SIRT6 in Regulation of Mitochondrial Damage and Associated Cardiac Dysfunctions: A Possible Therapeutic Target for CVDs

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) can be described as a global health emergency imploring possible prevention strategies. Although the pathogenesis of CVDs has been extensively studied, the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in CVD development has yet to be investigated. Diabetic cardiomyopathy, ischemic-reperfusion injury, and heart failure are some of the CVDs resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction Recent evidence from the research states that any dysfunction of mitochondria has an impact on metabolic alteration, eventually causes the death of a healthy cell and therefore, progressively directing to the predisposition of disease. Cardiovascular research investigating the targets that both protect and treat mitochondrial damage will help reduce the risk and increase the quality of life of patients suffering from various CVDs. One such target, i.e., nuclear sirtuin SIRT6 is strongly associated with cardiac function. However, the link between mitochondrial dysfunction and SIRT6 concerning cardiovascular pathologies remains poorly understood. Although the Role of SIRT6 in skeletal muscles and cardiomyocytes through mitochondrial regulation has been well understood, its specific role in mitochondrial maintenance in cardiomyocytes is poorly determined. The review aims to explore the domain-specific function of SIRT6 in cardiomyocytes and is an effort to know how SIRT6, mitochondria, and CVDs are related.

Design and analysis of solitary AC-AC converter using reduced components for efficient power generation system

Considering different applications that require varied power and voltage conversion levels between AC grids and AC loads, AC-AC power conversion between AC grids has become an inevitable technology of energy management systems. An isolated converter for performing AC-to-AC transmission is proposed with minimal components for reduced losses and enhanced system efficiency. Single-phase direct buck-boost AC to AC converter with minimum components constituted with two dual IGBT control units (IGBT 1-IGBT 4), inductor (Lf), and capacitor (Cf) is proposed in this work. The MATLAB/Simulink platform is used to provide in-depth analysis of the circuit and components along with the design guidelines, and simulation outcomes of this proposed model. The voltage gains of G = 2.13, power factor of 0.97, and overall efficiency of 98% are achieved in the proposed system with minimum components of 4 switches, 2 conductors, and 1 capacitor and inductor respectively. The obtained results are compared with existing technology to evaluate the proposed system.

Mechanisms Behind the Pharmacological Application of Biochanin-A: A review

This review was aimed at summarizing the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind the various pharmacological actions of biochanin-A. Many studies have been reported claiming its application in cancers, metabolic disorders, airway hyperresponsiveness, cardiac disorders, neurological disorders, etc. With regard to hormone-dependent cancers like breast, prostate, and other malignancies like pancreatic, colon, lung, osteosarcoma, glioma that has limited treatment options, biochanin-A revealed agreeable results in arresting cancer development. Biochanin-A has also shown therapeutic benefits when administered for neurological disorders, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, and other chronic diseases/disorders. Isoflavones are considered phenomenal due to their high efficiency in modifying the physiological functions of the human body. Biochanin-A is one among the prominent isoflavones found in soy (glycine max), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and alfalfa sprouts, etc., with proven potency in modulating vital cellular mechanisms in various diseases. It has been popular for ages among menopausal women in controlling symptoms. In view of the multi-targeted functions of biochanin-A, it is essential to summarize it's mechanism of action in various disorders. The safety and efficacy of biochanin-A needs to be established in clinical trials involving human subjects. Biochanin-A might be able to modify various systems of the human body like the cardiovascular system, CNS, respiratory system, etc. It has shown a remarkable effect on hormonal cancers and other cancers. Many types of research on biochanin-A, particularly in breast, lung, colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancers, have shown a positive impact. Through modulating oxidative stress, SIRT-1 expression, PPAR gamma receptors, and other multiple mechanisms biochanin-A produces anti-diabetic action. The diverse molecular mechanistic pathways involved in the pharmacological ability of biochanin-A indicate that it is a very promising molecule and can play a major impact in modifying several physiological functions.

Rice husk as a potential source of silicate to oceanic phytoplankton

Global oceans are witnessing changes in the phytoplankton community composition due to various environmental stressors such as rising temperature, stratification, nutrient limitation, and ocean acidification. The Arabian Sea is undergoing changes in its phytoplankton community composition, especially during winter, with the diatoms being replaced by harmful algal blooms (HABs) of dinoflagellates. Recent studies have already highlighted dissolved silicate (DSi) limitation and change in Silicon (Si)/Nitrogen (N) ratios as the factors responsible for the observed changes in the phytoplankton community in the Arabian Sea. Our investigation also revealed Si/N < 1 in the northern Arabian Sea, indicating DSi limitation, especially during winter. Here, we demonstrate that rice husk with its phytoliths is an important source of bioavailable DSi for oceanic phytoplankton. Our experiment showed that a rice husk can release ∼12 μM of DSi in 15 days and can release DSi for ∼20 days. The DSi availability increased diatom abundance up to ∼9 times. The major benefitted diatom species from DSi enrichment were Nitzshia spp., Striatella spp., Navicula spp., Dactiliosolen spp., and Leptocylindrus spp. The increase in diatom abundance was accompanied by an increase in fucoxanthin and dimethyl sulphide (DMS), an anti-greenhouse gas. Thus, the rice husk with its buoyancy and slow DSi release has the potential to reduce HABs, and increase diatoms and fishery resources in addition to carbon dioxide (CO₂) sequestration in DSi-limited oceanic regions such as the Arabian Sea. Rice husk if released at the formation site of the Subantarctic mode water in the Southern Ocean could supply DSi to the thermocline in the global oceans thereby increasing diatom blooms and consequently the biotic carbon sequestration potential of the entire ocean.

LTSI Consensus Guidelines: Preoperative Pulmonary Evaluation in Adult Liver Transplant Recipients

The relationship between chronic liver disease and respiratory symptoms and hypoxia is well recognized. Over the last century, three pulmonary complications specific to chronic liver disease (CLD) have been characterized: hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and hepatic hydrothorax. Apart from that coexisting pulmonary disease like chronic obstructive lung disease and interstitial lung disease also complicate the outcomes after liver transplantation (LT). Assessment for evaluation of underlying pulmonary disorders is essential to improve outcomes in patients with CLD, posted for LT. This consensus guideline of the Liver Transplant Society of India (LTSI) provides a comprehensive review of pulmonary issues in CLD, related and unrelated to underlying liver disease and gives recommendations for pulmonary screening in specific clinical scenarios in adults with chronic liver disease planned for LT. This document also aims to standardize the strategies for preoperative evaluation of these pulmonary issues in this subset of patients. Proposed recommendations were based on selected single case reports, small series, registries, databases, and expert opinion. The paucity of randomized, controlled trials in either of these disorders was noted. Additionally, this review will highlight the lacunae in our current evaluation strategy, challenges faced, and will provide direction to potentially useful futuristic preoperative evaluation strategies.

Organic carbon dynamics in the continental shelf waters of the eastern Arabian Sea

The seasonal and spatial distribution of total organic carbon (TOC) is presented for the coastal waters of the eastern Arabian Sea, which experiences seasonal suboxia during the late southwest monsoon (SWM). This study reveals that high TOC was observed off Kochi as compared to Goa and Mangalore transects, and may be attributed to stronger upwelling along the Kerala coast. This is also supported by the excess carbon due to upwelling during the late SWM that varied from 37 μM (Goa), 39 μM (Mangalore), to 51 μM (Kochi). Our seasonal data from 2014 to 2020 at the Goa transect indicates that high TOC is seen during late SWM to fall inter monsoon (FIM) and between the late northeast monsoon (NEM) to the early spring inter monsoon (SIM). The high TOC concentrations and C/N ratios observed during the FIM are a combination of high primary production, the buildup of remnant organic matter from the previous season (due to prevailing low oxygen conditions), accumulation of refractory organic carbon, and release from diatoms (especially Chaetoceros sp.). Inter-annual variations indicate that phytoplankton blooms resulted in higher TOC concentrations, especially during the year 2020. Based on a comparison with an Elnino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) year (2015), we can infer that the partitioning of carbon may increase from particulate to dissolved phase in future warming scenarios.

Cognition enhancing effect of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) in lab animal studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Patients with mild cognitive impairment eventually progress to Alzheimer's disease (AD) causing a strong impact on public health. Rosmarinus officinalis has long been known as the herb of remembrance and can be a potential cognition enhancer for AD. The aim of this review was to summarize the qualitative and quantitative aspects of R. officinalis and its active constituents in enhancing cognition. A structured search was conducted on Google Scholar and PubMed to find relevant studies that assessed the effect of R. officinalis extract or any of its active constituents on cognitive performance in animals. The following information was extracted from each study: 1) article information; 2) characteristics of study animals; 3) type of intervention: type, dose, duration, and frequency of administration of R. officinalis; and 4) type of outcome measure. Data were analyzed using Review Manager and meta-analysis was performed by computing the standardized mean difference. Twenty-three studies were selected for qualitative analysis and fifteen for meta-analysis. From the fifteen included papers, 22 with 35 comparisons were meta-analyzed. Effect sizes for intact and cognitively impaired animals were 1.19 (0.74, 1.64) and 0.57 (0.19, 0.96), indicating a positive effect on both groups. The subgroup analyses showed substantial unexplained heterogeneity among studies. Overall, R. officinalis improved cognitive outcomes in normal and impaired animals, and results were robust across species, type of extract, treatment duration, and type of memory. However, studies had a considerable amount of heterogeneity, and subgroup analyses failed to find any heterogeneity moderator.

Total organic carbon and its role in oxygen utilization in the eastern Arabian Sea

We report seasonal and temporal variation of total organic carbon (TOC) in the eastern Arabian Sea (AS). In comparison to the deep, TOC in the top 100 m showed spatial variation with higher concentrations towards northern AS during North east monsoon (NEM) and South west monsoon (SWM). A comparison with the US-JGOFS data (1995) shows warmer temperatures, enhanced TOC and low chlorophyll in the recent years. High TOC is associated with Arabian Sea high saline waters (ASHSW), advected from the Arabian Gulf, might have resulted in an enhancement of TOC in the eastern AS. This excess TOC supports a high abundance of bacteria despite the low primary productivity. TOC oxidation accounted for 14.3% and 22.5% of oxygen consumption for waters with potential density between 24.5 and 27.3 kg/m³. This study attains great significance considering the missing links with respect to the role of transport processes in ocean deoxygenation under ongoing warming scenarios.

Animal models of chemotherapy-induced cognitive decline in preclinical drug development

RATIONALE

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI), chemobrain, and chemofog are the common terms for mental dysfunction in a cancer patient/survivor under the influence of chemotherapeutics. CICI is manifested as short/long term memory problems and delayed mental processing, which interferes with a person's day-to-day activities. Understanding CICI mechanisms help in developing therapeutic interventions that may alleviate the disease condition. Animal models facilitate critical evaluation to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and form an integral part of verifying different treatment hypotheses and strategies.

OBJECTIVES

A methodical evaluation of scientific literature is required to understand cognitive changes associated with the use of chemotherapeutic agents in different preclinical studies. This review mainly emphasizes animal models developed with various chemotherapeutic agents individually and in combination, with their proposed mechanisms contributing to the cognitive dysfunction. This review also points toward the analysis of chemobrain in healthy animals to understand the mechanism of interventions in absence of tumor and in tumor-bearing animals to mimic human cancer conditions to screen potential drug candidates against chemobrain.

RESULTS

Substantial memory deficit as a result of commonly used chemotherapeutic agents was evidenced in healthy and tumor-bearing animals. Spatial and episodic cognitive impairments, alterations in neurotrophins, oxidative and inflammatory markers, and changes in long-term potentiation were commonly observed changes in different animal models irrespective of the chemotherapeutic agent.

CONCLUSION

Dyscognition exists as one of the serious side effects of cancer chemotherapy. Due to differing mechanisms of chemotherapeutic agents with differing tendencies to alter behavioral and biochemical parameters, chemotherapy may present a significant risk in resulting memory impairments in healthy as well as tumor-bearing animals.

Abstract A001: Improving cancer germline testing in rural Appalachian populations with ORIEN

Background: Reduced access to treatment advances in rural populations contributes to increased cancer mortality. Rural Appalachian Kentucky is a geographically isolated population with a unique carcinogen exposure and a low frequency guideline-recommended germline testing. To improve testing rates, a return of germline results program for patients enrolled in the Total Cancer Care (TCC) protocol at Markey Cancer Center (MCC) was initiated. Methods: Pre-intervention testing rates were obtained from the electronic health record. Patient and physician focus groups were conducted to assess barriers to germline testing. Whole exome germline data from TCC patients enrolled in the Avatar subset is analyzed using standard bioinformatics pipeline for known, clinically significant mutations in the 59 American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) genes where return of incidental germline findings is recommended and 21 pharmacogenetic genes. Results are reviewed by our Molecular Tumor Board and a recommendation for confirmatory clinical testing, if needed, is made to the treating physician. Results: Baseline rates of guideline recommended germline testing at MCC in 2018 was 20% of ovarian, 15% of breast, 9% of colon, 3% of pancreas and no metastatic prostate patients. Testing was infrequent in rural communities. Almost all patients who had testing recommended by their physician, had testing performed. Unaffected family members were also rarely tested. Physician focus groups at MCC identified lack of time and low perceived value of the testing as barriers. Rural physicians also identified lack of access to genetic counselors. Patient focus groups in the Appalachian region demonstrated poor quality internet and low knowledge and self- efficacy as major barriers to patients discussing genetic testing with family members. To overcome patient barriers, a preloaded audio card was developed to facilitate discussion with family members. The preloaded audio card was tested in a rural Appalachian community, demonstrating significantly improved knowledge and self-efficacy. To overcome physician barriers, a genetic counselor telemedicine clinic and standing order were initiated. To improve physician perception of test value, the ORIEN return of germline results project was initiated. Of the more than 2000 patients enrolled on TCC at MCC, approximately 40% are from Appalachia, 173 have appropriate consent and specimen availability for germline sequencing and 5 have had results returned. Data describing the first 3 months of this initiative, including frequency of mutations in patients and unaffected family members and acceptance of genetic counselor referrals by physicians, patients and family members will be presented. Conclusion: Rural Appalachian communities identified significant barriers to guideline recommended germline testing, however, ORIEN and the TCC protocol are novel methods to reduce these barriers and improve the rates of testing in both patients and their family members.

Citation Format: Jill Kolesar, Micheal Cavnar, Rachel Miller, Justine Pickarski, Shulin Zhang, Kannabiran Nandakumar, Marissa Schuh, Elizabeth Belcher, Eric Durbin, Ming Poi, Fred Ueland, Isaac Hands, Therese Bocklage, JC Jeong, Susanne Arnold, Mark Evers. Improving cancer germline testing in rural Appalachian populations with ORIEN [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A001.

Anthropogenic spherules in Zuari estuary, south west coast of India

In this study we report silica rich anthropogenic spherules from the marine environment. We found spherical, dumbbell, teardrop and fused spherules in Zuari estuary (near the Dona paula jetty), south west coast of India. The spherules were composed of SiO₂ (69.8%), Na₂O (13.2%), CaO (8.8%), MgO (3.8%), and traces of Al₂O₃, and FeO. Their high Na and Ca contents rules out the possibility of being an impact spherule or microtektite, or anthropogenic spherules coming from fly ash. Their elemental composition suggests that these are glass micro beads that have many applications including production of road and pavement marking materials, such as traffic paints. Considering that the glass micro beads are known to have high concentrations of Pb, As, and Sb that can leach into the marine environment, this study also raises questions regarding the impact of such spherules on marine biota, and highlights the need for further detailed study.

An epidemiological study of dental caries and associated factors among children residing in orphanages in Kerala, India: Health in Orphanages Project (HOPe)

BACKGROUND

It is estimated that, as of 2010, there were 32 million orphaned children in India. There is little published information on the oral health of children in orphanages in India.

AIM

To determine caries status and associated risk factors among children in orphanages in Kerala, India.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study assessed caries using World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, and caries experience was reported as decayed, missing and filled primary or secondary teeth (dmft or DMFT, respectively). A brief questionnaire captured information on child oral health behaviours. Mean [standard deviation (SD)] and median [interquartile range (IQR)] scores were used to describe caries rates. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify independent disease predictors. Study design complexities, such as clustering by orphanage and stratification by district, were accounted for in the multivariable regression analysis. This was carried out using the survey commands in STATA 13. A value of P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,137 children residing in 31 orphanages across the State of Kerala were recruited to the study. Female children made up 82% of the sample. In 6-year-old children the prevalence of caries was 77% and the mean dmft score was 3.60 (SD= 3.50); in 12-year-old children the prevalence of caries was 44% and the mean DMFT score was 1.35 (SD = 1.96). Among 12-year-old children, those who reported being shown how to clean their teeth were less likely to have caries (odds ratio = 0.62; 95% confidence interval: 0.38-0.95).

CONCLUSION

Caries rates among children in orphanages were much higher than among children in the general population in Kerala. There is an urgent need for evidence-based and sustainable primary prevention strategies to reduce the burden of caries in this highly vulnerable population.

Enhanced photoconductivity in CdS/betanin composite nanostructures

The synthesis is described of inorganic/organic hybrid nanostructured composites based on CdS/betanin with enhanced photoconductivity due to the transfer of photogenerated electrons from the conduction band of betanin to the conduction band of CdS.

High voltage generation from lead-free magnetoelectric coaxial nanotube arrays and their applications in nano energy harvesters

Harvesting energy from surrounding vibrations and developing self-powered portable devices for wireless and mobile electronics have recently become popular. Here the authors demonstrate the synthesis of piezoelectric energy harvesters based on nanotube arrays by a wet chemical route, which requires no sophisticated instruments. The energy harvester gives an output voltage of 400 mV. Harvesting energy from a sinusoidal magnetic field is another interesting phenomenon for which the authors fabricated a magnetoelectric energy harvester based on piezoelectric-magnetostrictive coaxial nanotube arrays. Piezoelectric K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃ (KNN) is fabricated as the shell and magnetostrictive CoFe₂O₄ (CFO) as the core of the composite coaxial nanotubes. The delivered voltages are as high as 300 mV at 500 Hz and at a weak ac magnetic field of 100 Oe. Further tailoring of the thickness of the piezoelectric and magnetic layers can enhance the output voltage by several orders. Easy, single-step wet chemical synthesis enhances the industrial upscaling potential of these nanotubes as energy harvesters. In view of the excellent properties reported here, the lead-free piezoelectric component (KNN) in this nanocomposite should be explored for eco-friendly piezoelectric as well as magnetoelectric power generators in nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS).

Targeted sequencing of genome wide significant loci associated with bone mineral density (BMD) reveals significant novel and rare variants: the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) targeted sequencing study

Background

Bone mineral density (BMD) is a heritable phenotype that predicts fracture risk. We performed fine-mapping by targeted sequencing at WLS, MEF2C, ARHGAP1/F2 and JAG1 loci prioritized by eQTL and bioinformatic approaches among 56 BMD loci from our previous GWAS meta-analysis. Targeted sequencing was conducted in 1,291 Caucasians from the Framingham Heart Study ( n =  925) and Cardiovascular Health Study ( n =  366), including 206 women and men with extreme low femoral neck (FN) BMD. A total of 4,964 sequence variants (SNVs) were observed and 80% were rare with MAF <1%. The associations between previously identified SNPs in these loci and BMD, while nominally significant in sequenced participants, were no longer significant after multiple testing corrections. Conditional analyses did not find protein-coding variants that may be responsible for GWAS signals. On the other hand, in the sequenced subjects, we identified novel associations in WLS , ARHGAP1 , and 5' of MEF2C ( P- values < 8x10  -   5 ; false discovery rate (FDR) q-values < 0.01) that were much more strongly associated with BMD compared to the GWAS SNPs. These associated SNVs are less-common; independent from previous GWAS signals in the same loci; and located in gene regulatory elements. Our findings suggest that protein-coding variants in selected GWAS loci did not contribute to GWAS signals. By performing targeted sequencing in GWAS loci, we identified less-common and rare non-coding SNVs associated with BMD independently from GWAS common SNPs, suggesting both common and less-common variants may associate with disease risks and phenotypes in the same loci.

Pro-apoptotic and cytotoxic effects of enriched fraction of Elytranthe parasitica (L.) Danser against HepG2 Hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer accounts for more than one million deaths worldwide. Current treatment modality for HCC is marginally effective. Plants belonging to Mistletoe family (Loranthaceae) have been used in chemotherapy for many years. The present study was aimed at exploring the anti-proliferative, pro-oxidant and pro-apoptotic potential of stem of Elytranthe parasitica (L.) Danser (EP), a parasitic shrub belonging to Loranthaceae.

Methods

Elytranthe parasitica (L.) Danser, a climbing parasitic shrub was investigated for its cytotoxic activity against HepG2, a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line by Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Further, pro-oxidant activity of EP extract/fractions was studied using copper phenanthroline assay. To understand the mechanism of cell death, the pro-apoptotic effects of Hep-G2 cells treated with EP extract/fractions were visualized by dual staining using acridine orange and ethidium bromide, a morphological marker of apoptosis. Phytochemical profiling of EP was explored by estimating the phenol, flavonoid and tannin content in its various fractions and extract. The occurrence of gallic acid, a principal polyphenol in EP extract and fractions was detected and further quantified using HPTLC (High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography) fingerprinting.

Result

Active fraction of Elytranthe parasitica, EP.DEE exhibited potent cytotoxic activity in a dose dependent manner against HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line with an IC50 of 56.7 ± 7.8 μg/mL. Dual staining with acridine orange and ethidium bromide revealed that HepG2 cells treated with EP active fractions underwent cell death chiefly by apoptosis. Highest phenol, flavonoid and tannin content were observed in active fractions, EP.EA (Ethyl acetate fraction) and EP.DEE (Diethyl ether fraction). Gallic acid was identified and quantified in EP extract and active fractions, EP.DEE and EP.EA.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate EP active fraction could be a promising contender in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Oil-material fractionation in Gulf deep water horizontal intrusion layer: Field data analysis with chemodynamic fate model for Macondo 252 oil spill

Among the discoveries of the Deepwater Horizon blowout was the so-called "sub-surface plume"; herein termed the "oil-trapping layer". Hydrocarbons were found positioned at ~1100-1300m with thickness ~100-150m and moving horizontally to the SW in a vertically stratified layer at the junction of the cold abyssal water and the permanent thermocline. This study focuses on its formation process and fate of the hydrocarbons within. The originality of this work to the field is two-fold, first it provides a conceptual framework which places layer origin in the context of a horizontal "intrusion" from the near-field, vertical, blow-out plume and second, it offers a theoretical model for the hydrocarbon chemicals within the horizontal layer as it moves far-afield. The model quantifies the oil-material fractionation process for the soluble and fine particle. The classical Box model, retrofitted with an internal gradient, the "G-Box", allows an approach that includes turbulent eddy diffusion coupled with droplet rise velocity and reactive decay to produce a simple, explicit, transparent, algebraic model with few parameters for the fate of the individual fractions. Computations show the soluble and smallest liquid droplets moving very slowly vertically through the layer appearing within the trapping layer at low concentration with high persistence. The larger droplets move-through this trapping zone quickly, attain high concentrations, and eventually form the sea surface slick. It impacts the field of oil spill engineering science by providing the conceptual idea and the algorithms for projecting the quantities and fractions of oil-material in a deep water, horizontal marine current being dispersed and moving far afield. In the field of oil spill modeling this work extends the current generation near-field plume source models to the far-field. The theory portrays the layer as an efficient oil-material trap. The model-forecasted concentration profiles for alkanes and aromatics against the available field data support the proposed theory and the resulting model.

Standardised extract of safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) increases aphrodisiac potential besides being safe in male Wistar rats

The standardised extract of root of safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) was evaluated for its aphrodisiac potential and safety profile on reproductive system. Wistar albino rats were trained to provide sexual experience under a dim red light (10 W) in a glass tank. Male and female rats were placed periodically in the glass tank in a particular order, that is male followed by introduction of the receptive female. Dosing of extract was carried out for 54 days at 125 and 250 mg kg^-1 p.o to male rats. On 14th and 28th days, the animals were observed from the cage side for sexual behaviours. Safed musli at both dose levels enhanced sexual vigour and libido which might be useful for treatment of sexual dysfunction in male till 28th day. Safety profile was assessed after 54 days of drug treatment, where both doses showed an increase in sperm count and increase in sperm motility. Thus, it can be stated that both doses possessed the spermatogenic potential, which would be highly beneficial in treating oligospermia or low sperm count. After 54 days of study, there was increase in sperm abnormality (%) at both doses, but not more than 10%, which indicated that this formulation will not induce infertility.

Prevalence of Pathogenic Mutations in Cancer Predisposition Genes among Pancreatic Cancer Patients

The prevalence of germline pathogenic mutations in a comprehensive panel of cancer predisposition genes is not well-defined for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). To estimate the frequency of mutations in a panel of 22 cancer predisposition genes, 96 patients unselected for a family history of cancer who were recruited to the Mayo Clinic Pancreatic Cancer patient registry over a 12-month period were screened by next-generation sequencing. Fourteen pathogenic mutations in 13 patients (13.5%) were identified in eight genes: four in ATM, two in BRCA2, CHEK2, and MSH6, and one in BARD1, BRCA1, FANCM, and NBN. These included nine mutations (9.4%) in established pancreatic cancer genes. Three mutations were found in patients with a first-degree relative with PDAC, and 10 mutations were found in patients with first- or second-degree relatives with breast, pancreas, colorectal, ovarian, or endometrial cancers. These results suggest that a substantial proportion of patients with PDAC carry germline mutations in predisposition genes associated with other cancers and that a better understanding of pancreatic cancer risk will depend on evaluation of families with broad constellations of tumors. These findings highlight the need for recommendations governing germline gene-panel testing of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Computational Modeling of Multiphase Reactors

Multiphase reactors are very common in chemical industry, and numerous review articles exist that are focused on types of reactors, such as bubble columns, trickle beds, fluid catalytic beds, etc. Currently, there is a high degree of empiricism in the design process of such reactors owing to the complexity of coupled flow and reaction mechanisms. Hence, we focus on synthesizing recent advances in computational and experimental techniques that will enable future designs of such reactors in a more rational manner by exploring a large design space with high-fidelity models (computational fluid dynamics and computational chemistry models) that are validated with high-fidelity measurements (tomography and other detailed spatial measurements) to provide a high degree of rigor. Understanding the spatial distributions of dispersed phases and their interaction during scale up are key challenges that were traditionally addressed through pilot scale experiments, but now can be addressed through advanced modeling.

Composition-structure–physical property relationship and nonlinear optical properties of multiferroic hexagonal ErMn1−xCrxO3 nanoparticles

Nanocrystalline multiferroic ErMn_1−xCr_xO₃ exhibits canted antiferromagnetism with a spin-glass transition and strong nonlinear optical absorption.

Abstract 4714: The association of glioma germline risk SNPs with mutation-based molecular subgroups

Background: Specific germline alterations within the TERT, EGFR, CCDC26, CDKN2A/B, PHLDB1, TP53 and RTEL1 regions are associated with development of glioma. While some of these germline variants are associated with all gliomas (e.g. rs2736100 in TERT), others are associated with a specific morphologic and/or molecular subtype. For example, the RTEL1 region variants are associated with primary glioblastoma and rs55705857 in CCDC26 is associated with 1p/19q co-deleted oligodendrogliomas and with IDH mutant astrocytic gliomas. We hypothesized that germline variants in these regions will be associated with other molecular subtypes. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and other groups have described molecular subtypes of glioma based on acquired somatic mutation patterns. Herein, we grouped glioma patients into mutation-based molecular subgroups based on three molecular alterations and determined if germline polymorphisms are associated with these mutation-based molecular subtypes.

Methods: Five molecular subtypes were defined based on combinations of the following molecular alterations: TERT promoter mutation (TERTmut vs. TERTwt), IDH1/2 mutation (IDH mut vs. IDH wt) and 1p/19q co-deletion (1p19qcodel vs. 1p19q noncodel). Germline single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were evaluated by custom Illumina array analysis of blood-derived DNA and 1K genome imputation.

Results: One hundred ninety-nine gliomas (24 oligodendrogliomas, 59 mixed oligoastrocytomas, 41 grade 2-3 astrocytomas and 75 glioblastomas) had both SNP data and mutation data available in order to assign them into the five molecular subgroups. The prevalence of each of the molecular subtypes was as follows: TERTmut/IDHmut/1p19qcodel (20%), TERTmut/IDHmut/1p19qnoncodel (5%), TERTmut/IDHwt/1p19qnoncodel (32%), TERTwt/IDHmut/1p19qnondel (35%) and TERTwt/IDHwt/1p19qnoncodel (8%). The TERT SNP (rs2736100) was protective for TERTmut/IDHmut/1p19qnoncodel and TERTwt/IDHmut/1p19qnoncodel gliomas. The CCDC26 SNP (rs55705857) was strongly associated with the risk of developing TERTmut/IDHmut/1p19qcodel and TERTwt/IDHmut/1p19qnoncodel gliomas. The TP53 SNP (rs7837822) was strongly associated with risk of developing TERTmut/IDHmut/1p19qnoncodel and TERTwt/IDHmut/1p19qnoncodel gliomas. Interestingly, while one RTEL1 region SNP (rs6062297) was strongly associated with glioma risk, RTEL1 SNPs rs6010620 and rs2297440 were protective for the development of TERTmut/IDHwt/1p19qnoncodel gliomas. We are currently in the process of validating these results using the TCGA glioblastoma and low grade glioma data.

Conclusions: Glioma patients can be meaningfully classified according to their acquired mutation subtype. Importantly, our results suggest that there are significant associations between germline polymorphisms and mutation-based glioma molecular subtypes.

Citation Format: Jeanette E. Eckel-Passow, Thomas M. Kollmeyer, Gobinda Sarkar, Anisha Chada, Paul A. Decker, Matthew L. Kosel, Alissa A. Caron, Hugues Sicotte, Kannabiran Nandakumar, Naresh Prodduturi, Brian P. O'Neill, Daniel H. Lachance, Robert B. Jenkins. The association of glioma germline risk SNPs with mutation-based molecular subgroups. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4714. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4714

A 2-step penalized regression method for family-based next-generation sequencing association studies

Large-scale genetic studies are often composed of related participants, and utilizing familial relationships can be cumbersome and computationally challenging. We present an approach to efficiently handle sequencing data from complex pedigrees that incorporates information from rare variants as well as common variants. Our method employs a 2-step procedure that sequentially regresses out correlation from familial relatedness and then uses the resulting phenotypic residuals in a penalized regression framework to test for associations with variants within genetic units. The operating characteristics of this approach are detailed using simulation data based on a large, multigenerational cohort.

On family-based genome-wide association studies with large pedigrees: observations and recommendations

Family based association studies are employed less often than case-control designs in the search for disease-predisposing genes. The optimal statistical genetic approach for complex pedigrees is unclear when evaluating both common and rare variants. We examined the empirical power and type I error rates of 2 common approaches, the measured genotype approach and family-based association testing, through simulations from a set of multigenerational pedigrees. Overall, these results suggest that much larger sample sizes will be required for family-based studies and that power was better using MGA compared to FBAT. Taking into account computational time and potential bias, a 2-step strategy is recommended with FBAT followed by MGA.

ABCC9 gene polymorphism is associated with hippocampal sclerosis of aging pathology

Hippocampal sclerosis of aging (HS-Aging) is a high-morbidity brain disease in the elderly but risk factors are largely unknown. We report the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) with HS-Aging pathology as an endophenotype. In collaboration with the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium, data were analyzed from large autopsy cohorts: (#1) National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC); (#2) Rush University Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project; (#3) Group Health Research Institute Adult Changes in Thought study; (#4) University of California at Irvine 90+ Study; and (#5) University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Center. Altogether, 363 HS-Aging cases and 2,303 controls, all pathologically confirmed, provided statistical power to test for risk alleles with large effect size. A two-tier study design included GWAS from cohorts #1-3 (Stage I) to identify promising SNP candidates, followed by focused evaluation of particular SNPs in cohorts #4-5 (Stage II). Polymorphism in the ATP-binding cassette, sub-family C member 9 (ABCC9) gene, also known as sulfonylurea receptor 2, was associated with HS-Aging pathology. In the meta-analyzed Stage I GWAS, ABCC9 polymorphisms yielded the lowest p values, and factoring in the Stage II results, the meta-analyzed risk SNP (rs704178:G) attained genome-wide statistical significance (p = 1.4 × 10(-9)), with odds ratio (OR) of 2.13 (recessive mode of inheritance). For SNPs previously linked to hippocampal sclerosis, meta-analyses of Stage I results show OR = 1.16 for rs5848 (GRN) and OR = 1.22 rs1990622 (TMEM106B), with the risk alleles as previously described. Sulfonylureas, a widely prescribed drug class used to treat diabetes, also modify human ABCC9 protein function. A subsample of patients from the NACC database (n = 624) were identified who were older than age 85 at death with known drug history. Controlling for important confounders such as diabetes itself, exposure to a sulfonylurea drug was associated with risk for HS-Aging pathology (p = 0.03). Thus, we describe a novel and targetable dementia risk factor.

An evaluation of the position of the neutral zone in relation to the crest of mandibular alveolar ridge - An In-vivo study

BACKGROUND

In view of the importance of neutral zone in complete denture construction, it was thought feasible to determine the relation between the centre of the alveolar ridge crest in relation to the neutral zone in a buccolingual direction which will help in positioning of the teeth in a region of minimum conflict so that the stability of the denture is enhanced.

MATERIALS & METHODS

The position of the neutral zone to alveolar ridge crest was investigated in 30 edentulous patients comprising of both males and females divided into three groups, Group I consisted of ten patients whose period of edentulousness varied from 0-4 years. Group II included ten patients who were edentulous for more than 4 years but less than 8 years. Group III consisted of ten patients whose period of edentulousness varied between 8-12 years. One-way ANOVA test and multiple comparisons by bonferroni post-hoc tests were used to analyze the results and the significance was tabulated.

RESULTS

The results of the present study state that the neutral zone serves as a guide and suggests that the period of edentulousness should be considered while arranging the teeth for complete dentures.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the current study may serve as an important guide in arrangement of teeth for complete denture prosthesis and would help to determine the correlation between the neutral zone in relation to the crest of the alveolar ridge and the period of edentulousness. How to cite the article: Bhorgonde D, Nandakumar K, Khurana PR, Kumari VS, Reddy MS, Siddique S. An evaluation of the position of the neutral zone in relation to the crest of mandibular alveolar ridge - An In-vivo study. J Int Oral Health 2014;6(2):45-54.

A genome-wide copy number association study of osteoporotic fractures points to the 6p25.1 locus

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterised by reduced bone mineral density and increased susceptibility to fracture; these traits are highly heritable. Both common and rare copy number variants (CNVs) potentially affect the function of genes and may influence disease risk.

AIM

To identify CNVs associated with osteoporotic bone fracture risk.

METHOD

We performed a genome-wide CNV association study in 5178 individuals from a prospective cohort in the Netherlands, including 809 osteoporotic fracture cases, and performed in silico lookups and de novo genotyping to replicate in several independent studies.

RESULTS

A rare (population prevalence 0.14%, 95% CI 0.03% to 0.24%) 210 kb deletion located on chromosome 6p25.1 was associated with the risk of fracture (OR 32.58, 95% CI 3.95 to 1488.89; p = 8.69 × 10(-5)). We performed an in silico meta-analysis in four studies with CNV microarray data and the association with fracture risk was replicated (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.01 to 8.22; p = 0.02). The prevalence of this deletion showed geographic diversity, being absent in additional samples from Australia, Canada, Poland, Iceland, Denmark, and Sweden, but present in the Netherlands (0.34%), Spain (0.33%), USA (0.23%), England (0.15%), Scotland (0.10%), and Ireland (0.06%), with insufficient evidence for association with fracture risk.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that deletions in the 6p25.1 locus may predispose to higher risk of fracture in a subset of populations of European origin; larger and geographically restricted studies will be needed to confirm this regional association. This is a first step towards the evaluation of the role of rare CNVs in osteoporosis.

A rat model against chemotherapy plus radiation-induced oral mucositis

OBJECTIVES

Present study was aimed at developing an experimental model of oral mucositis in rats using a combination of chemotherapeutic agent and radiation.

STUDY DESIGN

Female Wistar rats (150-200 g) were divided into 3 groups (n = 6). Rats in group 1 (normal control) and group 2 (mucositis control) were treated with vehicle. Rats in group 3 were treated with l-glutamine (1 g/kg, p.o.; 15 days) before and after mucositis induction. Oral mucositis was induced by busulfan (6 mg/kg, p.o.; 4 days) and the tongue exposed to infrared (IR) radiation of intensity 40 mV/cm(2) for 5 s on the 1st, 4th and 10th days of challenge using a tail flick apparatus. Parameters monitored were body weight, food intake, blood count and survival. Oral mucositis score (OMS) was recorded daily. Histological changes of the irradiated tongue were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.

RESULTS

Busulfan and IR radiation significantly reduced body weight and food intake of the mucositis control group as compared to normal control. Clear ulceration of the tongue reflected in the OMS. Histopathology of the tongue revealed intense lymphocytic infiltration, decreased thickness of squamous epithelial cell layer, decrease in number of blood vessels, and necrosis of cells along with pseudo-membrane formation in the mucositis control group. These findings suggested that oral mucositis was successfully induced and treatment with l-glutamine partially reversed these conditions.

CONCLUSION

Oral mucositis was established successfully in rats by the combination of chemotherapeutic agent and IR radiation. This may be a useful model for screening drugs in the treatment of oral mucositis.

Surgical exposure and crown lengthening for management of complicated fractures of maxillary anterior teeth. A case report

When a tooth fracture occurs, the fracture line can extend in a variety of directions, and the direction of the fracture line often dictates the treatment plan. In cases where fracture lines extend apical to the gingival margin, exposure of fractured margins becomes necessary. And management of such tooth fractures often requires an interdisciplinary approach involving endodontic, periodontic and restorative procedures. This article describes a case in which severely traumatized maxillary anterior teeth were managed by a combined approach involving surgical exposure and crown lengthening, endodontic and restorative procedures.

Evaluation of single-tooth replacement by an immediate implant covered with connective tissue graft as a biologic barrier

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the survival rate of Screw-Vent(®) immediate implants augmented with sub epithelial connective tissue graft for single-tooth replacement for 1 year.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten patients (five men and five women), with the mean age of 25.3 years, were consecutively treated on the out-patient basis by the placement of Screw-Vent(®) dental implants in to the fresh extraction sockets in association of augmentation with sub epithelial connective tissue graft harvested from the palate, supporting single crowns. The clinical and radiographic parameters were recorded to evaluate the peri-implant soft tissue health and marginal bone loss, respectively, for each patient at baseline and at every 3 months interval for 1 year.

RESULTS

The 1 year cumulative survival rate of Screw-Vent(®) dental implants was 100% for all 10 patients. Statistical analysis demonstrated highly significant values indicating an improvement in peri-implant soft tissue parameters in terms of peri-implant aesthetic parameters, which estimated the keratinized mucosa width. Statistically, non-significant marginal bone loss or gain indicated stable condition in hard tissue parameters.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION

Single-tooth replacement by Screw-Vent(®) dental implants in to a fresh extraction socket, in association with guided bone regeneration using autologous connective tissue graft is a predictable treatment as demonstrated by the 100% implant survival rates and appreciable increase in the width of the keratinized mucosa at 1 year follow up.

On-line Visualization of PS/PP Melting Mechanisms in a Co-rotating Twin Screw Extruder

The melting and deformation mechanisms of polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP) blends were investigated through on-line visualization of the co-rotating twin-screw extrusion process. Two compositions, PP/PS (80:20) and PS/PP (80: 20) were chosen as the model systems for this study. A sliding barrel technique was used to realize the on-line visualization using a glass window in the barrel. The axial temperature and pressure profiles along the screw channel were measured using the same sliding technique. It was found that in the PP/PS (80:20) blend, in which PP was the major phase, there was a combined melting of PS and PP, whereas in the PS/PP (80:20) blend, in which PS was the major phase, there was initial melting of PS alone and then combined melting of PS and PP. In the partially filled region, heat conduction from the hot barrel was the major source for heating polymer pellets under the conditions studied here; while in the fully filled region, viscous energy dissipation (VED) generated most of the heat for melting of polymer pellets. The pressure profiles along the extrusion channel gave us insight into the melting process for the two blends. It was found that if there was some molten polymer in the fully filled region, the overall melting process was accelerated due to heating from viscous dissipation.

A numerical study on distributions during cryoprotectant loading caused by laminar flow in a microchannel

In this work, we conduct a computational study on the loading of cryoprotective agents into cells in preparation for cryopreservation. The advantages of microfluidics in cryopreserving cells include control of fluid flow parameters for reliable cryoprotectant loading and reproducible streamlined processing of samples. A 0.25 m long, three inlet T-junction microchannel serves as an idealized environment for this process. The flow field and concentration distribution are determined from a computational fluid dynamics study and cells are tracked as inert particles in a Lagrangian frame. These particles are not confined to streamlines but can migrate laterally due to the Segre-Sildeberg effect for particles in a shear flow. During this tracking, the local concentration field surrounding the cell is monitored. This data are used as input into the Kedem-Katchalsky equations to numerically study passive solute transport across the cell membrane. As a result of the laminar flow, each cell has a unique pathline in the flow field resulting in different residence times and a unique external concentration field along its path. However, in most previous studies, the effect of a spatially varying concentration field on the transport across the cell membrane is ignored. The dynamics of this process are investigated for a population of cells released from the inlet. Using dimensional analysis, we find a governing parameter α, which is the ratio of the time scale for membrane transport to the average residence time in the channel. For [Formula: see text], cryoprotectant loading is completed to within 5% of the target concentration for all of the cells. However, for [Formula: see text], we find the population of cells does not achieve complete loading and there is a distribution of intracellular cryoprotective agent concentration amongst the population. Further increasing α beyond a value of 2 leads to negligible cryoprotectant loading. These simulations on populations of cells may lead to improved microfluidic cryopreservation protocols where more consistent cryoprotective agent loading and freezing can be achieved, thus increasing cell survival.

Generalized aggressive periodontitis and its treatment options: case reports and review of the literature

Generalized aggressive periodontitis results in rapid destruction of the periodontium and can lead to early tooth loss in the affected individuals if not diagnosed early and treated appropriately. The diagnostic features of the disease are characteristic, but the clinical presentation and patterns of destructions may vary between patients. Successful management of the disease is challenging especially if diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease, but not impossible with the current therapeutic choices for the disease. A vast array of treatment modalities is available which can be employed in the treatment of generalized aggressive periodontitis with varying success rates, but a definite guideline for the management is yet to be formulated. However, with the exponential rate of developments in periodontal research, regenerative therapy, tissue engineering, and genetic technologies, the future seems promising in regard to options at managing the disease. This paper attempts to describe the clinical and radiographic diagnostic features and the current treatment options along with a suggested protocol for comprehensive management of generalized aggressive periodontitis patients with case reports and a brief review.

Large common deletions associate with mortality at old age

Copy-number variants (CNVs) are a source of genetic variation that increasingly are associated with human disease. However, the role of CNVs in human lifespan is to date unknown. To identify CNVs that influence mortality at old age, we analyzed genome-wide CNV data in 5178 participants of Rotterdam Study (RS1) and positive findings were evaluated in 1714 participants of the second cohort of the Rotterdam Study (RS2) and in 4550 participants of Framingham Heart Study (FHS). First, we assessed the total burden of rare (frequency <1%) and common (frequency >1%) CNVs for association with mortality during follow-up. These analyses were repeated by stratifying CNVs by type and size. Secondly, we assessed individual common CNV regions (CNVR) for association with mortality. We observed that the burden of common but not of rare CNVs influences mortality. A higher burden of large (≥ 500 kb) common deletions associated with 4% higher mortality [hazard ratio (HR) per CNV 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.07, P = 5.82 × 10(-5)] in the 11 442 participants of RS1, RS2 and FHS. In the analysis of 312 individual common CNVRs, we identified two regions (11p15.5; 14q21.3) that associated with higher mortality in these cohorts. The 11p15.5 region (combined HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.31-1.93, P = 2.87 × 10(-6)) encompasses 41 genes, of which some have previously been related to longevity, whereas the 14q21.3 region (combined HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.19-2.07, P = 1.53 × 10(-3)) does not encompass any genes. In conclusion, the burden of large common deletions, as well as common CNVs in 11p15.5 and 14q21.3 region, associate with higher mortality.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Terminalia paniculata bark extract against acute and chronic inflammation in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Terminalia paniculata Roxb. (Family-Combretaceae) is a wild tree commonly used in traditional ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of inflammation of parotid glands and in menstrual disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the folk use of Terminalia paniculata on pharmacological grounds to evaluate the scientific basis of anti-inflammatory activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The anti-inflammatory activity of Terminalia paniculata was studied against carrageenan-induced hind paw edema, air pouch inflammation and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats. The aqueous extract of Terminalia paniculata bark (TPW) was administered at the concentrations of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg body weight.

RESULTS

TPW showed significant (p<0.05) anti-inflammatory activity by reducing the edema volume in carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Further, TPW (400mg/kg) also reduced the carrageenan-induced leukocyte migration (50.92 ± 5.71%) and myeloperoxidase activity (49.31 ± 5.24%) in air pouch exudates. TPW (200mg/kg) exhibits anti-rheumatic and analgesic activities by improving the altered haematological milieu (ESR, CRP, RF, WBC, RBC and Hb) and also by inhibiting the flexion scores and radiographic changes in CFA-induced arthritis. This extract also had significant (p<0.05) effects on the occurrence of secondary lesions compared to CFA control.

CONCLUSIONS

Terminalia paniculata bark may be a potential preventive or therapeutic candidate for the treatment of chronic inflammation and arthritis.