Diagnostic Value of Circulating MicroRNAs for Middle Aged Coronary Artery Disease Patients: A Case-control Study

Introduction: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) remains a major problem worldwide. New and useful biomarkers for early diagnosis are necessary. MicroRNAs (miR) are short, non-coding RNAs that post transcriptionally regulate gene expression through degradation and translational repression of mRNAs. Aim: The current case-control study was designed to assess strength and relevance of diagnostic miR-126, 122 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) level in the diagnoses of angiographically proven CAD cases. Materials and Methods: Circulating levels of miR-126 and miR-122 and VEGF levels were measured in serum from 100 middle aged 46-58 years patients with CAD and 100 patients without CAD through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Results: Circulating miR-122 level was significantly higher in CAD cases compared to control (1.60±1.06 and 0.93±0.43, p=0.001), however miR-126 was significantly lowered in CAD cases compared to control (0.82±0.51 and 1.01±0.47, p=0.02). Circulating VEGF level was significantly higher in CAD cases compared to control (182.97±156.49 and 105.49±103.88, p=0.02). Circulating miR-122, 126 and VEGF level did not show any association with demographic and clinical parameters. Area Under the Curve (AUC) for circulating miR-122, 126 and VEGF were 0.700, 0.644 and 0.649 with sensitivity and specificity of 66.67%, 56.41%, 61.18% and 70%, 60% and 64%, respectively. The combined diagnostic efficacy of miR-122 and 126 showed higher sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: Circulating miR-122 and 126 might be novel, non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of CAD. Further exposition of the role of miR-122, 126 and VEGF in the progression of CAD will add to the understanding of the disease process leading to a new diagnostic approach. However, further studies on larger patient cohorts are required to validate the findings.

Gamma irradiation protect the developing wheat endosperm from oxidative damage by balancing the trade-off between the defence network and grains quality

Gamma irradiation has been reported to modulate the biochemical and molecular parameters associated with the tolerance of plant species under biotic/ abiotic stress. Wheat is highly sensitive to heat stress (HS), as evident from the decrease in the quantity and quality of the total grains. Here, we studied the effect of pre-treatment of wheat dry seeds with different doses of gamma irradiation (0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 kGy) on tolerance level and quality of developing wheat endospermic tissue under HS (38 °C, 1 h; continuously for three days). Expression analysis of genes associated with defence and starch metabolism in developing grains showed maximum transcripts of HSP17 (in response to 0.25 kGy + HS) and AGPase (under 0.30 kGy), as compared to control. Gamma irradiation was observed to balance the accumulation of H₂O₂ by enhancing the activities of SOD and GPx in both the cvs. under HS. Gamma irradiation was observed to stabilize the synthesis of starch and amylose by regulating the activities of AGPase, SSS and α-amylase under HS. The appearance of isoforms of gliadins (α, β, γ, ω) were observed more in gamma irradiated seeds (0.20 kGy), as compared to control. Gamma irradiation (0.25 kGy in HD3118 & 0.20 kGy in HD3086) was observed to have positive effect on the width, length and test seed weight of the grains under HS. The information generated in present investigation provides easy, cheap and user-friendly technology to mitigate the effect of terminal HS on the grain-development process of wheat along with development of robust seeds with high nutrient density.

Quantitative proteomic analysis reveals novel stress-associated active proteins (SAAPs) and pathways involved in modulating tolerance of wheat under terminal heat

Terminal heat stress has detrimental effect on the growth and yield of wheat. Very limited information is available on heat stress-associated active proteins (SAAPs) in wheat. Here, we have identified 159 protein groups with 4271 SAAPs in control (22 ± 3 °C) and HS-treated (38 °C, 2 h) wheat cvs. HD2985 and HD2329 using iTRAQ. We identified 3600 proteins to be upregulated and 5825 proteins to be downregulated in both the wheat cvs. under HS. We observed 60.3% of the common SAAPs showing upregulation in HD2985 (thermotolerant) and downregulation in HD2329 (thermosusceptible) under HS. GO analysis showed proton transport (molecular), photosynthesis (biological), and ATP binding (cellular) to be most altered under HS. Most of the SAAPs identified were observed to be chloroplast localized and involved in photosynthesis. Carboxylase enzyme was observed most abundant active enzymes in wheat under HS. An increase in the degradative isoenzymes (α/β-amylases) was observed, as compared to biosynthesis enzymes (ADP-glucophosphorylase, soluble starch synthase, etc.) under HS. Transcript profiling showed very high relative fold expression of HSP17, CDPK, Cu/Zn SOD, whereas downregulation of AGPase, SSS under HS. The identified SAAPs can be used for targeted protein-based precision wheat-breeding program for the development of 'climate-smart' wheat.

Comparative Study of Outcome of Endoscopic Myringoplasty in Active and Inactive Mucosal Chronic Otitis Media Patients

The objective of this study was to compare graft uptake and hearing improvement in active and inactive mucosal chronic otitis media patients after endoscopic myringoplasty. This is prospective study conducted at a government medical college and hospital from February 2014 to August 2015. A total of 40 active (wet) ears with mucoid discharge and 40 inactive (dry) ears (at least 6 weeks dry before surgery) with mucosal chronic otitis media were operated on by endoscopic myringoplasty by transcanal approach. Graft uptake and hearing gain rates 3 months after surgery were compared for both groups. Endoscopic myringoplasty using temporal fascia graft via transcanal approach was used. The graft take rate was 77.5% for the active ear group and 85% for the inactive ear group. The hearing gain rate was 82.5% for the inactive ear group and 72.5% for the active ear group. Differences were found to be statistically insignificant for both graft uptake and hearing gain. The success of endoscopic myringoplasty is not adversely affected by the presence of mucoid ear discharge at the time of surgery, and outcomes are comparable to those of the operation done for inactive ear.

in silico-prediction of downstream WRKY interacting partners of MAPK3 in Brassica

Protein-Protein interactions (PPIs) are vital to most biological processes thus the identification of PPIs is of primary importance. Here, we endeavor to identify the downstream interacting partners of (BjMPK3P) in Brassica juncea using the docking approach. Out of 63 and 37 members of BrWRKY and BnWRKY transcription factors, 50 and 29 members are showing interactions with BjMPK3P respectively while the rest are showing non-interaction. Twenty two WRKY members are common to both the species. Using minimal sequence motif search as well as through docking approach several novel WRKY interacting proteins were also reported in the present study which need to be confirmed by in vitro kinase assay. Together, the results obtained essentially enhance our knowledge of the MAPK interacting protein network and provide a valuable research resource for developing a nearly important link between pathogen-activated MAPK signaling pathways and downstream transcriptional programming.