A biochemical analysis of topoisomerase II alpha and beta kinase activity found in HIV-1 infected cells and virus.

Human topoisomerase II plays a crucial role in DNA replication and repair. It exists in two isoforms: topoisomerase II alpha (alpha) and topoisomerase II beta (beta). The alpha isoform is localized predominantly in the nucleus, while the beta isoform exhibits a reticular pattern of distribution both in the cytosol and in the nucleus.

Efficacy of garlic paste in oral candidiasis.

In a randomized trial of 56 patients, topical application of garlic paste for 14 days was found to be as effective as that of clotrimazole solution in suppressing clinical signs of oral candidiasis. The results of this preliminary study explore the possible role of garlic paste in the treatment of oral candidiasis.

Mapping and tagging of seed coat colour and the identification of microsatellite markers for marker-assisted manipulation of the trait in Brassica juncea.

Microsatellite marker technology in combination with three doubled haploid mapping populations of Brassica juncea were used to map and tag two independent loci controlling seed coat colour in B. juncea. One of the populations, derived from a cross between a brown-seeded Indian cultivar, Varuna, and a Canadian yellow-seeded line, Heera, segregated for two genes coding for seed coat colour; the other two populations segregated for one gene each.

Protective effect of curcumin during selenium induced toxicity on dehydrogenases in hepatic tissue.

Selenium administration resulted in a marked decrease in the activity levels of the liver succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase while pyruvate dehydrogenase increased significantly (P<0.001) in the wistar rat. The degree of decrease of these enzymes was significantly less (P<0.

The effect of the CYP2C19 genotype on the hydroxylation index of omeprazole in South Indians.

To investigate the relationship between CYP2C19 genotypes and the hydroxylation index (HI) of omeprazole in the South Indian population. Healthy unrelated South Indian subjects (n=300) were separated into three groups based on their CYP2C19 genotypes. They were administered a single oral dose of 20 mg omeprazole, and venous blood was collected 3 h later.

Homograft valve bank: our experience in valve banking.

Background: A cardiac homograft valve bank with cryopreservation facility was established at the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai in July 1995.

Methods And Results: During the last 7 1/2 years of its existence, from July 1995 to March 2003, 588 hearts were processed. The valves harvested were 390 aortic, 400 pulmonary and 39 others including mitral valve, aortic conduits, pericardium etc.

Antioxidant effect of curcumin in selenium induced cataract of Wistar rats.

Wistar rat pups treated with curcumin, a natural constituent of Curcuma longa before being administered with selenium showed no opacities in the lens. The lipid peroxidation, xanthine oxidase enzyme levels in the lenses of curcumin and selenium co-treated animals were significantly less when compared to selenium treated animals. The superoxidase dismutase and catalase enzyme activities of curcumin and selenium co-treated animal lenses showed an enhancement.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 null genotype distribution in South Indians.

Objective: To investigate the distribution of the homozygous null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 in the South Indian population.

Methods: Five hundred and seventeen unrelated natives of the South Indian states of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry (n=170), Kerala (n=122), Karnataka (n=110) and Andhra Pradesh (n=115) were analyzed for homozygous deletions of GSTM1 and GSTT1. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction method simultaneously detected both GSTM1 and GSTT1 homozygous null genotypes.

Aspergillus endocarditis presenting as femoral artery embolism.

Fungal valvular endocarditis is an unusual cause of endocarditis, yet very important because of its historically poor prognosis. We report two fatal cases of fungal valvular endocarditis following cardiovascular surgery, presenting as femoral artery embolism. Aspergillus terreus and A.

Diverse redox-active molecules bearing identical thiol-terminated tripodal tethers for studies of molecular information storage.

To examine the effects of molecular structure on charge storage in self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), a family of redox-active molecules has been prepared wherein each molecule bears a tether composed of a tripodal linker with three protected thiol groups for surface attachment. The redox-active molecules include ferrocene, zinc porphyrin, ferrocene-zinc porphyrin, magnesium phthalocyanine, and triple-decker lanthanide sandwich coordination compounds. The tripodal tether is based on a tris[4-(S-acetylthiomethyl)phenyl]-derivatized methane.

Porphyrins bearing mono or tripodal benzylphosphonic acid tethers for attachment to oxide surfaces.

The ability to attach redox-active molecules to oxide surfaces in controlled architectures (distance, orientation, packing density) is essential for the design of a variety of molecular-based information storage devices. We describe the synthesis of a series of redox-active molecules wherein each molecule bears a benzylphosphonic acid tether. The redox-active molecules include zinc porphyrins, a cobalt porphyrin, and a ferrocene-zinc porphyrin.

Cataract surgery in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of cataract surgery in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada's (VKH) syndrome.

Setting: Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.

Methods: Fifty-nine eyes of 39 patients with VKH syndrome who had cataract surgery between May 1985 and June 2001 were retrospectively analyzed.

Toward homogeneity of chirality via selective formation of homochiral or heterochiral aggregates.

[reaction: see text] A new method of achieving homogeneity of chirality via purification of nonracemic (partially resolved) amino alcohols 1a-d and the C2 chiral diamine 2 to obtain samples of higher ee, through preparation of homochiral and heterochiral aggregates using oxalic and fumaric acids, is described.

Nocardia asteroides mediastinitis complicating coronary artery bypass surgery.

A 63 years diabetic male was admitted with mediatinitis and sternal dehiscence. Nocardia asteroides sensu stricto Type VI was isolated from the mediastinal tissue and fluid during debridement. Prompt surgical intervention and treatment with ofloxacin both intravenously and later orally led to the cure.

Inactivation of trypsin inhibitors in sweet potato and taro tubers during processing.

In order to understand the extent of elimination of trypsin inhibitors during processing of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and taro (Colocasia esculenta) tubers, a detailed study was conducted using tubers processed by oven drying, cooking, and microwave baking. Between 80 and 90% trypsin inhibitor (TI) activity was retained in sweet potato chips up to 2h at 70 degrees C. Among the four cultivars of sweet potatoes, RS-III-2 trypsin inhibitors were more heat labile.

Alpha-amylase inhibitor changes during processing of sweet potato and taro tubers.

Alpha-amylase inhibitor changes during processing of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) and taro (Colocasia esculenta) indicated that varietal differences profoundly influence the thermal inactivation profile. The alpha-amylase inhibitors of taro were almost totally inactivated during oven drying of the chips at 90 degrees C and 100 degrees C for 24 h, while 0.8-10% activity was retained in sweet potato chips under the same conditions.

Unusual reaction of chloramine-T with araldoximes.

Reaction of araldoximes with 4 equiv of chloramine-T in refluxing methanol produces N-(p-tolyl)-N-(p-tosyl)benzamides via addition of 2 equiv of chloramine-T to the intermediate nitrile oxide followed by extrusion of sulfur dioxide.

Vaginal carriage of group B Streptococcus in infertile women.

From May, 1999 to April, 2000, 256 high vaginal swabs were culture from asymptomatic infertile women attending the out-patient department of the Institute of Reproductive Medicine. 41 strains of Streptococcus agalactiae were isolated from 33 patients (12.89%).

Trichosporon loubieri infection in a patient with adult polycystic kidney disease.

A 45-year-old man from Nepal with a 13-year history of polycystic kidney disease was diagnosed as suffering from chronic renal failure with end-stage renal disease. After receiving empirical antituberculosis treatment, he was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. A left nephrectomy was performed, and after 4 months, he received a kidney transplant.

Trypsin inhibitory activity of Lawsonia inermis.

The ethanolic extract of Lawsonia inermis leaves and lawsone tested for trypsin inhibitory activity showed an IC(50) value of 64.87 and 48.6 microg/ml, respectively.

Brine shrimp lethality bioassay of selected Indian medicinal plants.

Ethanolic extracts of six Indian medicinal plants, piperine, guggulsterone E and guggulsterone Z were tested for cytotoxicity using brine shrimp lethality test. Piper longum showed most potent cytotoxic activity. Piperine, guggulsterone E and guggulsterone Z showed potent activity with LC(50) 2.