Evaluation of relationship between stress and periodontal disease in different professional college students.

Background: To evaluate the association between stress and periodontitis in different professional college students.

Subjects And Methods: The study was conducted in 360 professional college students which includes Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, Nursing, Engineering, and Chartered Accountancy. From each group, 60 students were included in the study.

Chart Mining: A Survey of Methods for Automated Chart Analysis.

Charts are useful communication tools for the presentation of data in a visually appealing format that facilitates comprehension. There have been many studies dedicated to chart mining, which refers to the process of automatic detection, extraction and analysis of charts to reproduce the tabular data that was originally used to create them. By allowing access to data which might not be available in other formats, chart mining facilitates the creation of many downstream applications.

Probabilistic Assessment of Glass Forming Ability Rules for Metallic Glasses Aided by Automated Analysis of Phase Diagrams.

The use of machine learning techniques to expedite the discovery and development of new materials is an essential step towards the acceleration of a new generation of domain-specific highly functional material systems. In this paper, we use the test case of bulk metallic glasses to highlight the key issues in the field of high throughput predictions and propose a new probabilistic analysis of rules for glass forming ability using rough set theory. This approach has been applied to a broad range of binary alloy compositions in order to predict new metallic glass compositions.

Preventative effect of Zingiber officinale on insulin resistance in a high-fat high-carbohydrate diet-fed rat model and its mechanism of action.

Insulin resistance is a core component of metabolic syndrome and usually precedes the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We have examined the preventative effect of an ethanol extract of ginger (Zingiber officinale, Zingiberaceae) on insulin resistance in a high-fat high-carbohydrate (HFHC) diet-fed rat model of metabolic syndrome. The HFHC control rats displayed severe insulin resistance, whilst rats treated with ginger extract (200 mg/kg) during HFHC diet feeding showed a significant improvement of insulin sensitivity using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) after 10 weeks (p < 0.

Annexin A6 is a scaffold for PKCα to promote EGFR inactivation.

Protein kinase Cα (PKCα) can phosphorylate the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) at threonine 654 (T654) to inhibit EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation (pY-EGFR) and the associated activation of downstream effectors. However, upregulation of PKCα in a large variety of cancers is not associated with EGFR inactivation, and factors determining the potential of PKCα to downregulate EGFR are yet unknown. Here, we show that ectopic expression of annexin A6 (AnxA6), a member of the Ca(2+) and phospholipid-binding annexins, strongly reduces pY-EGFR levels while augmenting EGFR T654 phosphorylation in EGFR overexpressing A431, head and neck and breast cancer cell lines.

Effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on the pharmacokinetics of digoxin--a pilot study.

Emerging evidence from preclinical, clinical and epidemiological studies suggests that vitamin D3 plays vital roles in several diseases in addition to bone disorders. According to new medical evidence, it is being recommended that vitamin D3 intake to be increased for maximal benefits in human health. However, it is necessary to consider potential side effects of increased intake of vitamin D3.

The effect of vitamin D3 and ketoconazole combination on VDR-mediated P-gp expression and function in human colon adenocarcinoma cells: implications in drug disposition and resistance.

The vitamin D3 metabolite 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (DHC) and analogues derived from it are being investigated as potential agents for the treatment of cancer. Combining ketoconazole (KTZ) with DHC has been recommended to enhance the anticancer activity of DHC. DHC exerts its biological activities through the vitamin D receptor (VDR).

Characterization of PXR mediated P-glycoprotein regulation in intestinal LS174T cells.

Intestinal P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an important target in drug-drug interactions. Pregnane X receptor (PXR) mediates the induction of intestinal P-gp. The LS174T intestinal cell line has been used in several studies as an in vitro tool to identify the effect of PXR inducers on intestinal P-gp expression.

Levosimendan and calcium sensitization of the contractile proteins in cardiac muscle: impact on heart failure.

Levosimendan increases the sensitivity of the cardiac fibrils to calcium, favorably affects hemodynamics in patients with heart failure. It is a positive inotrope and a peripheral vasodilator. The elimination half-life of the compound is about 1 hour.

Novel PPAR-gamma agonists identified from a natural product library: a virtual screening, induced-fit docking and biological assay study.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) plays an essential role in lipid and glucose homeostasis. It is recognized as the receptor of the thiazolidinediones-a synthetic class of anti-diabetic drugs-and is the target of many drug discovery efforts because of its role in disease states, such as type II diabetes mellitus. In this study, structure-based virtual screening of the PPAR-gamma ligand binding domain against a natural product library has revealed 29 potential agonists.

The pathophysiological function of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma in lung-related diseases.

Research into respiratory diseases has reached a critical stage and the introduction of novel therapies is essential in combating these debilitating conditions. With the discovery of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and its involvement in inflammatory responses of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, attention has turned to lung diseases and whether knowledge of this receptor can be applied to therapy of the human airways. In this article, we explore the prospect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma as a marker and treatment focal point of lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, lung cancer and cystic fibrosis.

Anti-diabetic action of Punica granatum flower extract: activation of PPAR-gamma and identification of an active component.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma activators are widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes because they improve the sensitivity of insulin receptors. Punica granatum flower (PGF) has been used as an anti-diabetic medicine in Unani medicinal literature. The mechanism of actions is, however, unknown.

Punica granatum flower extract, a potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, improves postprandial hyperglycemia in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.

Postprandial hyperglycemia plays an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes and has been proposed as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The flowering part of Punica granatum Linn. (Punicaceae) (PGF) has been recommended in Unani literature as a remedy for diabetes.

Pomegranate flower improves cardiac lipid metabolism in a diabetic rat model: role of lowering circulating lipids.

Excess triglyceride (TG) accumulation and increased fatty acid (FA) oxidation in the diabetic heart contribute to cardiac dysfunction. Punica granatum flower (PGF) is a traditional antidiabetic medicine. Here, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of action of PGF extract on abnormal cardiac lipid metabolism both in vivo and in vitro.

Herbal or natural medicines as modulators of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and related nuclear receptors for therapy of metabolic syndrome.

The use of herbal or natural medicines for the treatment of various disorders has a long and extensive history. Many of these herbal medicines are finding their way onto the world market as alternatives to prescribed drugs currently available to treat various disorders/ailments. In particular, hyperlipidaemia is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease, which can culminate in mortality in diabetes mellitus.

An overview on biological mechanisms of PPARs.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are transcriptional factors belonging to the ligand-activated nuclear receptor superfamily. They are ubiquitously expressed throughout the body. On activation by endogenously secreted prostaglandins and fatty acids, they initiate transcription of an array of genes that are involved in energy homeostasis.