Normal pressure hydrocephalus after gamma knife radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma.

Vestibular schwannomas are not uncommon, and gamma knife radiosurgery is one of the treatment options for symptomatic tumors. Hydrocephalus is a complication of gamma knife treatment of vestibular schwannoma, though the mechanism of the development of hydrocephalus remains controversial. We present an unusual case of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) after gamma knife radiosurgery of a vestibular schwannoma in which the timeline of events strongly suggests that gamma knife played a contributory role in the development of the hydrocephalus.

Maladaptive behaviors are linked with inefficient sleep in individuals with developmental disabilities.

The purpose of the current study was to assess the relations between nightly sleep patterns and the frequency of daily maladaptive behavior. Antecedent and consequential relations between sleep patterns and behavior were evaluated with time series analysis. Sleep efficiency and maladaptive behavior were determined for 20 female residents of an institutional care facility for adults with developmental disabilities.

Evaluation of mimosa seed mucilage as bucoadhesive polymer.

In the present study, buccal discs of fluconazole were prepared by direct compression method employing Mimosa pudica seed mucilage as bucoadhesive polymer. The formulation of buccal discs was optimised using 3-factor, 3-level central composite design, using polymer/excipient ratio, drug concentration and compression force as the independent variables and bioadhesion time and percentage release as dependent variables. The results revealed that polymer/excipient ratio and compression force are the significant factors affecting the bioadhesion time and percentage release, with the effect of polymer/excipient ratio being more pronounced.

Polymorphisms in CYP2A13 and UGT1A7 genes and head and neck cancer susceptibility in North Indians.

Objectives: To examine role of genetic variants of CYP2A13 and UGT1A7 genes, involved in activation and detoxification of tobacco carcinogens, with risk of head and neck cancer as well as to assess the potential modifying role of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions.

Methods: 203 head and neck cancer patients and 201 healthy controls were genotyped for functional polymorphisms of CYP2A13 and UGT1A7 genes using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and sequencing.

Results: We identified two novel polymorphisms T478C and T494C in CYP2A13 gene which were associated with significantly reduced risk of cancer (OR 0.

Combined effect of smoking and polymorphisms in tobacco carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes CYP1A1 and GSTM1 on the head and neck cancer risk in North Indians.

Tobacco consumption contributes to the etiology of majority of cancers, and polymorphisms in tobacco-metabolizing enzymes may modulate susceptibility to head and neck cancer (HNC). The aim of this study was to determine whether genetic polymorphisms in genes CYP1A1 and GSTM1, involved in metabolism of major classes of tobacco-derived carcinogens, may predispose to development of HNC in a North Indian population. In this case-control study, 203 HNC patients and 201 control subjects were genotyped for four variants of CYP1A1 using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and GSTM1 was analyzed for copy number variations by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Molecular genetic analysis of the orsellinic acid/F9775 gene cluster of Aspergillus nidulans.

F-9775A and F-9775B are cathepsin K inhibitors that arise from a chromatin remodelling deletant strain of Aspergillus nidulans. A polyketide synthase gene has been determined to be responsible for their formation and for the simpler, archetypical polyketide orsellinic acid. We have discovered simple culture conditions that result in the production of the three compounds, and this facilitates analysis of the genes responsible for their synthesis.

Association of angiotensin converting enzyme and angiotensin type 2 receptor gene polymorphisms with renal damage in posterior urethral valves.

Objective: To examine the association with renal damage in patients with posterior urethral valves (PUV) of two renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphisms: angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE I/D) and angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R A1332G), PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 120 patients with PUV, after stabilization, transurethral fulguration or a Blocksom vesicostomy was performed. Records were reviewed for age at diagnosis, biochemical renal function at diagnosis, results of urine cultures, voiding cystourethrograms, radiologic, sonographic and nuclear medicine scan findings, and follow-up data. ACE I/D genotypes were determined by the polymerase chain reaction using allele specific primers.

Methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity: the road to Parkinson's disease.

Studies have implicated methamphetamine exposure as a contributor to the development of Parkinson's disease. There is a significant degree of striatal dopamine depletion produced by methamphetamine, which makes the toxin useful in the creation of an animal model of Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with selective degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons.

Evaluation of Mimosa pudica seed mucilage as sustained-release excipient.

The present study was conducted to investigate the sustained-release properties of Mimosa pudica seed mucilage. Matrix tablets of diclofenac sodium containing different proportions of mucilage and dibasic calcium phosphate as diluent were formulated by wet granulation method. The tablets had uniform physical appearance, average weight, drug content, and adequate hardness.

Genetic and clinical profile of Indian patients of idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy with and without hypertrophy.

Both idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy (IRCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are part of the same disease spectrum and are due to sarcomeric gene mutations. A patient with restrictive physiology without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) would be diagnosed as IRCM, while one with LVH would be diagnosed as HCM with restrictive physiology. We studied a group of patients with restrictive physiology for mutations in beta-myosin heavy chain (MYH7) and troponin I (TNNI3) gene.

Common variants of inflammatory cytokine genes are associated with risk of nephropathy in type 2 diabetes among Asian Indians.

Background: Inflammatory cytokine genes have been proposed as good candidate genes for conferring susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy. In the present study, we examined the combined effect of multiple alleles of pro inflammatory cytokine genes for determining the risk of nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methodology/principal Findings: Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes (CCL2, TGFB1, IL8, CCR5, and MMP9) were genotyped in two independently ascertained type 2 diabetic cohorts with (DN) and without nephropathy (DM); consisting of patients from North India (n = 495) and South India (n = 188).

Stability studies on aqueous and oily ophthalmic solutions of diclofenac.

Various aqueous and oily diclofenac ophthalmic formulations were subjected to accelerated and long term stability studies. Degradation of diclofenac was found to follow first-order kinetics. Among the aqueous formulations containing preservative, formulation with PMA, PMN, SA, MP/PP and SMS showed diclofenac content above 90% after 6 months of accelerated and 12 months of room temperature storage.

ACE variants interact with the RAS pathway to confer risk and protection against type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

Genetic predisposition has been proposed to be a major determinant in the development of renal complications of diabetes. Among candidate genes examined for susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been found to be associated with pathogenesis and progression of diabetic nephropathy. However, the role of other renin-angiotensin system (RAS) polymorphisms and their possible interactions with different ACE I/D genotypes are less clearly defined.

Up regulation of the GRP-78 and GADD-153 and down regulation of Bcl-2 proteins in primary glomerular diseases: a possible involvement of the ER stress pathway in glomerulonephritis.

The role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in kidney diseases is not well elucidated. Fifty patients with primary glomerular diseases (PGD): minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), and crescentic glomerulonephritis, n = 10 (each group) were enrolled. MCD, FSGS, and MGN patients were sub-grouped as nonproliferative glomerulonephritis (NPGN) and MPGN, RPGN as proliferative glomerulonephritis (PGN).

Genotype phenotype correlations of cardiac beta-myosin heavy chain mutations in Indian patients with hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy.

The aim of the current study was to determine the frequency of mutations in the beta-myosin heavy chain gene (MYH7) in a cohort of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and their families, and to investigate correlations between genotype and phenotype. About 130 consecutive patients diagnosed with HCM or DCM (69 with HCM and 61 with DCM) attending the cardiology clinic of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research were screened for mutations in the MYH7 gene. The control group for genetic studies consisted of 100 healthy subjects.

Phosphinothricin resistance in Aspergillus niger and its utility as a selectable transformation marker.

Aspergillus niger is moderately susceptible to inhibition by phosphinothricin (PPT)-a potent inhibitor of glutamine synthetase. This growth inhibition was relieved by L-glutamine. PPT inhibited A.

Topical ocular delivery of NSAIDs.

In ocular tissue, arachidonic acid is metabolized by cyclooxygenase to prostaglandins which are the most important lipid derived mediators of inflammation. Presently nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which are cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors are being used for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. NSAIDs used in ophthalmology, topically, are salicylic-, indole acetic-, aryl acetic-, aryl propionic- and enolic acid derivatives.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene haplotypes and diabetic nephropathy among Asian Indians.

Endothelial dysfunction plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular disease, including diabetic nephropathy. Endothelial-derived nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms affect eNOS activity and are associated with endothelial dysfunction. We evaluated the association of the constitutive endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (eNOS) polymorphisms with type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

Synergistic effect between apolipoprotein E and apolipoprotein A1 gene polymorphisms in the risk for coronary artery disease.

Alterations in lipid metabolism and genetic predisposition are major risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). Variations in genes involved in lipid metabolism may act synergistically to confer risk or protection against CAD. The objective of the present study was to determine such interactions in variants of apolipoprotein E and apolipoprotein A1 genes.

Oxidative stress in primary glomerular diseases: a comparative study.

Objective: To evaluate the status of oxidative stress in patients with different primary glomerular diseases (PGD) which have differential predisposition to renal failure.

Methods: Seventy-three patients with PGD and 50 controls were enrolled in the study. They were sub-grouped into non-proliferative glomerulonephritis (NPGN) and proliferative glomerulonephritis (PGN).

Inflammatory and neurochemical changes associated with 3-nitropropionic Acid neurotoxicity.

ABSTRACT Administration of 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), a hemotoxin of fungal origin, is associated with a rare neurodegenerative disease, Huntington disease. The present study was carried out to investigate the inflammatory and neurochemical changes associated with the subchronic administration of 3-nitropropionic acid in rats. The administration of 3-nitropropionic acid (20 mg/kg SC and 15 mg/kg IP for 7 days) resulted in a significant increase in inflammatory mediators such as tissue necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, total nitric oxide, and nitrite levels in brain homogenate.

Protective effect of minocycline, a semi-synthetic second-generation tetracycline against 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP)-induced neurotoxicity.

3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NP) is an irreversible inhibitor of the electron transport enzyme succinate dehydrogenase, a mitochondrial Complex II enzyme. Minocycline is a semi-synthetic second-generation tetracycline with neuroprotective activity and has the capability to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier. We investigated the effects of minocycline on behavioral, biochemical, inflammation related and neurochemical alterations induced by the sub-chronic administration of 3-nitropropionic acid to rats.

In vitro corneal permeation of diclofenac from oil drops.

In vitro transcorneal permeation of diclofenac from oil drops was studied using freshly excised goat cornea. The maximum apparent corneal permeability coefficient (Papp) was obtained with 0.2% (w/v) diclofenac drops in sesame oil followed by safflower oil, while formulation in castor oil provided minimal Papp.