Rhizoctonia bataticola lectin (RBL) induces phenotypic and functional characteristics of macrophages in THP-1 cells and human monocytes.

We have previously reported that a fungal lectin, Rhizoctonia bataticola lectin (RBL), stimulates proliferation and secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In the present study, we evaluated the ability of RBL to differentiate human monocytes to macrophages. RBL induced morphological changes indicative of differentiation in primary monocytes and THP-1 cells.

Smoking and early infliximab response in Crohn’s disease: a meta-analysis.

Background: Infliximab is used to treat moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD), but its efficacy varies. Although cigarette smoking worsens CD, its impact on the infliximab response is unknown. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials to determine the effect of smoking on the induction response to infliximab.

Sclerotium rolfsii lectin induces stronger inhibition of proliferation in human breast cancer cells than normal human mammary epithelial cells by induction of cell apoptosis.

Sclerotium rolfsii lectin (SRL) isolated from the phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotium rolfsii has exquisite binding specificity towards O-linked, Thomsen-Freidenreich (Galβ1-3GalNAcα1-Ser/Thr, TF) associated glycans. This study investigated the influence of SRL on proliferation of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and ZR-75), non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A) and normal mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). SRL caused marked, dose-dependent, inhibition of proliferation of MCF-7 and ZR-75 cells but only weak inhibition of proliferation of non-tumorigenic MCF-10A and HMEC cells.

Splenic infarction in polycythaemia vera: can the spleen be saved?

Polycythaemia vera is associated with thrombotic phenomenon due to hyperviscosity of blood. Splenic infarction with splenomegaly is a catastrophic complication usually requiring splenectomy. We describe a case of splenic infarction as an initial manifestation of polycythaemia vera which was treated with serial phlebotomies and hydroxyurea alone, without the need for surgery.

UV laser radiation alters the embryonic protein profile of adrenal-kidney-gonadal complex and gonadal differentiation in the lizard, Calotes Versicolor.

Purpose: To examine the impact of ultraviolet (UV) laser radiation on the embryos of Calotes versicolor in terms of its effects on the protein profile of the adrenal-kidney-gonadal complex (AKG), sex determination and differentiation, embryonic development and hatching synchrony.

Materials And Methods: The eggs of C. versicolor, during thermo-sensitive period (TSP), were exposed to third harmonic laser pulses at 355 nm from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser for 180 sec.

Solvents effect on the absorption and fluorescence spectra of 7-diethylamino-3-thenoylcoumarin: evaluation and correlation between solvatochromism and solvent polarity parameters.

Effect of solvents of varying polarities on absorption and fluorescence spectra and dipole moment of laser dye: 7-diethylamino-3-thenoylcoumarin (DETC) has been investigated. A small band shift is obtained in the absorption spectra compared to emission spectra. The spectral shifts were correlated with Catalan's parameters using linear solvation energy relationship.

When gold meets chiral Brønsted acid catalysts: extending the boundaries of enantioselective gold catalysis.

This review describes the development in the use of Au(I)/Brønsted acid binary catalytic systems to enable an enantioselective transformation in one-pot that cannot be achieved by gold catalysts alone. The examples discussed herein are promising since apart from using chiral ligands there exists a possibility of using chiral Brønsted acids. Clearly, the horizon for enantioselective gold catalysis has been expanded as more options to make the gold-catalyzed reactions enantioselective have become available.

Beneficial effects of nebivolol in comparison with atenolol on safety and tolerability in essential hypertension.

Introduction: Hypertension, "The silent killer" is a multifactorial disorder which is asymptomatic and if left untreated leads to lethal complications. Nebivolol is a third generation beta blocker with additional vasodilating property due to nitric oxide release.

Aim: The current study aims to assess efficacy and safety of Nebivolol and compare with Atenolol.

Long-term results of hepatic hydatid disease managed using palanivelu hydatid system: Indian experience in tertiary center.

Background: Incidence of hepatic hydatid disease is increasing due to globalization. Surgery is the gold standard treatment. Laparoscopy has gained enough evidence regarding its safety and efficacy.

Herbal anti-inflammatory immunomodulators as host modulators in chronic periodontitis patients: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.

Purpose: Host modulatory therapy has been proposed as a treatment for periodontal diseases. A class of herbal medicines, known to be immunomodulators, alters the activity of immune function through the regulation of informational molecules such as cytokines. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that herbal immunomodulator drugs act as an adjuvant to scaling and root planing (SRP) in alleviating periodontal inflammation by improving clinical and biochemical parameters.

Omega 3 fatty acids as a host modulator in chronic periodontitis patients: a randomised, double-blind, palcebo-controlled, clinical trial.

Purpose: Periodontitis is an infectious disease caused predominantly by gram-negative anerobes. The host inflammatory response to these bacteria causes alveolar bone loss that is characterized as periodontitis. Omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FAs) have anti-inflammatory properties, thus have been used to treat some chronic inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Sclerotherapy: a novel bloodless approach to treat recurrent oral pyogenic granuloma associated with port-wine stain.

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a commonly occurring nonneoplastic inflammatory lesion in the oral cavity. Recent reports have demonstrated a rare association between skin PG and port-wine stain (PWS). Various treatment modalities such as complete excision, curettage, cryotherapy, chemical and electric cauterizations, lasers, and intralesional corticosteroids have been used to treat the lesion.

Determination of ground and excited state dipole moments of dipolar laser dyes by solvatochromic shift method.

The absorption and fluorescence spectra of three medium sized dipolar laser dyes: coumarin 478 (C478), coumarin 519 (C519) and coumarin 523 (C523) have been recorded and studied comprehensively in various solvents at room temperature. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of C478, C519 and C523 show a bathochromic and hypsochromic shifts with increasing solvent polarity indicate that the transitions involved are π→π(∗) and n→π(∗). Onsager radii determined from ab initio calculations were used in the determination of dipole moments.

Platelet rich fibrin: a new hope for regeneration in aggressive periodontitis patients: report of two cases.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of platelet rich fibrin (PRF) in periodontal regeneration in generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) patients. Two patients diagnosed with GAgP were selected for this study. Baseline clinical and radiographic examination was performed and patients were treated by surgical periodontal therapy along with PRF.

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanoparticles by flame synthesis as anode material for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

Nitrogen-doped turbostratic carbon nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared using fast single-step flame synthesis by directly burning acetonitrile in air atmosphere and investigated as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The as-prepared N-doped carbon NPs show excellent Li-ion stoarage properties with initial discharge capacity of 596 mA h g(-1), which is 17% more than that shown by the corresponding undoped carbon NPs synthesized by identical process with acetone as carbon precursor and also much higher than that of commercial graphite anode. Further analysis shows that the charge-discharge process of N-doped carbon is highly stable and reversible not only at high current density but also over 100 cycles, retaining 71% of initial discharge capacity.

Sclerotium rolfsii lectin exerts insecticidal activity on Spodoptera litura larvae by binding to membrane proteins of midgut epithelial cells and triggering caspase-3-dependent apoptosis.

The insect pest Spodoptera litura is considered a major threat to many economically important food and commercial crops. The present study establishes the toxic effects of Sclerotium rolfsii lectin (SRL) against S. litura larvae fed an artificial diet containing the purified lectin.

Innovative use of Mucuna monosperma (Wight) callus cultures for continuous production of melanin by using statistically optimized biotransformation medium.

Melanins are predominantly indolic polymers which are having extensive applications in cosmetics, agriculture and medicine. In the present study, optimization of nutritional parameters influencing melanin production by Mucuna monosperma callus cultures was attempted using the response surface methodology (RSM). Standardization of four factors was carried out using the Box-Behnken design.

Rhizoctonia bataticola lectin (RBL) induces caspase-8-mediated apoptosis in human T-cell leukemia cell lines but not in normal CD3 and CD34 positive cells.

We have previously demonstrated immunostimulatory activity of a fungal lectin, Rhizoctonia bataticola lectin (RBL), towards normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The present study aimed to explore the anticancer activities of RBL using human leukemic T-cell lines, Molt-4, Jurkat and HuT-78. RBL exhibited significant binding (>90%) to the cell membrane that was effectively inhibited by complex glycoproteins such as mucin (97% inhibition) and asialofetuin (94% inhibition) but not simple sugars such as N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, glucose and sucrose.

Purification and characterization of RNA allied extracellular tyrosinase from Aspergillus species.

Production of L-DOPA, an anti-Parkinson's drug, using biological sources is widely studied in which tyrosinase is known to play a vital role. Tyrosinase is an omnipresent type 3 copper enzyme participating in many essential biological functions. Understanding properties of tyrosinase is essential for developing useful tyrosinase-based applications.

Syntaxin 16 regulates lumen formation during epithelial morphogenesis.

The formation and maintenance of cell-cell junctions, both under physiological and pathological conditions, requires the targeting and trafficking of junctional proteins. Proteins of the syntaxin (Stx)-family localize to a variety of subcellular membranes and contribute to intracellular transport of cargo by regulating vesicle fusion events at these sites. Unlike plasma membrane localized Stxs, the roles of endosome- and Golgi-localized stx proteins in epithelial morphogenesis are less understood.

Effectiveness of intravenous iron sucrose in management of iron-deficient anemia of pregnancy at rural hospital set up.

Objectives: Critical evaluation of iron sucrose (Malhotra, FOGSI Focus 9-11, 2009) in terms of efficacy, safety, and feasibility at rural setup for the treatment of anemia of pregnancy (Raja et al., Rawal Med J 28: 40-3, 2003) along with any reduction in blood transfusion rate at peripartum period of 37 weeks to 48 h within delivery.

Methods: In a prospective cohort study conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, during the year 2008 AVBRH-Wardha, 256 consecutive women of iron-deficient anemia (IDA) treated with intravenous iron sucrose were studied for feasibility, safety, and efficacy of drug.

Random UV mutagenesis approach for enhanced biodegradation of sulfonated azo dye, Green HE4B.

The objective of the study was to execute mutant bacteria for efficient biodegradation of sulfonated azo dye, Green HE4B (GHE4B). UV irradiation was used to introduce random mutations in Pseudomonas sp. LBC1.

Statistically optimized biotransformation protocol for continuous production of L-DOPA using Mucuna monosperma callus culture.

L-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine), a modified amino acid, is an expansively used drug for the Parkinson's disease treatment. In the present study, optimization of nutritional parameters influencing L-DOPA production was attempted using the response surface methodology (RSM) from Mucuna monosperma callus. Optimization of the four factors was carried out using the Box-Behnken design.

The myosin motor Myo1c is required for VEGFR2 delivery to the cell surface and for angiogenic signaling.

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is expressed in endothelial cells and regulates angiogenic signal transduction under both physiological and pathological conditions. VEGFR2 turnover at the plasma membrane (PM) is regulated by its transport through endocytic and secretory transport pathways. Short-range cargo trafficking along actin filaments is commonly regulated by motor proteins of myosin superfamily.