Design and development of mechanical test bench for testing and calibration of multiple blood pressure measuring devices

Blood pressure (BP) measurement is an important physiological parameter for human health monitoring, which plays a significant role in the diagnosis of many incurable diseases. However, due to inaccuracies in the different types of BP measuring devices, the calibration of these BP measuring instruments is a major concern for a medical practitioner. Currently, these devices' calibration, testing, and validation are performed using rigorous methods with complex clinical trials and following the available documentary standards. This article describes the design and development of an indigenous mechanical test bench (MTB) system for the testing and calibration of multiple BP devices, as per International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) recommended documents e.g., OIML R 16-1 and OIML R 16-2. The developed system can test and calibrate 20 BP devices, simultaneously. The traceability of the developed MTB is established by performing its calibration against the Air Piston Gauge, a national primary vacuum standard. The estimated expanded measurement uncertainty evaluated is found to be ±0.11 mmHg, which is almost one order better than the measurement uncertainty required for the test and calibration of BP measuring instruments as per standard. The MTB has successfully been used to test and calibrate several BP measuring instruments. The data of one such device is reported herein as an indicator of the performance process. The calibration of these BP measuring instruments was performed in the static mode, and the estimated expanded measurement uncertainty was found to be ±1.25 mmHg. The developed MTB system would prove to be an excellent instrument for calibration laboratories, hospitals, regulatory agencies, and other users to test and calibrate 20 BP measuring devices simultaneously and cost-effectively.

Abstract A027: Identification and role of mega-trans-factors in epithelial ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) accounts for over 90% of ovarian cancer cases and results in 14,000 U.S. deaths annually. It is the leading cause of death attributed to gynecological cancers. Aside from recent scientific advances, the 5-year survival rate for late-stage invasive EOC has been near 30% for several decades. Our computational transcriptional regulatory analysis in low-grade serous ovarian cancers (LGSOCs) vs. high-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOCs) identified a master regulatory complex, Megatrans complex (MTC), the objective of this study is to identify role of MTC in ovarian cancer, never reported before. MTC is estrogen-responsive master regulatory complex containing a multitude of DNA-binding transcription factors (MTC_TFs), including ER-alpha, RAR-alpha, GATA3, AP2-gamma, STAT1, AP1, RUNX1, and FOXA1. Given that we found MTC gene targets are downregulated in HGSOC, and that some target genes are prognostic for poor patient survival, understanding the function of MTC and modulating its activity may improve prognostic outcomes for HGSOC patients. We hypothesize that different combinations of MTC_TFs produce distinct regulatory signatures in different grades of ovarian cancers. In the grade, PEO4, cell line, we have confirmed MTC formation using a gel filtration assay and identified the presence of MTC_TFs by western blot. We discovered tumor suppressor, PITX1, as a novel MTC_TF in ovarian cancer, not previously reported in a breast cancer MTC. Methylation analysis revealed PITX1 and ER-alpha binding to hypomethylated, but repressed promoters and ChIP-seq analysis revealed PITX1 co-occupying 98.8% of ER-alpha binding sites, suggesting a repressive role of PITX1 on ER-alpha regulated genes. We are performing additional ChIP-seq experiments of MTC_TFs in HGSOC and LGSOC cell lines to test whether the MTC_TF binding distinguishes their regulatory signatures. Our findings of a nuclear hormone-regulated MTC complex controlling the transcriptional landscape of ovarian cancer are expected to facilitate new breakthroughs in disease treatment.

Citation Format: Sushil Kumar Jaiswal, Kevin Fedkenheuer, Laura Elnitski. Identification and role of mega-trans-factors in epithelial ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Cancer Epigenomics; 2022 Oct 6-8; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(23 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A027.

Molecular Cytogenetic Classification of Down Syndrome and Screening of Somatic Aneuploidy in Mothers

Down Syndrome (DS) caused by trisomy 21 results in various congenital and developmental complications in children. It is crucial to cytogenetically diagnose the DS cases early for their proper health management and to reduce the risk of further DS childbirths in mothers. In this study, we performed a cytogenetic analysis of 436 suspected DS cases using karyotyping and fluorescent in situ hybridization. We detected free trisomies (95.3%), robertsonian translocations (2.4%), isochromosomes (0.6%), and mosaics (1.2%). We observed a slightly higher incidence of DS childbirth in younger mothers compared to mothers with advanced age. We compared the somatic aneuploidy in peripheral blood of mothers having DS children (MDS) and control mothers (CM) to identify biomarkers for predicting the risk for DS childbirths. No significant difference was observed. After induced demethylation in peripheral blood cells, we did not observe a significant difference in the frequency of aneuploidy between MDS and CM. In conclusion, free trisomy 21 is the most common type of chromosomal abnormality in DS. A small number of DS cases have translocations and mosaicism of chromosome 21. Additionally, somatic aneuploidy in the peripheral blood from the mother is not an effective marker to predict DS childbirths.

Molecular analysis of severe hemophilia B in Indian families: Identification of mutational hotspot and novel variants

INTRODUCTION

Hemophilia B is associated with molecular heterogeneity, with more than 1200 unique variants in the F9 gene. We hereby describe the mutational spectrum of severe hemophilia B patients presenting in a tertiary-care center in India.

METHOD

DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of 35 diagnosed severe hemophilia B patients belonging to 32 families, and were subjected to Sanger sequencing. Determination of the effect of novel variants on the protein structure and correlation between genotype and phenotype was attempted using in-silico tools.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven different mutations were detected in 30 probands, including 20 known and 7 novel variants. Also, we found one suspected case of whole gene deletion. The serine peptidase domain harbored most of the variants (48.1%). Inhibitory antibodies were found in two patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a comprehensive mutational spectrum and mutation screening strategy by Sanger sequencing of F9 gene in severe hemophilia B patients, in a resource-constraint setting.

Abstract 2137: Differential gene expression identifies a transcriptional regulatory network involving ESR1and PITX1 in invasive epithelial ovarian cancer

The heterogeneous subtypes and stages of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) differ in invasive processes, but the molecular factors that drive aggressive behavior remain nebulous. In this study, we analyzed two types of EOC at opposite ends of the invasiveness spectrum, high-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOCs) and serous borderline tumors (SBTs). We identified differentially expressed genes to guide follow on studies of regulatory networks. Initially, in a discovery sample set, we generated transcriptome sequences to identify 11 differentially expressed genes in SBTs and HGSOCs, and a nonoverlapping set of 17 differentially expressed genes stage II and stage III HGSOCs. We validated the classification performance of these gene expression signatures on a validation set of SBT and HGSOC with classification rates of 94 and 98% using the 11-gene and 17-gene sets, respectively. Transcription factor binding sites enriched in the differentially expressed gene promoter regions were examined by Chip-seq analysis in ovarian cancer and other cell lines. We identified a suite of transcription factors implicated in the differential regulation associated with invasiveness, including ERα, RARA, PITX1, FOXA1/FOXF1, and BHLHE41/E40. These data implicate estrogen responsive gene regulatory networks in ovarian cancers and suggest that dynamic regulatory interactions determine malignant EOC outcomes.

Citation Format: Yichao Li, Sushil Kumar Jaiswal, Rupleen Kaur, Dana Alsaadi, Xiaoyu Liang, Frank Drews, Julie A. DeLoia, Thomas Krivak, Hanna M. Petrykowska, Valer Gotea, Lonnie Welch, Elnitski Laura. Differential gene expression identifies a transcriptional regulatory network involving ESR1and PITX1 in invasive epithelial ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2137.

Curcumin mediated attenuation of carbofuran induced toxicity in the heart of Wistar rats

Carbofuran is used to improve the agricultural productivity as well as to protect the house hold and industrial products, but due to accumulation in the biological system, it causes serious side effects in many non-targets mammalian systems. The aim of present study is to evaluate the carbofuran induced oxidative stress in rat heart and its attenuation by using herbal product curcumin. Rats were divided into four groups; one group received 20 % LD50 of carbofuran another group of rats received same doses of carbofuran was  pretreated with curcumin (100 mg kg-1 body weight) and remaining two other groups served as control and curcumin treated animals. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the heart tissues and serum was evaluated and the activity of enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) was estimated in the heart tissues. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in heart tissues was also measured. The Total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) was measured in the serum of the entire animals group. The results of present study showed that the activity of LDH in heart tissues were decreased and in serum was elevated. The MDA level was significantly elevated due to exposure of carbofuran. The enzymatic antioxidants, SOD and CAT activities were also inhibited. The ratio of pro-oxidant (P)/antioxidant (A) was also found to be sharply increased in the rat heart tissues of carbofuran exposed animals. The alterations in all the parameter were recovered by the pretreatment of curcumin (100 mg kg-1 body weight).

Choline metabolic pathway gene polymorphisms and risk for Down syndrome: An association study in a population with folate-homocysteine metabolic impairment

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Choline is an essential nutrient involved in one-carbon metabolism, but its role in mechanisms underlying meiotic non-disjunction is poorly known. The relationship between folate-homocysteine metabolic pathway gene polymorphism and Down syndrome (DS) risk has been widely analyzed, but there are limited reports on its correlation with choline metabolism. In the present case-control association study, we investigated the relationship of three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) rs12325817, choline dehydrogenase (CHDH) rs12676 and homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) rs3733890) of choline metabolism with risk for DS.

SUBJECT/METHODS

Genotyping of 228 mothers of a down syndrome child (DSM) and 200 control mothers (CMs) for all SNPs was performed by PCR coupled with restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

RESULTS

A significantly increased risk for BHMT +742AA genotype with an odds ratio of 4.96 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.66-14.88, P=0.0036) was observed. For PEMT rs12325817 and CHDH rs12676, no significant difference in allelic and genotypic frequencies was observed. In genotypic combination analysis considering PEMT -744GG/CHDH +432GG/BHMT +742GG as the reference combination, PEMT -744GC/CHDH +432GG/BHMT +742GG genotypic combination was significantly higher in DSM compared with that in CMs with an odds ratio of 2.061 (95% CI: 1.10-3.86, P=0.0342). We also observed an epistatic interaction between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) rs1801133 and choline metabolic pathway gene variants.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate impaired choline metabolism showing a greater risk for DS, especially in a population associated with homocysteine-folate impairment. Further studies are required to confirm our findings.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of two Turner syndrome patients with mosaic ring X chromosome

PURPOSE

In the present study, we reported two cases of TS with mosaic ring X chromosome showing common clinical characteristics of TS like growth retardation and ovarian dysfunction. The purpose of the present study was to cytogenetically characterize both cases.

METHODS

Whole blood culture and G-banding were performed for karyotyping the cases following standard protocol. Origin of the ring chromosome and degree of mosaicism were further determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Breakpoints and loss of genetic material in formation of different ring X chromosomes r (X) in cases were determined with the help of cytogenetic microarray.

RESULTS

Cases 1 and 2 with ring chromosome were cytogenetically characterized as 45, X [114]/46Xr (X) (p22.11q21.32) [116] and 45, X [170]/46, Xr (X) (p22.2q21.33) [92], respectively. Sizes of these ring X chromosomes were found to be ~75 and ~95 Mb in cases 1 and 2, respectively, using visual estimation as part of cytogenetic observation. In both cases, we observed breakpoints on Xq chromosome were within relatively narrow region between Xq21.33 and Xq22.1 compared to regions in previously reported cases associated with ovarian dysgenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our observation agrees with the fact that despite of large heterogeneity, severity of the cases with intact X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) is dependent on degree of mosaicism and extent of Xq deletion having crucial genes involved directly or indirectly in various physiological involving ovarian cyclicity.

Role of folate-homocysteine pathway gene polymorphisms and nutritional cofactors in Down syndrome: A triad study

STUDY QUESTION

Do gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in folate-homocysteine (Hcy) pathway have a predisposing role for Down syndrome (DS)?

SUMMARY ANSWER

The study provides evidence that in addition to advanced age, maternal genotype, micronutrient deficiency and elevated Hcy levels, individually and in combination, are risk factors for Down syndrome.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Polymorphisms in certain folate-Hcy-pathway genes (especially the T allele of MTHFR C677T), elevated Hcy and poor folate levels in mothers during pregnancy have been shown to be risk factors for Down syndrome in certain Asian populations (including the eastern region of India), while the same SNPs are not a risk factor in European populations. This conflicting situation alludes to differential gene-environment (nutrition) interactions in different populations which needs to be explored.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Between 2008 and 2012, 151 Down syndrome triads and 200 age-matched controls (Control mothers n = 186) were included in the study. Seven polymorphisms in six genes of folate-Hcy metabolic pathway, along with Hcy, cysteine (Cys), vitamin B12 (vit-B12) and folate levels, were analysed and compared among the case and control groups.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Genotyping was performed by the PCR-RFLP technique. Levels of homocysteine and cysteine were measured by HPLC while vitamin B12 and folate were estimated by chemiluminescence.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

We demonstrate that polymorphisms in the folate-Hcy pathway genes in mothers collectively constitute a genotypic risk for DS which is effectively modified by interactions among genes and by the environment affecting folate, Hcy and vitamin B12 levels. The study also supports the idea that these maternal risk factors provide an adaptive advantage during pregnancy supporting live birth of the DS child.

LIMITATIONS AND REASONS FOR CAUTION

Our inability to obtain genotype and nutritional assessments of unaffected siblings of the DS children was an important limitation of the study. Also, its confinement to a specific geographic region (the eastern part) of India, and relatively small sample size is a limitation. A parallel investigation on another population could add greater authenticity to the data.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

For mothers genetically susceptible to deliver a DS child (particularly in South Asia), peri-conceptional nutritional supplementation and antenatal care could potentially reduce the risk of a DS child. Additionally, nutritional strategies could possibly be used for better management of the symptoms of DS children.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS

The work is funded through Programme support for Genetic disorders by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India to R.R. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Maternal risk for down syndrome and polymorphisms in the promoter region of the DNMT3B gene: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Epigenetic changes leading to improper methylation of the pericentromeric region of chromosome 21 may contribute to the nondisjunction of this chromosome. Polymorphisms in the DNA Methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) gene, one of the crucial gene of the folate metabolism, affects the activity of the enzyme and increases the susceptibility of nondisjunction in mothers of Down syndrome children (MDS).

METHODS

Considering this hypothesis we investigated the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of the DNMT3B gene (rs1569686 -579G>T; rs2424913 -149C>T) with a predisposition of mothers to deliver a Down syndrome (DS) child. The study was performed on DNA samples from 150 MDS and 172 control mothers. Transmission disequilibrium tests were performed on 103 DS trio families. Genotyping was done using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

RESULTS

With respect to the single nucleotide polymorphisms studied, no significant difference was observed in the genotypes and alleles frequency distributions between MDS and control mothers. The frequency of the DNMT3B-579G allele was, respectively, 0.34 in MDS and 0.33 in control mothers whereas the frequency of the DNMT3B-149C allele was respectively 0.31 in MDS and 0.26 in control mothers. No significant deviation in genotypic combinations as well as in transmission disequilibrium tests analysis was observed. However, a strong linkage disequilibrium was observed with significant differences in the distribution of G-T and G-C haplotypes among case and control mothers.

CONCLUSION

Although the above studied polymorphisms of DNMT3B may not be an independent risk factor it might be possible that certain allelic combinations (G-T) are. This finding suggests that DNMT3B might be a maternal risk factor for DS in our Indian cohort. Replication studies are required to confirm these findings.

Co-occurrence of mosaic supernumerary isochromosome 18p and intermittent 2q13 deletions in a child with multiple congenital anomalies

The present study deals with karyotpye-phenotype correlations in a six month old child with multiple congenital abnormalities. Cytogenetic analysis revealed mosaicism of a small metacentric supernumerary marker chromosome with a karyotype mos 47,XY+mar[34]/46,XY[31]. Cytogenetic microarray result showed three copies of chromosome 18p (15,400 kb in size). Moreover, 255 kbp intermittent deletion of chromosome 2q13 involving RGPD5, RGPD6, LIMS3, and LIMS3-LOC440895 was also observed. Correlating microarray data with the mosaic karyotype, the marker chromosome was identified as mosaic isochromosome 18p and was found to be 32,600 kbp in size. Baby resembled clinical characteristics of trisomy chromosome 18p, isochromosome 18p and trisomy chromosome 18. The present study suggested that deletion of evolutionarily conserved developmental genes (RGPD5, RGPD and LIMS3) in the 2q13 region might have contributed to more severity in phenotype as compared to so far such reported cases of 18p trisomy's, as these are involved in nuclear-cytoplasm trafficking, signaling for tissue patterning and differentiation.

Effect of carbofuran on some biochemical indices of human erythrocytes in vitro

Pesticides are used in agriculture to protect crops. Its widespread use in agriculture represents a threat not only to the environment but also to human populations exposed to them. Erythrocytes serve as an excellent model system to study the interaction of pro-oxidants. Organocarbamates are known to produce free radical species and to induce toxicity to different body systems resulting into hematological and biochemical perturbations. The information available relating to the effect of organocarbamates on the biochemical indices of human erythrocytes is scanty. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the impact of carbofuran, a carbamate pesticide, on some key biochemical indices of human erythrocytes' membrane. The oxidative potential of the pesticide was assessed in vitro by monitoring the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in human erythrocytes exposed to different sub-acute concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 25 and 50μM) of carbofuran for different time intervals; maximally up to 120 min. It was observed that the level of MDA was elevated and that of GSH was significantly decreased after treatment of erythrocytes with carbofuran. The results indicated the negative impact of carbofuran in concentration and time dependent manner. Carbofuran was also found to sharply inhibit the activity of membrane bound Na(+)K(+)-ATPase at higher carbofuran concentrations (10, 25 and 50μM). Further, carbofuran at aforesaid concentrations was also found to cause significant rise in the osmotic fragility of human erythrocytes indicating adverse effect on membrane fluidity. The results of present study suggested that carbofuran was able to alter the oxidative balance and the stability of human erythrocytes membrane.

Identification of Molecular Marker and Aggressiveness for Different Groups of Bipolaris sorokiniana Isolates Causing Spot Blotch Disease in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

One hundred fifty-five isolates of Bipolaris sorokiniana of wheat were studied for their morphopathological characterization. These isolates were grouped in five categories--black, brown/dull black, gray cottony growth, dull white/greenish black, and white--on the basis of their growth pattern. The frequency of the black suppressed type was maximum (45.63%), whereas the white isolate displayed lowest frequency (6.96%) in the natural population. Twenty RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) primers were used to observe the variability among the identified groups of B. sorokininana. From each group, eight random isolates were investigated. A total of 143 bands were amplified, out of which 107 (74.83%) were polymorphic and 36 (25.17%) were monomorphic. On an average, the total numbers of bands generated per primer were 7.15, of which 5.35 and 1.80 were polymorphic and monomorphic, respectively. Dendrograms based on molecular polymorphism unveiled a considerable amount of diversity among the isolates. Specific DNA bands were identified for selected isolates. The distinct markers appeared to be potential enough to be employed as genetic fingerprints for future strain identification and classification. The study indicated that the RAPD primers provide an easy, rapid, and simple technique for the preliminary assessment of genetic diversity among the fungal isolates.

Fluctuant hearing loss

122 cases of fluctuant hearing loss were studied. Serous otitis media was commonest followed by Meniere's disease, Acoustic neuroma, fistula of round and oval window, oto-mandibular syndrome, Congenital cholesteatoma and maxillary sinusitis. Cases of Arachnoid cyst, Multiple sclerosis, abnormalities of base of skull and craniocervical region and cervical rib causing fluctuant hearing loss could not be detected. Aetio pathophysiology of all discussed.

Radio-protective effect of garlic Allium sativum Linn. in albino rats

S-allyl cysteine sulphoxide (SACS), a sulphur containing aminoacid of garlic is the precursor of allicin and garlic oil, and has been found to show significant radio protective effect in albino rats which were whole body irradiated with 400 rads of irradiation by Cobalt 60 source. It markedly reduced the radiation induced mortality and showed significant protection against the tissue damaging effects of irradiation in histopathological sections of liver and lung.