Anesthetic management for foramen magnum decompression in a patient with Morquio syndrome: a case report.

Morquio syndrome is a hereditary mucopolysaccharide disorder presenting with an abnormality of the craniocervical junction from childhood. We describe an adult patient who presented with Morquio syndrome who had subglottic narrowing of the airway, restrictive pulmonary disease, and mild mitral regurgitation and trivial aortic regurgitation. The anesthetic management of this patient for atlantoaxial stabilization is presented.

Robustness and evolvability in natural chemical resistance: identification of novel systems properties, biochemical mechanisms and regulatory interactions.

A vast amount of data on the natural resistance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to a diverse array of chemicals has been generated over the past decade (chemical genetics). We endeavored to use this data to better characterize the "systems" level properties of this phenomenon. By collating data from over 30 different genome-scale studies on growth of gene deletion mutants in presence of diverse chemicals, we assembled the largest currently available gene-chemical network.

Renal transplant in Wegener's granulomatosis compared to microscopic polyangiitis.

Objective: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis is an important cause of endstage renal disease. Our aim was to investigate how the underlying vasculitis diagnosis may influence outcomes following renal transplant.

Methods: We undertook a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent renal transplant at the Johns Hopkins Hospital between 1999 and 2008.

Malignant extrarenal rhabdoid tumor of the vulva in an adult.

Sarcomas of the vulva account for only 1-3% of all vulvar malignancies. Most common vulvar sarcomas are leiomyosarcomas, malignant fibrohistiocytomas, and aggressive angiomyxomas. Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) of the kidney is a distinctive clinicopathological entity that is recognized as a highly aggressive renal tumor of childhood.

Reuse potential of low-calcium bottom ash as aggregate through pelletization.

Coal combustion residues which include fly ash, bottom ash and boiler slag is one of the major pollutants as these residues require large land area for their disposal. Among these residues, utilization of bottom ash in the construction industry is very low. This paper explains the use of bottom ash through pelletization.

Management of pain in leukemic children using the WHO analgesic ladder.

Objective: To ascertain the effectiveness of WHO analgesic ladder in pain management in children with leukemia.

Methods: Children with leukemia who were referred to a pain and palliative care clinic attached to the Department of Pediatrics of a medical teaching hospital during a period of 6 months were included in the study.

Results: Thirty nine (39) children, who constituted 64% of children on treatment for leukemia, required referral to pain and palliative care services during the study period.

Concomitant production, partial purification and characterization of a serine protease and a proteolysis-resistant metallolipase from Bacillus pumilus SG2.

Our objective was to investigate the concomitant production of protease and lipase by a bacterial strain. A promising bacterial strain was isolated from a food-processing industrial effluent, which can produce both protease and lipase. The isolate was characterized by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene.

Antibacterial Activity of Leaves of Cadaba trifoliata (Roxb.) Wt. & Arn.

Antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of Cadaba trifoliata was evaluated by cup plate method against bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter aerogenes, Erwinia and Escherichia coli. The ethanol extract of the leaves demonstrated a high degree of activity against all the tested bacterial strains except Erwinia and Acinetobacter, whereas the aqueous extract of the leaves showed moderate activity against E. coli, B.

Cervical lymph node metastasis in oral squamous carcinoma preoperative assessment and histopathology after neck dissection.

Background: The presence or absence of nodal metastasis has a great impact on the prognosis and survival of patients with head and neck cancer. The risk of occult metastasis is related to the method by which the lymph nodes are evaluated. It is possible to reduce the risk of undiagnosed metastasis with accurate imaging techniques and thus probably reduce the number of elective neck treatments.

Identification and characterization of a mosquito pupicidal metabolite of a Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis strain.

The culture supernatant of a strain of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis isolated from mangrove forests of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India was found to kill larval and pupal stages of mosquitoes. A chloroform extract of the culture supernatant of the bacterium showed pupicidal effects at an LC(50) dose of 1 microg/ml.

Bacoside A downregulates matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in DEN-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cancer metastasis is a complex multi-step process, responsible for a majority of cancer-related deaths by affecting the critical organs and causing complications in therapies. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a multi-factorial disease and is the third most common cause of cancer related mortality worldwide. Clinical and experimental studies have shown that MMP-2 and MMP-9 are involved in tumor invasion and metastases and their elevated expression has been associated with poor prognosis.

Concomitant production of protease and lipase by Bacillus Licheniformis VSG1: Production, purification and characterization.

This study was aimed at producing protease and lipase simultaneously on a common medium by Bacillus licheniformis VSG1, which was isolated from a tannery effluent. The effect of media composition with respect to protein source, lipid source and emulsifier on the production of protease and lipase was analysed. Both those enzymes were produced under optimized conditions like pH, temperature and incubation time.

Level of nitrated proteins in the plasma, platelets and liver of patients with liver cirrhosis.

Over-expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and nitric oxide (NO) formation are associated with the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis. NO-related stress alters the functions of biomolecules, especially proteins, probably as a result of nitration. The aim of this study was to assess the level of protein nitration and its correlation with the severity of the disease.

Chemopreventive effect of bacoside A on N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

Purpose: Chemoprevention is an effective approach to control hepatocarcinogenesis. Bacoside A, the active constituent of Bacopa monniera Linn., is anticipated to play a role in chemoprevention of liver cancer.

Signaling of the neurotrophin receptor p75 in relation to Alzheimer's disease.

The cellular mechanism of neuronal apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is poorly understood. Many hypotheses have been put fourth to explain the underlying reason for neuro-degeneration in AD. Here, it is demonstrated that all neurotrophins that activated p75, without co-activation of the relevant Trk co-receptor, mediated apoptosis in hippocampal neurons.

In vivo phosphoproteome of human skeletal muscle revealed by phosphopeptide enrichment and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS.

Protein phosphorylation plays an essential role in signal transduction pathways that regulate substrate and energy metabolism, contractile function, and muscle mass in human skeletal muscle. Abnormal phosphorylation of signaling enzymes has been identified in insulin-resistant muscle using phosphoepitope-specific antibodies, but its role in other skeletal muscle disorders remains largely unknown. This may be in part due to insufficient knowledge of relevant targets.

Sesamol: an efficient antioxidant with potential therapeutic benefits.

Sesamol has been shown earlier to exhibit antimutagenic (reactive oxygen mediated) and antiageing activity in our lab and it has also been found to exert chemopreventive effect. Here we report the in vitro antioxidant activity of sesamol. As most of the antioxidants act due to their property to auto-oxidise and the pro- or antioxidant activity would depend on the concentration of the agent used and the free radical source, at least 6 dilutions in concentration range of 5-1000 nmoles of sesamol were selected for each test system.

Characterization of conformation-sensitive antibodies to ADAMTS13, the von Willebrand cleavage protease.

Background: The zinc metalloprotease ADAMTS13 is a multidomain protein that cleaves von Willebrand Factor (VWF) and is implicated in Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) pathogenesis. Understanding the mechanism of this protein is an important goal. Conformation sensitive antibodies have been used to monitor protein conformation and to decipher the molecular mechanism of proteins as well as to distinguish functional and non-functional mutants.

Detection of intracellular ADAMTS13, a secreted zinc-metalloprotease, via flow cytometry.

ADAMTS13 is a secreted metalloprotease that cleaves von Willebrand Factor multimers in order to maintain proper homeostasis. A severe deficiency in ADAMTS13 triggers a disorder known as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. At present, ADAMTS13 expression levels are determined by immunoblotting.

In vitro propagation of two tuberous medicinal plants: Holostemma ada-kodien and Ipomoea mauritiana.

Medicinal plants are sources of important therapeutic aid for healing human diseases. The depletion of the wild resources has prompted conservation, propagation, and enhancement of resources for medicinal plants. Micropropagation offers an alternate method to propagate and improve medicinal plants through selection of high-yield lines and their efficient cloning.

Laparoscopic appendicectomy versus open appendicectomy: a comparative study of clinical outcome and cost analysis - Institutional experience.

Background: Laparoscopic appendicetomy had not gained importance against open appendicectomy and it remains controversial in Indian perspective.

Aim: Compare the clinical outcome and cost effectiveness of Laparoscopic Appendicectomy (LA) versus Open Appendicectomy (OA).

Methods: A prospective study for a period of 21 months from Oct.

Defective solubilization of immune complexes and activation of the complement system in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Introduction: Association between inherited deficiencies of the complement components and immune complex disease indicates the importance of the complement system in the handling of circulating immune complexes. High levels of circulating immune complexes are seen in pulmonary tuberculosis. This study is, therefore, aimed to look at the concentration of circulating immune complexes, the status of complement-mediated immune complex handling, and the extent of complement activation in untreated pulmonary tuberculosis compared to treated pulmonary tuberculosis patients and healthy controls.

Adsorption of Cr(VI) and Pb(II) from aqueous solution using agricultural solid waste.

Areca nut shell, an agricultural solid waste by-product, has been studied for the removal of heavy metals Cr(VI) and Pb(II) from aqueous solution. Parameters, such as equilibrium time, effect of initial metal ion concentration, effect of pH on the removal, were analyzed. An initial pH of 4.

Multiple specificity of human serum dextran-binding immunoglobulin: alpha (1-->6)- and beta (1-->3)-linked glucose and alpha (1-->3)-linked galactose in natural glycoconjugates are recognized.

Dextran-binding immunoglobulin (DIg) was detected in circulating immune complexes in young healthy blood donors. High molecular weight dextran or non-dialysable polysaccharides of edible sugar added to serum markedly increased DIg-containing immune complexes. DIg from plasma was purified by an improved affinity chromatography using Sephadex G-200 to increase yield.

Cytoprotective and antioxidant activity of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) flavones against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cytotoxicity in lymphocytes.

This study was designed to determine the cytoprotective activity of flavones of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tert-BOOH), used as an oxidant to induce oxidative damage, with lymphocytes as the model system. Addition of tert-BOOH (250 microM) to the cells resulted in enhanced cytotoxicity and free radical production.