Inhibition of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide-induced autophagy at a lower dose enhances cell death in malignant glioma cells.

The question whether chemotherapy-induced autophagy is causative to the demise of the cells or a part of the survival mechanism activated during cellular distress is unclear. Others and we have previously demonstrated apoptosis-inducing capacity of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR) in malignant glioma cells. We provide evidences of 4-HPR-induced autophagy at a lower concentration (5 microM).

Adverse effect of tannery waste leachates in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster: role of ROS in modulation of Hsp70, oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Leachate is a complex chemical mixture of chemicals produced as a result of leaching of solid wastes. The potential toxicity of leachates is a major environmental health concern. The present study evaluated the role of ROS in tannery leachates induced Hsp70 expression, antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis in Drosophila.

Appendiceal diverticulitis: diagnosis and differentiation from usual acute appendicitis using computed tomography.

Objective: To describe the computed tomographic findings of appendiceal diverticulitis.

Methods: Computed tomography (n = 20) and clinical findings in 23 patients with appendiceal diverticulitis were retrospectively reviewed and compared with those in 23 patients with usual acute appendicitis.

Results: Computed tomography visualized the inflamed diverticula (up to 4 per patient) mostly as small (median, 7.

Dielectric response of aligned semiconducting single-wall nanotubes.

We report measurements of the full intrinsic optical anisotropy of isolated single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). By combining absorption spectroscopy with transmission ellipsometry and polarization-dependent resonant Raman scattering, we obtain the real and imaginary parts of the SWNT permittivity from aligned semiconducting SWNTs dispersed in stretched polymer films. Our results are in agreement with theoretical predictions, highlighting the limited polarizability of excitons in a quasi-1D system.

On-the-fly generation of multiplanar reformation images independent of CT scanner type.

We propose a system that automatically generates multiplanar reformation (MPR) images on-the-fly, which is independent of computed tomography (CT) scanner type. Triggered by digital imaging communication in medicine (DICOM) Storage Commitment or in a time threshold manner, this system generates MPR images from received thin-section CT data sets with predefined reformation parameters and then sends MPR images to DICOM stations. Users can specify the reformation parameters and the destination of the resulting MPR images for each CT study description.

Uptake of inhalable microparticles affects defence responses of macrophages infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra.

Objectives: To investigate whether inhalable microparticles containing two anti-tuberculosis agents, isoniazid and rifampicin, evoke host-defence strategies in macrophages in addition to targeting the incorporated drugs.

Methods: Microparticles were prepared by spray-drying a homogeneous solution of drugs and poly(lactic acid) (PLA; apparent viscosity 1.1 cP).

Antimicrobial activity of some Indian medicinal plants.

The antimicrobial potential of seventy-seven extracts from twenty-four plants was screened against eight bacteria and four pathogenic fungi, using microbroth dilution assay. Lowest concentration of the extract, which inhibits any visual microbial growth after treatment with p-iodonitrotetrazolium violet, was considered to be minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Water extracts of Acacia nilotica, Justicia zelanica, Lantana camara and Saraca asoca exhibited good activity against all the bacteria tested and the MIC was recorded in range of 9.

Comparative measures of single-wall carbon nanotube dispersion.

Model composites of DNA-wrapped single-wall carbon nanotubes in poly(acrylic acid) are used to evaluate metrics of nanotube dispersion. By varying the pH of the precursor solutions, we introduce a controlled deviation from ideal behavior. On the basis of small-angle neutron scattering, changes in near-infrared fluorescence intensity are strongly correlated with dispersion, while optical absorption spectroscopy and resonant Raman scattering are less definitive.

Novel disulphide esters of carbothioic acid as potent, non-detergent spermicides with low toxicity to Lactobacillus and HeLa cells in vitro.

Background: The design, synthesis, characterization and evaluation of a novel series of non-detergent spermicides has led to the discovery of two unique molecules (DSE-36 and DSE-37) that were approximately 25 times more potent spermicides than nonoxynol-9 (N-9).

Methods: Normal human spermatozoa were used to assess the spermicidal activity (Sander-Cramer Assay), the effect on sperm-membrane integrity [hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST)], supravital staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the induction of apoptosis [fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) Annexin-V and JC-1 labelling using flow cytometry] by the new class of compounds. HeLa and Lactobacillus cultures were used to assess the cytotoxicity of compounds and their compatibility to normal vaginal flora, respectively.

Antibacterial activity of bioconverted eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) against foodborne pathogenic bacteria.

The antimicrobial activity of bioconversion extracts of EPA and DHA against a range of foodborne pathogenic bacteria was investigated. The bioconverted EPA and DHA exhibited antibacterial activities against four gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and S. aureus (KCTC 1916) and seven gram-negative bacteria, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, E.

Synthetic pyrethroid cypermethrin induced cellular damage in reproductive tissues of Drosophila melanogaster: Hsp70 as a marker of cellular damage.

We tested a working hypothesis of whether the synthetic pyrethroid cypermethrin, used worldwide for insecticidal purpose, causes adverse effects on reproduction in Drosophila melanogaster. Freshly eclosed first instar larvae of a transgenic strain of Drosophila melanogaster, Bg9, transgenic for hsp70 (hsp70-lacZ), were transferred to different dietary concentrations of the test chemical (0.002, 0.

Nitric oxide synthase localization in the rat neutrophils: immunocytochemical, molecular, and biochemical studies.

Nitric oxide (NO) modulates diverse functions of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), but localization of NO synthase (NOS) and identification of its interacting proteins remain the least defined. The present study discerns subcellular distribution of NOS and caveolin-1, a prominent NOS-interacting protein in rat PMNs. Localization of NOS was explored by confocal and immunogold electron microscopy, and its activity was assessed by L-[3H] arginine and 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2DA).

A novel homologue of coronin colocalizes with actin in filament-like structures in Leishmania.

The presence of actin in Leishmania has recently been demonstrated, but the functional form of this protein (filamentous actin) has not yet been identified. We report here that the putative coronin homologue identified in the Leishmania genome is invariably associated with the filament-like structures of actin in Leishmania promastigotes. The occurrence of filamentous structures is significantly increased upon overexpression of Leishmania coronin as its GFP fusion product in Leishmania cells.

Isolation and anti-fungal activities of 2-hydroxymethyl-chroman-4-one Produced by Burkholderia sp. MSSP.

In the course of screening for biological active compounds from microbial origins, various strains were isolated from roots of Mimosa pudica using standard dilution agar plate method. One isolate was selected for further studies of bacterial anti-fungal properties. It was designated MSSP and identified as Burkholderia sp.

Unraveling the amyloid associated with human medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is associated with amyloid deposition in the surrounding tissues. MTC-positive tumor thyroid tissues surgically removed from patients were used in our study to extract amyloid. We tested the MTC extracts for the presence of amyloid by measuring fold enhancement of thioflavin T fluorescence.

Large-scale synthesis of perpendicularly aligned helical carbon nanotubes.

Large-scale perpendicularly aligned helical carbon nanotube arrays were prepared by co-pyrolysis of Fe(CO)5 and pyridine onto the pristine quartz glass plates in a tube furnace at 900-1100 degrees C under a mixture flow of Ar and H2. The resultant aligned helical carbon nanotubes could not only facilitate the structure-property characterization for helical carbon nanotubes but also allow them to be effectively incorporated into devices for practical applications.

A novel form of actin in Leishmania: molecular characterisation, subcellular localisation and association with subpellicular microtubules.

To study the occurrence and subcellular distribution of actin in trypanosomatid parasites, we have cloned and overexpressed Leishmania donovani actin gene in bacteria, purified the protein, and employed the affinity purified rabbit polyclonal anti-recombinant actin antibodies as a probe to study the organisation and subcellular distribution of actin in Leishmania cells. The Leishmania actin did not cross react with antimammalian actin antibodies but was readily recognized by the anti-Leishmania actin antibodies in both the promastigote and amastigote forms of the parasite. About 10(6) copies per cell of this protein (M(r) 42.

Characterization and localization of fluorescent Pseudomonas cold shock protein(s) by monospecific polyclonal antibodies.

Cold shock protein (CSP) from Pseudomonas fluorescens MTCC 103 and cold resistant protein (CRP) from its mutant CRPF8 of 14 and 35 kd, respectively were purified to homogeneity by HPLC. Polyclonal antibodies were raised against these proteins and the expression level was checked at different temperatures, i.e.

Argemone oil induced cellular damage in the reproductive tissues of transgenic Drosophila melanogaster: protective role of 70 kDa heat shock protein.

We explored the reproductive toxicity of argemone oil and its principal alkaloid fraction in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster (hsp70-lacZ) Bg(9). The toxicity of argemone oil has been attributed to two of its physiologically active benzophenanthridine alkaloids, sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine. Freshly eclosed first instar larvae of transgenic Drosophila melanogaster were transferred to different concentrations of argemone oil and its alkaloid fraction contaminated food.

Histological and ultrastructural regulation in rabbit endometrial explants by estrogen in serum-free culture.

A repertoire of hormonal signals including estrogen regulate the growth, differentiation, and functioning of diverse target tissues, including the ovary, the mammary gland, and skeletal tissue. A serum-free culture system derived from rabbit endometrium explants has been devised and is reported here to explore estrogen action in vitro. The system involves aseptically harvesting the uterus from a virgin rabbit, dissecting the endometrium, explanting it into 1- to 2-mm(3) pieces weighing approximately 1-2 mg each, and incubating these pieces in serum-free Medium-199.

Stromal cell interaction and relevance to predecidual events and menstruation.

Endometrial stromal cells play a vital role during decidualization and implantation. The aim of this study was to analyse the cyclic ultrastructural variations of stromal fibroblasts, granulocytes and blood-derived cells which invade the stroma during various stages of the menstrual cycle. Diverse opinions exist in the literature regarding the origin, fate and function of the endometrial granulocytes.

Cyclic alterations in rhesus monkey endometrium by scanning electron microscopy.

The present study was undertaken to correlate the surface topography of endometrium with altered concentrations of circulating steroids during different phases of the artificially-induced menstrual cycle. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that oestradiol during the oestrogenic phase induces an increase in the number of ciliated cells and the size of microvilli; by contrast, progesterone, in addition to inducing secretory activity in non-ciliated cells, had a negative effect on oestradiol-dependent morphological characteristics of ciliated cells, causing a reduction in cell number and deciliation, and inducing drooping of cilia during the progestogenic phase of the artificially-induced menstrual cycle. In addition, surface and glandular epithelial cells both actively participate in restoration of the endometrial surface during the menstrual phase, an event which parallels endometrial shedding.