miR-140-3p regulation of TNF-α-induced CD38 expression in human airway smooth muscle cells.

CD38, a membrane protein expressed in airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells, plays a role in cellular Ca(2+) dynamics and ASM contractility. In human ASM (HASM) cells, TNF-α induces CD38 expression through activation of MAPKs, NF-κB, and AP-1, and its expression is differentially elevated in cells from asthmatic patients compared with cells from nonasthmatic subjects. The CD38 3'-untranslated region (UTR) has targets for miR-140-3p.

Protective efficacy of ellagic acid on glycoproteins, hematological parameters, biochemical changes, and electrolytes in myocardial infarcted rats.

The cardioprotective property of ellagic acid in rats has been reported previously. The present study reveals the protective role of ellagic acid in biochemical parameters including serum iron, plasma iron binding capacity, uric acid, glycoprotein, and electrolytes along with hematological parameters. Rats were subcutaneously injected with isoproterenol (ISO) (100 mg/kg) for 2 days to induce myocardial infarction.

The small MAF transcription factors MAFF, MAFG and MAFK: current knowledge and perspectives.

The small MAFs, MAFF, MAFG and MAFK have emerged as crucial regulators of mammalian gene expression. Previous studies have linked small MAF function, by virtue of their heterodimerization with the Cap 'n' Collar (CNC) family of transcription factors, to the stress response and detoxification pathways. Recent analyses have revealed a complex regulatory network involving small MAF transcription factors and other cellular proteins.

Regulation of CD38 expression in human airway smooth muscle cells: role of class I phosphatidylinositol 3 kinases.

The ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity of CD38 generates cyclic ADP-ribose, a Ca(2+)-mobilizing agent. In human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cells, TNF-α mediates CD38 expression through mitogen-activated protein kinases and NF-κB and AP-1. The phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathway is involved in TNF-α signaling and contributes to airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodeling.

CYP1A1 gene polymorphisms: lack of association with breast cancer susceptibility in the southern region (Madurai) of India.

The cytochrome P 450 1A1 gene encoding a phase I metabolic enzyme appears to be a candidate for breast cancer risk. It is involved in the phase I detoxification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 2-hydroxylation of estrogens and mammary carcinogens into 2-hydroxy catechol metabolites. Several studies have investigated polymorphisms in CYP1A1 and breast cancer risk with inconsistent results.

Litsea deccanensis ameliorates myocardial infarction in wistar rats: evidence from biochemical and histological studies.

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of methanolic extract of Litsea deccanensis (MELD) against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats by studying cardiac markers, lipid peroxidation, lipid profile, and histological changes. Male Wistar rats were treated orally with MELD (100 and 200 mg/kg) daily for a period of 21 days. After 21 days of pretreatment, isoproterenol (100 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously to rats at an interval of 24 h for 2 days to induce myocardial infarction.

Exit fluence analysis using portal dosimetry in volumetric modulated arc therapy.

Aim: In measuring exit fluences, there are several sources of deviations which include the changes in the entrance fluence, changes in the detector response and patient orientation or geometry. The purpose of this work is to quantify these sources of errors.

Background: The use of the volumetric modulated arc therapy treatment with the help of image guidance in radiotherapy results in high accuracy of delivering complex dose distributions while sparing critical organs.

Synthesis and in silico evaluation of 1N-methyl-1S-methyl-2-nitroethylene (NMSM) derivatives against Alzheimer disease: to understand their interacting mechanism with acetylcholinesterase.

Anomalous action of human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) was restrained by various AChE inhibitors, of which the specific and potent lead candidate Donepezil is used for treating the disease AD. Besides the specificity, the observed undesirable side effects caused by Donepezil invoked the quest for new lead molecules with the increased potency and specificity for AChE. The present study elucidates the potency of six 1N-methyl-1S-methyl-2-nitroethylene (NMSM) derivatives to form a specific interaction with the peripheral anionic site and catalytic anionic subsite residues of hAChE.

3-({[(1-Phenyl-eth-yl)sulfan-yl]methane-thio-yl}sulfan-yl)propanoic acid.

In the title compound, C(12)H(14)O(2)S(3), a chain transfer agent (CTA) used in polymerization, the dihedral angle between the aromatic ring and the CS(3) grouping is 84.20 (10)°. In the crystal, carb-oxy-lic acid inversion dimers linked by pairs of O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds generate R(2) (2)(8) loops.

Clinical, electrophysiological subtypes and antiganglioside antibodies in childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Background: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been the most common cause of flaccid paralysis in children after the decline in the incidence of poliomyelitis. There are not any published data from the Indian subcontinent documenting electrophysiological patterns and antiganglioside antibodies in pediatric GBS.

Materials And Methods: The study population included children with GBS referred for electrodiagnostic evaluation and also children with GBS admitted to our institute between August 2006 and July 2007.

Effects of dexmedetomidine added to caudal ropivacaine in paediatric lower abdominal surgeries.

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to compare the effects of caudal dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine to provide postoperative analgesia in children and also to establish its safety in the paediatric population.

Methods: In a randomised, prospective, parallel group, double-blinded study, 60 children were recruited and allocated into two groups: Group RD (n=30) received 0.25% ropivacaine 1 ml/kg with dexmedetomidine 2 μg/kg, making the volume to 0.

6-Amino-3,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-2H,4H-pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole-5-carbonitrile.

In the title compound, C(15)H(14)N(4)O, the pyrazole ring is aligned at 88.23 (4)° with respect to the aromatic ring and at 3.75 (4)° with respect to the pyran ring.

6,8-Dichloro-N-methyl-3-nitro-4-nitro-methyl-4H-chromen-2-amine.

In the title compound, C(11)H(9)Cl(2)N(3)O(5), the dihydro-pyran ring adopts a near-half-chair conformation. The benzene ring makes a torsion angle of 5.02 (5)° with the dihydro-pyran ring.

Structure-activity relationship studies of novel pyrazole and imidazole carboxamides as cannabinoid-1 (CB1) antagonists.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrazole and imidazole carboxamides as CB1 antagonists are described. As a part of eastern amide SAR, various chemically diverse motifs were introduced on rimonabant template. The central pyrazole core was also replaced with its conformationally constrained motif and imidazole moieties.

Differential blockade to assess surgical repair by intraoperative active mobilization in knee injuries-Beyond labour analgesia.

Motor-sparing selective epidural analgesia has long been practised in the field of labour analgesia. However, the utility of such techniques in other fields remain limited. We present the successful use of a similar technique of differential blockade in a case of quadriceps plasty with realignment of patella for recurrent dislocation of patella.

In vitro mechanical integrity of hydroxyapatite coated magnesium alloy.

The mechanical integrity of resorbable implants during service, especially in load bearing orthopaedic applications, is critical. The high degradation rate of resorbable magnesium and magnesium-based implants in body fluid may potentially cause premature in-service failure. In this study, a magnesium alloy (AZ91) was potentiostatically coated with hydroxyapatite at different cathodic voltages in an attempt to enhance the mechanical integrity.

Ellagic acid ameliorates isoproterenol induced oxidative stress: Evidence from electrocardiological, biochemical and histological study.

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of ellagic acid against isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats by studying electrocardiography, blood pressure, cardiac markers, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defense system and histological changes. Male Wistar rats were treated orally with ellagic acid (7.5 and 15mg/kg) daily for a period of 10 days.

A root proteomics-based insight reveals dynamic regulation of root proteins under progressive drought stress and recovery in Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek.

To understand the complex drought response mechanism in crop plants, a systematic root proteomics approach was adopted to identify and analyze the expression patterns of differentially expressed major root proteins of Vigna radiata during short-term (3 days) and consecutive long-term water-deficit (6 days) as well as during recovery (6 days after re-watering). Photosynthetic gas exchange parameters of the plant were measured simultaneously during the stress treatment and recovery period. A total of 26 major protein spots were successfully identified by mass spectrometry, which were grouped according to their expression pattern during short-term stress as significantly up-regulated (9), down-regulated (10), highly down-regulated, beyond detection level of the software (2) and unchanged (5).

Mitral stenosis and pregnancy: Current concepts in anaesthetic practice.

The incidence of rheumatic mitral stenosis is grossly reduced in India. Still, among heart disease complicating pregnancy, rheumatic mitral stenosis occupies a greater segment. The unique physiological changes in pregnancy and the pathological impact of mitral stenosis over pregnancy and labour are discussed in detail.

Novel pyrazole-3-carboxamide derivatives as cannabinoid-1 (CB1) antagonists: journey from non-polar to polar amides.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrazole-3-carboxamide derivatives as CB1 antagonists are described. As a part of eastern amide SAR, various chemically diverse motifs were introduced. In general, a range of modifications were well tolerated.

Differential induction of CD38 expression by TNF-{alpha} in asthmatic airway smooth muscle cells.

The ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity of CD38, a membrane protein expressed in human airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells, generates cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), a Ca²(+)-mobilizing agent. cADPR-mediated Ca²(+) responses to agonists are augmented in human ASM cells by TNF-α. CD38-deficient mice fail to develop airway hyperresponsiveness following intranasal TNF-α or IL-13 challenge, suggesting a role in asthma.

Omic approaches to quality biomarkers for stored platelets: are we there yet?

At present, there is no single biomarker that serves as the "gold standard" predictive of the quality of stored platelets used for transfusion. Some of the measurable features of platelets such as morphology, biochemical status, physiologic response to osmotic stress and agonist-induced changes, and measurement of process-associated activation indicators of platelets are considered useful in assessing the in vitro quality of stored platelets. Such in vitro measurements combined with in vivo survival estimations using radiolabeled platelets in healthy volunteers provide reasonable estimates of in vivo platelet function after transfusion.

Insight into residues involved in the structure and function of the breast cancer associated protein human gamma synuclein.

Aberrantly expressed human gamma synuclein (SNCG) interacts with BubR1 and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) in late stages of breast and ovarian cancer. This interaction is essential for progression, development and survival of cancer cells. A short, synthetically designed ankyrin-repeat-containing peptide (ANK peptide) was proven to inhibit the activity of SNCG.

Differential profiling of human red blood cells during storage for 52 selected microRNAs.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs), the negative regulators of cellular mRNAs, are present in mature red blood cells (RBCs) in abundance relative to other blood cells. So far, there are no studies aimed at identifying large-scale miRNA profiles during storage of RBCs.

Study Design And Methods: RNA samples from each RBC bag stored at 4 degrees C were collected on Days 0, 20, and 40 and subjected to miRNA profiling by using a membrane-based array.