Publications by authors named "Aswin Nair"

The control of cell-cell communication via plasmodesmata (PD) plays a key role in plant development. In tree buds, low-temperature conditions (LT) induce a switch in plasmodesmata from a closed to an open state, which restores cell-to-cell communication in the shoot apex and releases dormancy. Using genetic and cell-biological approaches, we have identified a previously uncharacterized transcription factor, Low-temperature-Induced MADS-box 1 (LIM1), as an LT-induced, direct upstream activator of the gibberellic acid (GA) pathway.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a medication often used to treat autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren's syndrome due to its ability to modulate the immune system.
  • While generally safe and effective, HCQ can have serious side effects, including retinopathy and, in rare cases, cardiomyopathy.
  • This report highlights two cases of phospholipidosis (a type of fat accumulation in cells) linked to HCQ, suggesting that it should be considered as a potential cause in patients experiencing ongoing proteinuria (protein in urine).
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Introduction: Myositis-specific antibodies (MSA) play an important role in the clinical presentation and prognosis of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM). Anti-NXP-2 is one of the newly described MSA.

Objective: We aimed to describe various clinical presentations associated with anti-NXP2 antibodies and assess response to treatment.

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Objective: To compare the clinical and angiographic responses of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) versus methotrexate (MTX) in Takayasu arteritis (TAK).

Methods: This was an open-label, outcome assessor-blinded trial. Adult patients with active TAK were randomized 1:1 to MMF 1 g twice daily or MTX 20 mg once weekly by a computer-generated program.

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Introduction: There is a paucity of real-world data on mycophenolate mofetil/mycophenolate sodium in systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease.

Aim: To study the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil/ mycophenolate sodium in systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease.

Methods: In this single-centre study, clinical, laboratory and imaging details of consecutive patients with systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease receiving mycophenolate mofetil/mycophenolate sodium from rheumatology and pulmonology clinics between January 2008 and March 2017 were retrospectively retrieved.

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Article Synopsis
  • Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a plant defense mechanism activated in leaves not directly affected by a pathogen, triggered by the metabolite N-hydroxypipecolic acid (NHP) moving from infected to uninfected leaves.
  • NHP enhances the production of salicylic acid (SA) through the isochorismate pathway, which is crucial for activating various SAR marker genes, even in plants that normally cannot produce SA.
  • The study finds that while NHP can trigger SAR gene expression, it relies on basal SA levels and specific proteins like NPR1 and PHYTOALEXIN DEFICIENT4, although the exact process through which NHP is recognized remains unclear.
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Background: Consensus on treatment of idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM), particularly with regard to flares and interstitial lung disease (ILD), does not exist. We studied the long-term outcome and treatment response in our large, retrospective cohort of adult South-Asian patients exclusively with IIM.

Methodology: Electronic records of IIM patients satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria were studied longitudinally at presentation, at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months and thereafter yearly till their last follow up (F/u) visit.

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Objectives: To describe the clinical profile of Asian Indian patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) and to compare clinical features and outcome of childhood-onset Takayasu's arteritis (cTAK) with adult-onset TAK (aTAK).

Methods: Data related to clinical features and response to treatment of patients with cTAK (age of onset <16 years) and aTAK from a large observational cohort in our tertiary care teaching hospital were noted and compared.

Results: Altogether, 602 patients (cTAK = 119; aTAK = 483) were studied.

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Salicylic acid (SA) is an important signaling molecule of the plant immune system. In Arabidopsis thaliana, SA biosynthesis is indirectly modulated by the closely related transcription factors TGACG-BINDING FACTOR 1 and 4 (TGA1 and TGA4, respectively). They activate expression of SYSTEMIC ACQUIRED RESISTANCE DEFICIENT1, the gene product of which regulates the key SA biosynthesis gene ISOCHORISMATE SYNTHASE 1.

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Objectives: Early identification of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is essential to allow prompt therapy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of the newly proposed ERA criteria, compared to the 1987 ACR and 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria in an international multicentre study.

Methods: A total of 606 patients with disease duration ≤2 years and age ≥16 years who were diagnosed as RA or non-RA were enrolled from China, Sweden and India.

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Objectives: To develop and replicate, using data-driven methods, a novel classification system in Takayasu's arteritis based on distribution of arterial lesions.

Methods: Patients were included from four international cohorts at major academic centres: India (Christian Medical College Vellore); North America (National Institutes of Health, Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium and Cleveland Clinic Foundation). All patients underwent whole-body angiography of the aorta and branch vessels, with categorization of arterial damage (stenosis, occlusion or aneurysm) in 13 territories.

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Aim And Methods: A single-centre retrospective study was conducted using electronic medical records (EMR) of inpatients and outpatients with the diagnosis of "scleroderma" or "systemic sclerosis" visiting our clinic over the preceding 5 years.

Results: A total of 327 patients' charts met our selection criteria; 301 were females. The median (IQR (inter quartile range)) age at onset of first non-Raynaud's symptom was 34.

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In nature, plants must respond to multiple stresses simultaneously, which likely demands cross-talk between stress-response pathways to minimize fitness costs. Here we provide genetic evidence that biotic and abiotic stress responses are differentially prioritized in leaves of different ages to maintain growth and reproduction under combined biotic and abiotic stresses. Abiotic stresses, such as high salinity and drought, blunted immune responses in older rosette leaves through the phytohormone abscisic acid signaling, whereas this antagonistic effect was blocked in younger rosette leaves by , a signaling component of the defense phytohormone salicylic acid.

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The aim of the study was to explore utility of serial serum myeloid-related protein 8/14 (MRP8/14) as a biomarker of clinical disease activity and angiographic progression in Takayasu arteritis (TA). Serum MRP8/14 levels were assayed by commercial ELISA for 85 TA patients and 24 healthy controls at baseline, and for 56 and 21 TA patients during follow-up visits R1 and R2, respectively. Disease was categorised as active, indeterminate and stable according to Indian Takayasu Arteritis score (ITAS 2010), ITAS-A(CRP) and angiography.

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Sacroiliitis is one of the criteria for classification as spondyloarthritis (SpA), though not unique to SpA. Other conditions including gout may be erroneously diagnosed as SpA due to sacroiliitis. The objective was to identify specific CT findings in sacroiliitis associated with SpA and gout.

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Background/purpose: Normal C-reactive protein (CRP) in active Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a dilemma. We attempted to validate our pilot study finding of rs1205 in CRP gene being protective against TA.

Methods: Genomic DNA of 104 patients and 185 sex-matched healthy controls were genotyped for rs1205 by Taqman assay.

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Assessment of disease activity in Takayasu arteritis (TA) is challenging. We aimed to study utility of serum amyloid A (SAA) to assess disease activity and its association with SAA gene polymorphisms, if any, in our TA patients. Serum of 99 consecutive adult TA patients and 40 healthy controls were assayed for SAA.

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Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an effective therapeutic agent with high safety profile in the management of lupus nephritis. This retrospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy and side effect profile of MMF as induction as well as maintenance therapeutic agent along with tapering steroids in neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE). Hospital electronic medical records of patients with SLE diagnosed by ACR 1990 and/or SLICC 2012 criteria between January 2005 and May 2015 were retrieved.

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Introduction: A major challenge when using glass ionomer cement in clinical situation particularly in paediatric dentistry is to overcome the problem of microleakage. Fast or command setting of Type IX glass ionomer cement using external energy source enhances the setting reaction and results in improved initial physical and mechanical properties.

Aim: To compare and evaluate the influence of ultrasonic activation, halogen light irradiation and combined effect of both on microleakage of enamel adjacent to Type IX glass ionomer restorations.

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High cost deters continuous use of tumor necrosis factor α blockers (TNFi) in developing countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate outcome and expenditure incurred in Spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients beyond a year of follow-up after receiving four doses of infliximab (IFX) over and above background therapy of methotrexate (MTX) and sulfasalazine (SSZ) combination. Electronic medical records were screened for patients with SpA satisfying the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria between 2008 and 2014.

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Background: Arterial inflammation Takayasu arteritis (TA) is an outcome of balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Comprehensive assessment of these cytokines is important for understanding pathogenesis and assessing disease activity.

Objective: To study pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines representing different T-helper cell pathway in serum samples of Asian Indian patients with TA and to assess their association with disease activity.

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Clinical diagnosis of autoinflammatory diseases requires a high degree of clinical suspicion and clinching molecular evidence to substantiate the diagnosis. This is more so in populations with low prevalence of these disorders. In this report, we describe the case of a young man from India with recurrent fever and persistent arthritis.

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Introduction: The tug of war to maintain tooth integrity is dependent on a ratio between demineralization and remineralization. Hence, demineralization should be retarded and remineralization should be enhanced to maintain a natural equilibrium in the oral cavity.

Aim: To compare in-vitro acid resistance of human enamel when using Casein Phosphopeptides Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (CPP-ACP) [GC Tooth mousse] cream, Casein Phosphopeptide Amorphous Calcium Fluoride Phosphate (CPP-ACFP) [GC Tooth mousse plus] cream, Er:YAG laser alone, combination of CPP-ACP with Er:YAG laser, CPP-ACFP with Er:YAG laser.

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