KDM1 is a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of gliomas.

Glioma development is a multistep process, involving alterations in genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Understanding the mechanisms and enzymes that promote epigenetic changes in gliomas are urgently needed to identify novel therapeutic targets. We examined the role of histone demethylase KDM1 in glioma progression.

Importance of ligand structure in DNA/protein binding, mutagenicity, excision repair and nutritional aspects of chromium(III) complexes.

Chromium is extensively used in leather, chrome plating and refining industries. On one hand the occupational exposure to chromium leads to cancer, whereas on the contrary certain Cr(III) compounds have been proposed as nutritional supplements for Type II diabetes and as muscle building agents. Despite the positive outlook of chromium as a bio-essential element, there is increasing concern over the therapeutic application of Cr(III) based supplements, its bioavailability and toxicity profile.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in key cytokines may modulate food allergy phenotypes.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can play a direct or indirect role in phenotypic expression in food allergy pathogenesis. Our goal was to quantitate the expression of SNPs in relevant cytokines that were expressed in food allergic patients. SNPs in cytokine genes IL-4 and IL-10 are known to be important in IgE generation and regulation.

Modeling spike-train processing in the cerebellum granular layer and changes in plasticity reveal single neuron effects in neural ensembles.

The cerebellum input stage has been known to perform combinatorial operations on input signals. In this paper, two types of mathematical models were used to reproduce the role of feed-forward inhibition and computation in the granular layer microcircuitry to investigate spike train processing. A simple spiking model and a biophysically-detailed model of the network were used to study signal recoding in the granular layer and to test observations like center-surround organization and time-window hypothesis in addition to effects of induced plasticity.

Well-defined degradable cationic polylactide as nanocarrier for the delivery of siRNA to silence angiogenesis in prostate cancer.

Well-defined tertiary amine-functionalized cationic polylactides (CPLAs) are synthesized by thiol-ene click functionalization of an allyl-functionalized polylactide, and utilized for the delivery of interleukin-8 (IL-8) siRNA via CPLA-IL-8 siRNA nanoplexes. The CPLAs possess remarkable hydrolytic degradability, and their cytotoxicity is relatively low. The CPLA-IL-8 siRNA nanoplexes can be readily taken up by prostate cancer cells, resulting in significant IL-8 gene silencing.

Is early removal of prophylactic ureteric stents beneficial in live donor renal transplantation?

Prophylactic ureteric stenting has been shown to reduce ureteric leaks and collecting system obstruction following renal transplantation and is in widespread use. However, the optimal time for removal of ureteric stents after renal transplantation remains unclear. Aim of this study was to compare the result of early versus late removal of ureteric stents after kidney transplantation of the laparoscopically retrieved live related donor grafts.

Copper(II) complexes of terpyridine derivatives: a footstep towards development of antiproliferative agent for breast cancer.

Two copper(II) complexes with terpyridyl conjugates, [Cu(meotpy)(dmp)](NO(3))(2) (1) and [Cu(bitpy)(dmp)](NO(3))(2) (2) where meotpy, bitpy and dmp stand for methoxybenzyl terpyridine, benzimidazolyl terpyridine and dimethyl phenanthroline respectively have been synthesized and characterized. Complex 1 has also been characterized crystallographically. Both the complexes have been found to bind CT-DNA intercalatively.

Anti-HIV-1 nanotherapeutics: promises and challenges for the future.

The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly improved the prognosis for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, however the adverse side effects associated with prolonged HAART therapy use continue. Although systemic viral load can be undetectable, the virus remains sequestered in anatomically privileged sites within the body. Nanotechnology-based delivery systems are being developed to target the virus within different tissue compartments and are being evaluated for their safety and efficacy.

Bisphosphonate induced osteonecrosis of jaw in breast cancer patients: A systematic review.

Background: Bisphosphonate therapy is widely used for the treatment of bone metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Aim: The aim of this study is to estimate the overall prevalence of bisphosphonate induced osteonecrosis of jaw (BONJ) in breast cancer patients with bone metastasis.

Materials And Methods: A literature review was conducted to search and evaluate all the articles that contained original data on the prevalence of BONJ in breast cancer patients from the year 2003-2009.

Obstructive sleep apnoea in relation to rheumatic disease.

Sleep problems are common concerns in rheumatology patients and have been independently linked to increased pain perception and fatigue severity. Evidence supports an increased prevalence of primary sleep disorders, including sleep apnoea, in some rheumatic disease populations, particularly RA. Obstructive sleep apnoea is a significant public health concern and contributes to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-binding protein C1orf124 is a regulator of translesion synthesis.

DNA damage-induced proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) ubiquitination serves as the key event mediating post-replication repair. Post-replication repair involves either translesion synthesis (TLS) or damage avoidance via template switching. In this study, we have identified and characterized C1orf124 as a regulator of TLS.

Improved Sleep Efficiency after Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor α Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Background: Poor sleep health is increasingly recognized as contributing to decreased quality of life, increased morbidity/mortality and heightened pain perception. Our purpose in this study was to observe the effect on sleep parameters, specifically sleep efficiency, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) therapy.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of RA patients with hypersomnolence/poor sleep quality as defined by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Thalidomide in total therapy 2 overcomes inferior prognosis of myeloma with low expression of the glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1.

Purpose: Because dexamethasone remains a key component of myeloma therapy, we wished to examine the impact of baseline and relapse expression levels of the glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1 on survival outcomes in the context of treatment with or without thalidomide.

Experimental Design: We investigated the clinical impact of gene expression profiling (GEP)-derived expression levels of NR3C1 in 351 patients with GEP data available at baseline and in 130 with data available at relapse, among 668 subjects accrued to total therapy 2 (TT2).

Results: Low NR3C1 expression levels had a negative impact on progression-free survival (PFS; HR, 1.

Effect of coordinated ligands on antiproliferative activity and DNA cleavage property of three mononuclear Cu(II)-terpyridine complexes.

Three mononuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu(tpy)Cl(2)] 1, [Cu(tpy)(NO(3))(2)(H(2)O)] 2 and [Cu(Ptpy)Cl(2)]·H(2)O·HCl 3 have been synthesised and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1 and 3 have five coordinate geometry in solid state, whereas complex 2 has six coordinate geometry. Mass spectral and EPR evidence suggest that in solution all the three complexes exist predominantly as a four coordinate species.

Sakshat Labs: India's virtual proteomics initiative.

The first Virtual Proteomics Lab of India has been developed at the IIT Bombay as a part of the “Sakshat” Lab Project, established to develop openly accessible, high-quality educational materials on science and technology.

Enhancing collagen stability through nanostructures containing chromium(III) oxide.

Stabilization of collagen for various applications employs chemicals such as aldehydes, metal ions, polyphenols, etc. Stability against enzymatic, thermal and mechanical degradation is required for a range of biomedical applications. The premise of this research is to explore the use of nanoparticles with suitable functionalization/encapsulation to crosslink with collagen, such that the three dimensional architecture had the desired stability.

Anacardic acid inhibits the catalytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9.

Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a wide variety of pathophysiological conditions. To further define the mechanism of CNSL action, we investigated the effect of cashew nut shell extract (CNSE) on two matrix metalloproteinases, MMP-2/gelatinase A and MMP-9/gelatinase B, which are known to have critical roles in several disease states. We observed that the major constituent of CNSE, anacardic acid, markedly inhibited the gelatinase activity of 3T3-L1 cells.

Improving documentation of a beta-blocker quality measure through an anesthesia information management system and real-time notification of documentation errors.

Background: Continuation of perioperative beta-blockers for surgical patients who are receiving beta-blockers prior to arrival for surgery is an important quality measure (SCIP-Card-2). For this measure to be considered successful, name, date, and time of the perioperative beta-blocker must be documented. Alternately, if the beta-blocker is not given, the medical reason for not administering must be documented.

Smart Anesthesia Manager™ (SAM)--a real-time decision support system for anesthesia care during surgery.

Anesthesia information management systems (AIMS) are being increasingly used in the operating room to document anesthesia care. We developed a system, Smart Anesthesia Manager™ (SAM) that works in conjunction with an AIMS to provide clinical and billing decision support. SAM interrogates AIMS database in near real time, detects issues related to clinical care, billing and compliance, and material waste.

Standard and novel imaging methods for multiple myeloma: correlates with prognostic laboratory variables including gene expression profiling data.

Multiple myeloma causes major morbidity resulting from osteolytic lesions that can be detected by metastatic bone surveys. Magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography can detect bone marrow focal lesions long before development of osteolytic lesions. Using data from patients enrolled in Total Therapy 3 for newly diagnosed myeloma (n=303), we analyzed associations of these imaging techniques with baseline standard laboratory variables assessed before initiating treatment.

Improvement in long-term outcomes with successive Total Therapy trials for multiple myeloma: are patients now being cured?

The concept of applying all active therapeutic agents in Total Therapy (TT) clinical trials for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma was pursued with the intent of developing curative treatment. The results of TT1 (n=231), TT2 (n=668) without or with thalidomide and TT3 with added bortezomib (n=303) have been reported. An update with median follow-up times of 17.

Extramedullary disease portends poor prognosis in multiple myeloma and is over-represented in high-risk disease even in the era of novel agents.

Background: Extramedullary disease is an uncommon manifestation in multiple myeloma and can either accompany newly diagnosed disease or develop with disease progression or relapse. We evaluated the impact of this disease feature on patients' outcome in the context of novel agents.

Design And Methods: We analyzed clinical and biological features of extramedullary disease in 936 patients with multiple myeloma enrolled in Total Therapy protocols, 240 patients in non-Total Therapy protocols, and 789 non-protocol patients, all of whom had baseline positron emission tomography scans to document extramedullary disease at diagnosis and its subsequent development at the time of disease progression or relapse.