furthermore, subtle relationships between cell movement and the positive and negative interactions between the morphogens produce regular patterns without the requirement for activators and inhibitors with widely separated diffusion coefficients. The described mechanism thus represents an extension of the category of activator-inhibitor processes capable of generating biological patterns with repetitive elements beyond the morphostatic mechanisms of the Turing/Gierer-Meinhardt type.

Abstract P6-04-05: GPR110 overexpression increases tumorigenic potential of HER2+ breast cancer cells

Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-overexpressing (HER2+) breast cancer is an aggressive tumor. Despite the clinical success of anti-HER2 drugs such as lapatinib (L) and trastuzumab (T), intrinsic and acquired drug resistance occurs in many patients. Identification of novel drug targets in HER2+ breast cancer is an unmet clinical need. In this context, G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) may be excellent drug targets because they cross-talk with the HER family members. However, the expression and function of the majority of GPCRs are unknown in HER2+ breast cancer. In a preliminary study, we examined the differential gene expression of GPCRs in anti-HER2 treatment-resistant derivatives as well as in the tumorigenic cell population, suggested to be involved in resistance, of a BT474 cell line model of HER2+ breast cancer. Anti-HER2 resistant derivatives of BT474 cells were established by long-term exposure of parental cells to increasing concentrations of L, T, or their combination (L+T). Tumorigenic cells were identified as aldehyde dehydrogenase-positive (ALDH+) cells using the Aldefluor assay. RNA was profiled using TaqMan real time RT-PCR GPCR 384-well microarray to quantify the expression of mRNA encoding 343 GPCRs. The publically available TCGA dataset was interrogated to determine differential mRNA expression of selected GPCRs in HER2+ and other subtypes of breast cancer. To determine the functional role of GPR110, BT474 cells were infected with lentiviral GPR110 construct (GPR110-OE) or empty vector (EV), and stable pools were obtained. Anchorage-dependent cell growth was evaluated using MTT cell proliferation assay over 8 days. Tumorigenic potential was determined by calculating the% of ALDH+ cells using Aldefluor assay and by evaluating the anchorage-independent cell growth using soft agar assay over 14 days. The influence of GPR110 overexpression on HER signaling pathway was investigated by measuring the levels of phosphorylated (active) and total protein levels of HER1 and HER2 using immunoblotting. GPR110 was the only GPCR overexpressed in resistant derivatives versus parental cells as well as in ALDH+ versus ALDH- cells of BT474 cells. In TCGA dataset, GPR110 expression was significantly higher in HER2+ and basal subtypes of breast cancer compared to ER+ luminal A and B subtypes. Overexpression of GPR110 in BT474 cells (9-fold in GPR110-OE vs. EV cells) resulted in a marked 5-fold increase in the number of colonies when grown in soft agar compared to EV cells even though anchorage-dependent cell growth was not significantly different between EV and GPR110-OE cells. In addition, GPR110-OE cells had a significantly higher% of ALDH+ population compared to EV cells. Phosphorylated (but not total) HER1 and HER2 protein levels were significantly higher in GPR110-OE cells compared to EV cells, suggesting hyperactive HER signaling with GPR110 overexpression. Experiments with L and T treatment will reveal the role of GPR110 in drug efficacy and acquired resistance. In summary, we show for the first time a pro-tumorigenic role of GPR110 in HER2+ breast cancer. Therefore, GPR110 may be a novel pharmacological target in HER2+ breast cancer.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P6-04-05.

Diagnosis and management of bone metastases

Bone metastases are a common feature of many cancers and patients with a previous history of cancer may present with bony symptoms to many different specialties. It is, however, easy to mistakenly diagnose secondary bone cancer in patients who have abnormal imaging, when the cause of the symptoms and the abnormal imaging results is benign disease. In this review, common diagnostic mistakes are described with examples of imaging of both benign and malignant bony disease. The relative risk of developing bone metastases in different cancers is discussed, as well as the rationale of different therapies for proven bony metastases, such as radiotherapy, bisphosphonate therapy, orthopaedic intervention and vertebroplasty.