Age-Related Differences in the Mouse Corneal Epithelial Transcriptome and Their Impact on Corneal Wound Healing.

Purpose: Aging is a risk factor for dry eye. We sought to identify changes in the aged mouse corneal epithelial transcriptome and determine how age affects corneal sensitivity, re-epithelialization, and barrier reformation after corneal debridement.

Methods: Corneal epithelium of female C57BL/6J (B6) mice of different ages (2, 12, 18, and 24 months) was collected, RNA extracted, and bulk RNA sequencing performed.

Heterochronic Parabiosis Causes Dacryoadenitis in Young Lacrimal Glands.

Aging is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress in the lacrimal gland (LG). We investigated if heterochronic parabiosis of mice could modulate age-related LG alterations. In both males and females, there were significant increases in total immune infiltration in isochronic aged LGs compared to that in isochronic young LGs.

A comparative study of efficacy of coconut oil, lemon water and dishwashing liquid as surrogates to xylene.

Histopathology is the field of science that helps in analyzing the architectural pattern of cells under the microscope. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections are used for routine histopathological examination. Xylene being a biohazardous hydrocarbon is used in many steps of tissue processing and laboratory personnel are exposed to this toxic substance.

Cathepsin S is a novel target for age-related dry eye.

Cathepsin S (Ctss) is a protease that is proinflammatory on epithelial cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Ctss in age-related dry eye disease. Ctss mice [in a C57BL/6 (B6) background] of different ages were compared to B6 mice.

Susceptibility pattern of methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by flow cytometry analysis and characterization of novel lead drug molecule from Streptomyces species.

Background: Actinomycetes particularly, Streptomyces species are producing wide variety of natural products with potential bioactivities. The microbial-derived metabolites hold a strong position to combat emerging and re-emerging antimicrobial drug-resistant pathogens.

Objectives: A diverse group of actinomycetes strains were isolated from unexplored regions of mangrove sediment.

Enhanced Segmentation of Inflamed ROI to Improve the Accuracy of Identifying Benign and Malignant Cases in Breast Thermogram.

Effective analysis of breast thermography needs an accurate segmentation of the inflamed region in Infrared Breast Thermal Images (IBTI) which helps in the diagnosis of breast cancer. However, IBTI suffers from intensity inhomogeneity, overlapping regions of interest, poor contrast, and low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) due to the imperfect image acquisition process. To mitigate this, this work proposes an enhanced segmentation of the inflamed Region of Interest (ROI) using an active contour method driven by the multiscale local and global fitted image (MLGFI) model.

Establishment of human retinal mitoscriptome gene expression signature for diabetic retinopathy using cadaver eyes.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness due to retinal microvasculature. We used microarray analysis for the first time to establish the retinal mitoscriptome gene expression signature for DR using human cadaver eyes. Among the 1042 genes, 60 (52-down, 8-up) and 39 (36-down, 3-up) genes were differentially expressed in the DR as compared to normal control and diabetic retinas respectively.

In-vitro assessment of antimicrobial properties and lymphocytotoxicity assay of benzoisochromanequinones polyketide from Streptomyces sp JRG-04.

The chromanequinone (BIQ) compound produced by the mangrove estuary derived strain, Streptomyces sp. JRG-04 was effective even at low MIC level concentration against Methicillin resistant S. aureus and other clinical pathogens.

Homozygosity Mapping and Genetic Analysis of Autosomal Recessive Retinal Dystrophies in 144 Consanguineous Pakistani Families.

Purpose: The Pakistan Punjab population has been a rich source for identifying genes causing or contributing to autosomal recessive retinal degenerations (arRD). This study was carried out to delineate the genetic architecture of arRD in the Pakistani population.

Methods: The genetic origin of arRD in a total of 144 families selected only for having consanguineous marriages and multiple members affected with arRD was examined.

Molecular Genetic Analysis of Pakistani Families With Autosomal Recessive Congenital Cataracts by Homozygosity Screening.

Purpose: To identify the genetic origins of autosomal recessive congenital cataracts (arCC) in the Pakistani population.

Methods: Based on the hypothesis that most arCC patients in consanguineous families in the Punjab areas of Pakistan should be homozygous for causative mutations, affected individuals were screened for homozygosity of nearby highly informative microsatellite markers and then screened for pathogenic mutations by DNA sequencing. A total of 83 unmapped consanguineous families were screened for mutations in 33 known candidate genes.

A Novel Mutation in the DNA Binding Domain of NFKB is Associated with Speckled Leukoplakia.

Background: Activation and inactivation of nuclear factor of kappa light chain gene enhancer in B cells (NFKB) is tightly regulated to ensure effective onset and cessation of defensive inflammatory signaling. However, mutations within NFKB, or change in activation and inactivation molecules have been reported in a few cancers. Although oral squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in India, with a development associated with malignant transformation of precancerous lesions, the genetic status of NFKB and relative rates of change in oral precancerous lesions remain unknown.

Mutation Analysis of the Dimer Forming Domain of the Caspase 8 Gene in Oral Submucous Fibrosis and Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

Background: Missense and frame-shift mutations within the dimer forming domain of the caspase 8 gene have been identified in several cancers. However, the genetic status of this region in precancerous lesions, like oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), and well differentiated oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) in patients from southern region of India is not known, and hence the present study was designed to address this issue.

Materials And Methods: Genomic DNA isolated from biopsy tissues of thirty one oral submucous fibrosis and twenty five OSCC samples were subjected to PCR amplification with intronic primers flanking exon 7 of the caspase 8 gene.

Antimicrobial potential of phylogenetically unique actinomycete, Streptomyces sp. JRG-04 from marine origin.

Due to the emergence of severe infectious diseases and thriving antibiotic resistance, there is a need to explore microbial-derived bioactive secondary metabolites from unexplored regions. Present study deals with a mangrove estuary derived strain of Streptomyces sp. with potent antimicrobial activity against various pathogens, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Mutational analysis of MIR184 in sporadic keratoconus and myopia.

Purpose: A mutation miR-184(+57C>T) in the seed region of miR-184 (encoded by MIR184 [MIM*613146]) results in familial severe keratoconus combined with early-onset anterior polar cataract and endothelial dystrophy, iris hypoplasia, congenital cataract, and stromal thinning (EDICT) syndrome (MIM#614303). In order to investigate the phenotypic spectrum resulting from MIR184 mutation, MIR184 was sequenced in a keratoconus cohort of mixed ethnicity and a Chinese axial myopia cohort.

Methods: Sequencing of MIR184 was performed in 780 unrelated keratoconus patients and 96 unrelated Han southern Chinese subjects with axial myopia.

Effect of weight loss after bariatric surgery on left ventricular mass and ventricular repolarization in normotensive morbidly obese patients.

To assess the effect of weight loss on ventricular repolarization in morbidly obese patients, 39 normotensive subjects whose baseline body mass indexes were ≥40 kg/m(2) before weight loss from bariatric surgery were studied. All patients were free of underlying organic heart disease, heart failure, and conditions that might affect ventricular repolarization. Twelve-lead electrocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography were performed just before surgery and at the nadir of postoperative weight loss.

Relation of left ventricular mass to QTc in normotensive severely obese patients.

Prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc) has been described in obese subjects. This study assesses the relation of left ventricular (LV) mass to QTc in normotensive severely obese subjects. Fifty normotensive patients whose BMI was ≥40 kg/m(2) (mean age: 38 ± 7 years) were studied.

Dobutamine stress echocardiography Doppler estimation of cardiac diastolic function: a simultaneous catheterization correlation study.

Background: Doppler echocardiography using the ratio of early diastolic transmitral velocity to early diastolic mitral annular tissue velocity (E/E') is routinely used to evaluate left ventricular (LV) filling pressures at rest. We tested the hypothesis that measurement of E/E' in patients undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) will detect changes in LV filling pressures.

Methods: In this prospective study, 16 patients with normal LV ejection fraction and normal coronary arteries by angiography underwent a standard DSE protocol with simultaneous LV filling pressure monitoring with a fluid filled pigtail catheter.

Association analysis of nine candidate gene polymorphisms in Indian patients with type 2 diabetic retinopathy.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is classically defined as a microvasculopathy that primarily affects the small blood vessels of the inner retina as a complication of diabetes mellitus (DM).It is a multifactorial disease with a strong genetic component. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of a set of nine candidate genes with the development of diabetic retinopathy in a South Indian cohort who have type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Cardiac safety of conducted electrical devices in pigs and their effect on pacemaker function.

Objective: The aims of this study are to evaluate the cardiac safety of the Stinger S-200 Conducted Energy Weapon Device (CED) (Stinger Systems, Tampa, Fla) on a human-sized pig model and to test the effect of various commercially available CEDs, specifically the Stinger S-200, TASER M26 (Taser International, Scottsdale, Ariz), and TASER X26 on pacemaker function.

Methods: Two groups of pigs, divided based on weight as group 1 (n = 3, 67.3 ± 4.

Exercise and weight loss improve exercise capacity independent of cardiac function in metabolic syndrome.

Hypertension, diabetes and obesity cause cardiac diastolic dysfunction (DD) which could reduce exercise capacity. Our aim was to determine if 10% weight loss by exercise at 60% VO(2max) five days/week (approximately -375 kcal/session) and caloric restriction (approximately -600 kcal/d) over 6 months improves exercise capacity and DD in Metabolic syndrome (MetS). Eighteen subjects (40 +/- 1y, women = 6, BMI = 33.

Topical therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization: impact on infection risk.

Objective: We evaluated the usefulness of topical decolonization therapy for reducing the risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection among MRSA-colonized inpatients.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting And Intervention: Three hospitals with universal surveillance for MRSA; at their physician's discretion, colonized patients could be treated with a 5-day course of nasal mupirocin calcium 2%, twice daily, plus chlorhexidine gluconate 4% every second day.

The role of the renin-angiotensin system in the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of renal impairment in patients with the cardiometabolic syndrome or its components.

Chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease share many risk factors, including hypertension, obesity, and insulin resistance. All of these are components of the cardiometabolic syndrome and are associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. One mechanism that links renal injury with the cardiometabolic syndrome is activation of the renin-angiotensin system.