Investigation of Aβ phosphorylated at serine 8 (pAβ) in Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and vascular dementia.

Aims: Deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain is one of the defining abnormalities of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Phosphorylation of Aβ at serine 8 (pAβ) has been implicated in its aggregation in vitro and pAβ level has been shown to be significantly elevated in AD. We aimed to assess the specificity of pAβ for AD and have investigated associations of pAβ with parenchymal and cerebrovascular accumulation of Aβ, disease progression, angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and APOE genotype.

The SOS response is permitted in Escherichia coli strains deficient in the expression of the mazEF pathway.

The Escherichia coli (E. coli) SOS response is the largest, most complex, and best characterized bacterial network induced by DNA damage. It is controlled by a complex network involving the RecA and LexA proteins.

Zinc is the molecular "switch" that controls the catalytic cycle of bacterial leucyl-tRNA synthetase.

The Escherichia coli (E. coli) leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS) enzyme is part of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) family. LeuRS is an essential enzyme that relies on specialized domains to facilitate the aminoacylation reaction.

Hepatitis a virus infection-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in two children.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a syndrome characterized by high fever, maculopapular rash, neurological symptoms, abnormal liver functions and coagulopathy. Primary HLH is due to an underlying genetic abnormality. Secondary HLH are due to an underlying infection, autoimmune disease or malignancy.

Cryosupernatant and Immunosuppression as Effective Alternative Therapies for TTP in Three Pediatric SLE Patients.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) very rarely present simultaneously and pose a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma to the physician. Prompt diagnosis and management with plasma exchange and immunosuppression is life-saving. To describe the effectiveness of cryosupernatant and steroids in pediatric SLE with TTP.

Quorum sensing peptides mediating interspecies bacterial cell death as a novel class of antimicrobial agents.

mazEF is a toxin-antitoxin stress-induced module which is abundant on the chromosome of most bacteria including pathogens and most extensively studied in Escherichia coli. E. coli mazEF mediated cell death is a population phenomenon requiring the quorum-sensing (QS) 'Extracellular Death Factor' (EDF), the E.

Characteristics of mobile MOSFET dosimetry system for megavoltage photon beams.

The characteristics of a mobile metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (mobile MOSFET) detector for standard bias were investigated for megavoltage photon beams. This study was performed with a brass alloy build-up cap for three energies namely Co-60, 6 and 15 MV photon beams. The MOSFETs were calibrated and the performance characteristics were analyzed with respect to dose rate dependence, energy dependence, field size dependence, linearity, build-up factor, and angular dependence for all the three energies.

Unusual presentation of PRES in the postnatal period.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinicoradiological entity, associated with a vast array of medical conditions and a variety of presenting symptoms. There is a characteristic pattern of radiographic features alongside suggestive clinical manifestations, which lead to a diagnosis of PRES. This report describes the case of a 39 years old, previously normotensive woman, who presented on day 7 postpartum with generalised tonic clonic seizures, reduced conscious level and a history of blurred vision and headache.

Childhood-onset Takayasu arteritis -- experience from a tertiary care center in South India.

Objective: To study the clinical profile and outcome of Asian Indian children with childhood-onset Takayasu arteritis (c-TA).

Methods: Records were studied of patients with c-TA onset prior to age 16. Disease Extent Index-Takayasu (DEI.

Turn plasticity distinguishes different modes of amyloid-β aggregation.

Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with aggregation of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide into oligomeric and fibrillar assemblies; however, little is known about the molecular basis of aggregation of Aβ into distinct assembly states. Here we demonstrate that phosphorylation at serine 26 (S26) impairs Aβ fibrillization while stabilizing its monomers and nontoxic soluble assemblies of nonfibrillar morphology. NMR spectroscopy and replica-exchange molecular dynamics indicate that introduction of a phosphate group or phosphomimetic at position 26 diminishes Aβ's propensity to form a β-hairpin, rigidifies the region around the modification site, and interferes with formation of a fibril-specific salt bridge between aspartic acid 23 and lysine 28.

Intra-Abdominal Desmoid Tumour (DT) with Pelvic Extension-A Case Report.

Desmoid Tumour (DT) is a rare benign, myofibroblastic tumour originating from muscle fascia with tendency to recur but, it rarely metastasizes. We are reporting here a case of DT that presented as an intra-abdominal mass with pelvic extension in a patient who underwent hysterectomy for fibroid uterus seventeen years ago. A clinical diagnosis of ovarian malignancy was made.

Pattern of reproductive cancers in India.

Reproductive cancers are those that affect the human organs that are involved in producing offspring. An attempt is made in the present communication to assess the magnitude and pattern of reproductive cancers, including their treatment modalities, in India. The cancer incidence data related to reproductive cancers collected by five population-based urban registries, namely Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, for the years 2006-08 were utilized.

Extragastrointestinal stromal tumour of the abdominal wall - a case report.

Stromal tumours occurring in areas other than the GastroIntestinal Tract (GIT) are known as Extra GastroIntestinal Stromal Tumours (EGISTs). They usually arise in the mesentery, omentum or retroperitoneum, while EGISTs which occur in the abdominal wall are very rare. Both gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) and EGISTs are histologically and immunophenotypically similar.

Biochemical stages of amyloid-β peptide aggregation and accumulation in the human brain and their association with symptomatic and pathologically preclinical Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the deposition of amyloid-β peptide in the brain. N-terminal truncation resulting in the formation of AβN3pE and phosphorylation at serine 8 have been reported to modify aggregation properties of amyloid-β. Biochemically, soluble, dispersible, membrane-associated, and insoluble, plaque-associated amyloid-β aggregates have been distinguished.

Annexin v - affinity assay - apoptosis detection system in granular cell ameloblastoma.

Background: The aim of the study is to detect apoptosis in granular cell ameloblastoma by annexin v affinity assay, a novel technique.

Materials & Methods: Excitional biopsy of two patients with granular cell ameloblastoma were fixed in buffered formalin and later embedded in paraffin wax. Blocks were sliced into 3m thick sections for routine histological and subsequent immunohistochemical examinations.

Synthesis and characterization of curcumin loaded polymer/lipid based nanoparticles and evaluation of their antitumor effects on MCF-7 cells.

Background: Hybrid materials are synthesized using hydrophilic polymer and lipids which ensure their long term systemic circulation through intravenous administration and enhance loading of hydrophobic drugs. The purpose of this study is to prepare, characterize and evaluate the in vitro efficacy of curcumin loaded poly-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/stearic acid nanoparticles in MCF-7.

Methods: C-PSA-NPs, prepared using the emulsification-solvent evaporation method were characterized by dynamic laser scattering, SEM, AFM, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, and TGA.

Rapid control of disease activity by tocilizumab in 10 'difficult-to-treat' cases of Takayasu arteritis.

Aim: To assess outcome of 10 'difficult to treat' patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) treated with tocilizumab.

Methods: Records of 10 patients with TA who received at least six infusions of tocilizumab were studied and data related to demography, medications, investigations, angiography and outcome were analyzed.

Results: Median age, disease duration and Indian Takayasu Arteritis Score (ITAS) of 10 patients were 24.

The type of Aβ-related neuronal degeneration differs between amyloid precursor protein (APP23) and amyloid β-peptide (APP48) transgenic mice.

Background: The deposition of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) in the brain is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is not yet clear whether Aβ always leads to similar changes or whether it induces different features of neurodegeneration in relation to its intra- and/or extracellular localization or to its intracellular trafficking routes. To address this question, we have analyzed two transgenic mouse models: APP48 and APP23 mice.

Curcumin loaded poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) nanoparticles from gelled ionic liquid--in vitro cytotoxicity and anti-cancer activity in SKOV-3 cells.

The main focus of this study is to encapsulate hydrophobic drug curcumin in hydrophilic polymeric core such as poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [PHEMA] nanoparticles from gelled ionic liquid (IL) to improve its efficacy. We have achieved 26.4% drug loading in a biocompatible hydrophilic polymer.