Elicitation of diosgenin production in Dioscorea floribunda by ethylene-generating agent.

Dioscorea floribunda cells aggregates were cultured in liquid modified MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (2 mg/l) and kinetine (0.1 mg/l). The cells were treated with different concentrations of ethylene-generating-agent 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (2-CEPA).

Pulmonary involvement in chronic arsenic poisoning from drinking contaminated ground-water.

Objectives: Chronic arsenic poisoning, due to ingestion of contaminated ground-water, is a major public health problem in West Bengal. It causes multiorgan damage. The present study attempts to objectively investigate the pulmonary involvement by examining the lung function.

Intrapleural administration of a serotype 5 adeno-associated virus coding for alpha1-antitrypsin mediates persistent, high lung and serum levels of alpha1-antitrypsin.

alpha1-Antitrypsin (alpha1AT) is a serine proteinase inhibitor that protects the lung from degradation by neutrophil proteases. In alpha1AT deficiency, an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from mutations in the alpha1AT (approved symbol SERPINA1) gene, serum alpha1AT levels of < 570 microg/ml are associated with development of emphysema. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 2 (AAV2) vectors expressing alpha1AT administered intramuscularly or intravenously mediate sustained serum levels of alpha1AT in experimental animals.

The development of new bicyclic pyrazole-based cytokine synthesis inhibitors.

4-Aryl-5-pyrimidyl-based cytokine synthesis inhibitors of TNF-alpha production, which contain a novel bicyclic pyrazole heterocyclic core, are described. Many of these inhibitors showed low nanomolar activity against LPS-induced TNF-alpha production in a THP-1 cell-based assay and against human p38 alpha MAP kinase in an isolated enzyme assay. The X-ray crystal structure of a bicyclic pyrazole inhibitor co-crystallized with mutated p38 (mp38) is presented.

Use of 16S rRNA gene sequencing for rapid confirmatory identification of Brucella isolates.

Members of the genus Brucella are categorized as biothreat agents and pose a hazard for both humans and animals. Current identification methods rely on biochemical tests that may require up to 7 days for results. We sequenced the 16S rRNA genes of 65 Brucella strains along with 17 related strains likely to present a differential diagnostic challenge.

The development of novel inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production based on substituted [5,5]-bicyclic pyrazolones.

Novel substituted [5,5]-bicyclic pyrzazolones are presented as inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production. Many of these compounds show low nanomolar activity against lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-induced TNF-alpha production in THP-1 cells. This class of molecules was co-crystallized with mutated p38, and several analogs showed good oral bioavailability in the rat.

Standardization and denoising algorithms for mass spectra to classify whole-organism bacterial specimens.

Motivation: Application of mass spectrometry in proteomics is a breakthrough in high-throughput analyses. Early applications have focused on protein expression profiles to differentiate among various types of tissue samples (e.g.

Identification of anthrax toxin genes in a Bacillus cereus associated with an illness resembling inhalation anthrax.

Bacillus anthracis is the etiologic agent of anthrax, an acute fatal disease among mammals. It was thought to differ from Bacillus cereus, an opportunistic pathogen and cause of food poisoning, by the presence of plasmids pXO1 and pXO2, which encode the lethal toxin complex and the poly-gamma-d-glutamic acid capsule, respectively. This work describes a non-B.

Development of orally bioavailable bicyclic pyrazolones as inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha production.

2-Aryl-3-pyrimidinyl based tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors, which contain a novel bicyclic pyrazolone core, are described. Many showed low-nanomolar activity against lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-alpha production in monocytic cells. Secondary screening data are presented for the pyrimidinyl bicyclic pyrazolones.

Analysis of recombinant acylated pneumococcal surface adhesin A of Streptococcus pneumoniae by mass spectrometry.

Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumococcal surface adhesin A (PsaA) is a species-common, immunogenic surface lipoprotein. In this study, the psaA gene was expressed as a nonfusion acylated protein in an Escherichia coli expression system. Yields of pure recombinant PsaA (rPsaA) were 8-10 mg/liter of fermentation culture.

Use of 16S rRNA gene sequencing for rapid identification and differentiation of Burkholderia pseudomallei and B. mallei.

Burkholderia pseudomallei and B. mallei, the causative agents of melioidosis and glanders, respectively, are designated category B biothreat agents. Current methods for identifying these organisms rely on their phenotypic characteristics and an extensive set of biochemical reactions.

Age at onset typology in opioid-dependent men: an exploratory study from India.

This study attempted to apply age at onset typology in ICD-10-diagnosed opioid dependence. The sample is comprised of eighty men seeking treatment at an addiction clinic in India. The measures included a sociodemographic and clinical profile, Severity of Opioid Dependence Questionnaire, Sensation Seeking Scale, Multiphasic Personality Questionnaire (MPQ), and Family History Assessment Module.

Cardiac dysfunction in portal hypertension among patients with cirrhosis and non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis.

Background/aims: In cirrhosis, diastolic dysfunction of heart is well documented. Contribution of portal hypertension towards cardiac changes in cirrhosis is difficult to assess. We examined the patients of non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis who have portal hypertension without liver insufficiency to understand the contribution of portal hypertension in causing cardiac changes.

Portal pressure response to losartan compared with propranolol in patients with cirrhosis.

Objectives: Losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, has portal hypotensive effects. This study evaluates the effect of losartan on portal pressure after 14 days and compares it with that of propranolol.

Methods: A total of 39 individuals with cirrhosis were randomized into two groups of 19 and 20 patients each and were treated with losartan and propranolol, respectively.

Performance characteristics of the Dimension RxL iron and total iron-binding capacity methods.

Background: Measurements of serum iron and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) can be used to aid the diagnosis of iron deficiency and iron overload states. A variety of different methods for these measurements are commercially available.

Methods: Linearity, imprecision and hemoglobin interference of homogeneous iron and TIBC methods on a Dimension RxL analyzer were assessed.

Impaired innate host defense causes susceptibility to respiratory virus infections in cystic fibrosis.

Viral infection is the primary cause of respiratory morbidity in cystic fibrosis (CF) infants. Here, we identify that host factors allow increased virus replication and cytokine production, providing a mechanism for understanding the severity of virus disease in CF. Increased virus is due to lack of nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) and 2', 5' oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) 1 induction in response to virus or IFNgamma.

The development of new triazole based inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production.

4-Aryl-5-pyridyl and 4-aryl-5-pyrimidyl based inhibitors of TNF-alpha production, which contain a novel triazole 5-member heterocyclic core, are described. Many pyridyl triazoles containing either an alkyl ether or a substituted aryl side chain on the triazole core showed sub-micromolar activity against LPS-induced TNF-alpha, while pyrimidyl triazoles containing an ethoxymethyl side chain exhibited even better inhibitory activity. Secondary screening data are presented for the pyrimidyl triazoles.

Disseminated tuberculosis presenting as hemobilia, successfully treated by arterial embolization.

Tuberculosis, specially disseminated tuberculosis, involves the liver frequently. Focal hepatic tuberculosis with local hemorrhage has been reported. We report on a twenty-one year female with disseminated tuberculosis presenting with initially non-localisable massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding, subsequently found to have pancreatitis, right sided pleural effusion and hemobilia which was treated successfully.

The design and synthesis of selective prostaglandin analogs as bone anabolic agents for the potential treatment of osteoporosis.

A series of prostaglandins selective for the human FP receptor have been synthesized and evaluated as potential therapeutics for the treatment of osteoporosis. The compounds proved to be potent (nanomolar binding affinity) and selective (> 100x) ligands for the human FP receptor in vitro, and increased bone volume in the ovariectomized rat in vivo.

Steroidal compounds from in vitro regenerated shoots of Datura metel.

Regeneration of adventitious shoots from young leaves of Datura metel is described. Shoot buds developed on MS medium with 2 mg/l and elongated on hormone-free solid basal medium. The microshoots failed to produce alkaloids, but a number of steroidal compounds were detected.

Arsenic in drinking water and skin lesions: dose-response data from West Bengal, India.

Background: Over 6 million people live in areas of West Bengal, India, where groundwater sources are contaminated with naturally occurring arsenic. The key objective of this nested case-control study was to characterize the dose-response relation between low arsenic concentrations in drinking water and arsenic-induced skin keratoses and hyperpigmentation.

Methods: We selected cases (persons with arsenic-induced skin lesions) and age- and sex-matched controls from participants in a 1995-1996 cross-sectional survey in West Bengal.

Retroracemization using new forms of Belokon's original ligand: intermediate NiII complexes of N-((2-[N-(S)-alkylprolylamino]phenyl)phenylmethylene)-(S)-phenylalanine (alkyl is 2-picolyl, 3-picolyl or ethyl).

In the title compounds, [N-(phenyl(2-[N-(S)-(2-picolyl)prolylamino]phenyl)methylene)-(S)-phenylalaninato]nickel(II), [Ni(C(33)H(30)N(4)O(3))], (I), [N-(phenyl(2-[N-(S)-(3-picolyl)prolylamino]phenyl)methylene)-(S)-phenylalaninato]nickel(II) hemihydrate, [Ni(C(33)H(30)N(4)O(3))].0.5H(2)O, (II), and [N-((2-[N-(S)-ethylprolylamino]phenyl)phenylmethylene)-(S)-phenylalaninato]nickel(II), [Ni(C(29)H(29)N(3)O(3))], (III), the Ni(II) centres have approximate square-planar coordination geometries from N(3)O donor sets.

Characterization of the oligomerization domain of the phosphoprotein of human parainfluenza virus type 3.

The phosphoprotein (P) of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV 3) plays a central role in the viral genome RNA transcription and replication. It acts as an essential cofactor of the RNA polymerase (L) by forming a functional L-P complex, binds to the genomic N-RNA template to recruit the L-P complex for RNA synthesis, and interacts with the nucleocapsid protein (N) to form the encapsidation complex (N-P). We have earlier demonstrated that the P protein forms oligomers (B.