Cytotoxicity of zinc nanoparticles fabricated by Justicia adhatoda L. on root tips of Allium cepa L.--a model approach.

Zinc nanoparticles were synthesized using aqueous leaf extract of Justicia adhatoda L. The characterization of nanoparticles was done by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The characteristic absorption peak of the UV spectrum was recorded at 379 nm.

Molecular characterization of an endophytic Phomopsisliquidambaris CBR-15 from Cryptolepis buchanani Roem. and impact of culture media on biosynthesis of antimicrobial metabolites.

An endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris CBR-15, was isolated from Cryptolepis buchanani Roem. (Asclepiadaceae) and identified by its characteristic culture morphology and molecular analysis of the ITS region of rDNA and intervening 5.8S rRNA gene.

Inverse fluoxetine effects on inhibitory brain activation in non-comorbid boys with ADHD and with ASD.

Rationale: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often comorbid and have both performance and brain dysfunctions during motor response inhibition. Serotonin agonists modulate motor response inhibition and have shown positive behavioural effects in both disorders.

Aims: We therefore used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the so far unknown shared and disorder-specific inhibitory brain dysfunctions in these two disorders, as well as the effects of a single dose of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine.

Relative expression of vascular endothelial growth factor isoforms in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: Alternative splicing of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene results in a family of antiangiogenic isoforms (VEGFxxx b), not yet investigated in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We examined, therefore, the prognostic value of the relative expression of VEGF isoforms in SCCHN.

Methods: A tissue microarray comprising 187 SCCHNs was studied by immunohistochemistry with total VEGF (panVEGF) and VEGFxxx b-specific antibodies, and scored by 2 assessors for intensity and proportion.

Unusual presentation of cutaneous leiomyoma.

Herein, we report a case of leiomyoma cutis because of its rarity and unusual presentation. The case presented with a solitary leiomyoma lesion which was painless. However, the adjacent normal appearing area was tender.

Non-coding RNAs: biological functions and applications.

Analyses of the international human genome sequencing results in 2004 converged to a consensual number of ~20,000 protein-coding genes, spanning over <2% of the total genomic sequence. Therefore, the developmental and physiological complexity of human beings remains unaccounted if viewed only in terms of the number of protein-coding genes; the epigenetic influences involving chromatin remodelling and RNA interference and alternative precursor messenger RNA splicing of functional protein-coding transcripts as well as post-translational modifications of proteins increase the diversity and the functionality of the proteome and likely explain the increased complexity. In addition, there has been an explosion of research addressing possible functional roles for the other 98% of the human genome that does not encode proteins.

Extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles by novel Pseudomonas veronii AS41G inhabiting Annona squamosa L. and their bactericidal activity.

In present investigation extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles were synthesized using cell free supernatant of Pseudomonas veronii AS41G isolated from Annona squamosa L. The bacterium significantly reduced silver nitrate to generate silver nanoparticles which was characterized with hyphenated techniques. Synthesis of silver nanoparticles preliminary confirmed by UV-Visible spectrophotometry with the intense peak at 410nm, Further FTIR analysis revealed the possible role of biomolecules in the supernatant responsible for mediating the nanoparticles formation.

Partial replacement of dietary linoleic acid with long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids protects against dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in rats.

Imbalances in the dietary n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been implicated in the increased prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease. This study investigated the effects of substitution of linoleic acid with long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and hence decreasing n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio on inflammatory response in dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis. Male weanling Sprague Dawley rats were fed diets with n-6:n-3 fatty acid in the ratios of 215,50,10 or 5 for 3 months and colitis was induced by administration of dextran sulfate sodium in drinking water during last 11 days.

Expression patterns of insulin-like growth factor binding protein isoforms in medulloblastoma subtypes and clinical correlation.

Background: Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are known to be differentially expressed in brain tumours. The role of some IGFBPs in malignant CNS tumours, except glioblastoma, is unknown. We evaluated the protein expression of 3 IGFBP isoforms (IGFBP-2, -3, -5) in medulloblastoma and correlated them with histological subtypes and clinical parameters.

Endobronchial ultrasound guided needle aspiration of a paraspinal mass with prior failed multiple diagnostic interventions: A case report and literature review.

The increasing frequency of tuberculosis (TB) in both developed and developing countries has continued to make spinal TB an important health problem. The present case report is about a patient who presented to us with progressive back pain and paraspinal mass. We performed endobronchial ultrasound guided needle aspiration from the paraspinal mass.

Receptor conversion in carcinoma breast metastatic to the bone marrow.

Breast cancer is the first in the incidence of malignancies among women. The documented frequency of osseous metastasis from breast cancer is about 12.8 %.

Silencing of high-mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) modulates cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil sensitivity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Dysregulation of protein expression is associated with most diseases including cancer. MS-based proteomic analysis is widely employed as a tool to study protein dysregulation in cancers. Proteins that are differentially expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines compared to the normal oral cell line could serve as biomarkers for patient stratification.

Air stable p-doping of WSe2 by covalent functionalization.

Covalent functionalization of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) is investigated for air-stable chemical doping. Specifically, p-doping of WSe(2) via NOx chemisorption at 150 °C is explored, with the hole concentration tuned by reaction time. Synchrotron based soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depict the formation of various WSe(2-x-y)O(x)N(y) species both on the surface and interface between layers upon chemisorption reaction.

Comparative study of the efficacy of herbal antioxdants oxitard and aloe vera in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis.

Objectives: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder predominantly seen in the Indian subcontinent due to areca nut, tobacco and their products. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of oxitard and aloe vera in the management of OSMF.

Material And Methods: 120 subjects with OSMF were included in the study.

A Rarely Used Surgical Technique of Adult En Bloc Renal Transplant.

Objectives: We report the first en bloc adult deceased-donor renal transplant at our center. We had a an extended criteria, female, deceased donor, who was a known hypertensive, hypothyroid, with a history of Hodgkin lymphoma that had been treated successfully 30 years prior without recurrence. Her cause of death was intracranial hemorrhage.

The effect of age on DNA concentration from whole saliva: implications for the standard isolation method.

Objectives: Adequate quantity and quality of the DNA isolated from saliva samples are crucial for ensuring successful genotyping rates in genetic studies. However, there is little information about these issues when saliva samples are collected from children. The objectives of this study were to assess whether there are differences in DNA quality or quantity isolated from saliva samples of children at different ages and adolescents compared to adults and, if so, to establish a modified protocol to improve and standardize DNA isolation from saliva samples of children.

Nucleic acid aptamers: research tools in disease diagnostics and therapeutics.

Aptamers are short sequences of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) or peptide molecules which adopt a conformation and bind cognate ligands with high affinity and specificity in a manner akin to antibody-antigen interactions. It has been globally acknowledged that aptamers promise a plethora of diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Although use of nucleic acid aptamers as targeted therapeutics or mediators of targeted drug delivery is a relatively new avenue of research, one aptamer-based drug "Macugen" is FDA approved and a series of aptamer-based drugs are in clinical pipelines.

Effect of tacrolimus in idiopathic membranous nephropathy: a meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy and safety of immunosuppression for idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) are still controversial. Recent studies showed tacrolimus is effective in the treatment of IMN. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus (TAC) for IMN, we conducted a meta-analysis of published medical literatures.

Detection of ischemic penumbra using combined perfusion and T2* oxygen challenge imaging.

Background: Acute ischemic stroke is common and disabling, but there remains a paucity of acute treatment options and available treatment (thrombolysis) is underutilized. Advanced brain imaging, designed to identify viable hypoperfused tissue (penumbra), could target treatment to a wider population. Existing magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography-based technologies are not widely used pending validation in ongoing clinical trials.

Need for a nomogram of renal sizes in the Indian population- findings from a single centre sonographic study.

Background & Objectives: Renal size is an important parameter used in the diagnosis and follow up of renal diseases. However, while making decisions, clinicians must be aware of the dependence of these dimensions on the ethnicity of the individual, independent of anthropometric indices. There is no established nomogram for renal sizes in the Indian population.

Oral verrucous hyperplasia: a case report.

Oral verrucous hyperplasia is a whitish or pinkinsh elevated pre malignant lesion which occurs rarely. Its is also considered to be an early form of verrucous carcinoma. We have reported a case of verrucous hyperplasia which was diagnosed and treated with buccal fat pad as graft.

Genome-wide methylation profiling identifies an essential role of reactive oxygen species in pediatric glioblastoma multiforme and validates a methylome specific for H3 histone family 3A with absence of G-CIMP/isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutation.

Background: Pediatric glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is rare, and there is a single study, a seminal discovery showing association of histone H3.3 and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)1 mutation with a DNA methylation signature. The present study aims to validate these findings in an independent cohort of pediatric GBM, compare it with adult GBM, and evaluate the involvement of important functionally altered pathways.

Global expression profile of telomerase-associated genes in HeLa cells.

Telomerase is a specialized nucleoprotein enzyme complex that maintains the telomere length. The telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is the catalytically active component of the telomerase complex. In humans, the protein component (hTERT) and RNA component (hTR) are found to differentially express in cancer cells.

Methylation silencing of ULK2, an autophagy gene, is essential for astrocyte transformation and tumor growth.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive type of brain tumor and shows very poor prognosis. Here, using genome-wide methylation analysis, we show that G-CIMP+ and G-CIMP-subtypes enrich distinct classes of biological processes. One of the hypermethylated genes in GBM, ULK2, an upstream autophagy inducer, was found to be down-regulated in GBM.