Bacterial production of recombinant contraceptive vaccine antigen from CatSper displayed on a human papilloma virus-like particle.

CatSper is a voltage dependent calcium ion channel present in the principal piece of sperm tail. It plays a crucial role in sperm hyperactivated motility and so in fertilization. Extracellular loops of mouse sperm CatSper were used to develop a vaccine to achieve protection from pregnancy.

Yeast-Based Virus-like Particles as an Emerging Platform for Vaccine Development and Delivery.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are empty, nanoscale structures morphologically resembling viruses. Internal cavity, noninfectious, and particulate nature with a high density of repeating epitopes, make them an ideal platform for vaccine development and drug delivery. Commercial use of Gardasil-9 and Cervarix showed the usefulness of VLPs in vaccine formulation.

APRT deficiency: the need for early diagnosis.

Adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder which leads to accumulation of poorly soluble 2,8-dihydroxyadenine in kidneys resulting in nephrolithiasis as well as chronic kidney disease from crystal nephropathy. This report describes a 55-year-old previously fit man who presented with shortness of breath and the investigative pathway that eventually led to a diagnosis of APRT deficiency. Early diagnosis has aided in timely institution of allopurinol, thereby improving his renal function and possibility of weaning off renal replacement therapy.

Chronic periodontitis among diabetics and nondiabetics aged 35-65 years, in a rural block in Vellore, Tamil Nadu: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Chronic periodontitis is a common cause of poor oral health globally. Those at higher risk of this preventable and easily treatable condition need to be identified so that efforts can be taken to decrease disease burden and subsequent consequences.

Aims: The aims of the study were (1) To compare the prevalence of chronic periodontitis among individuals with and without type 2 diabetes, aged 35-65 years from a rural block in Vellore, Tamil Nadu and (2) to assess risk factors for chronic periodontitis among individuals with diabetes.

International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems coding underestimates the incidence and prevalence of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease in general medical patients.

Background: The international classification of diseases (ICD) code is frequently used to identify renal impairment in epidemiological research. However, Australian studies examining accuracy of this administrative data in coding kidney injury are lacking.

Aims: To compare the ICD 10 coding with the kidney disease: improving global outcomes (KDIGO) criteria in diagnosing acute kidney injury (AKI) and/or chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Culture and emotion perception: comparing Canadian and Japanese children's and parents' context sensitivity.

Prior research on the perception of facial expressions suggests that East Asians are more likely than North Americans to incorporate the expressions of background figures into their judgment of a central figure's emotion (Masuda et al. in J Pers Soc Psychol 94:365-381, 2008b). However, little research has examined this issue in the context of developmental science, especially during joint sessions where parents engage in a task in front of their 7-8-year-old children.

Prevalence of statin use among high-risk patients in urban and rural Vellore, Tamil Nadu: A population-based cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study assessed statin use among diabetics and those with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in rural and urban Vellore, among 6196 participants (30-64 years), in 2010-2012. Statin use among those with known CHD and diabetes (on diabetic medication) was recorded.

Current status of a unique vaccine preventing pregnancy.

The ability of a vaccine linking beta hCG to a carrier to generate antibodies against hCG, its reversibility and safety was established by Phase I clinical trials conducted in India, Finland, Sweden, Chile and Brazil. Employing a hetero-species dimer (beta hCG-αoLH) linked to tetanus toxoid further improved the immunogenicity of the vaccine. Phase II clinical trials showed that anti-hCG titres above 50 ng/ml prevented pregnancy of sexually active fertile women without derangement of ovulation and menstrual regularity.

Advances in development of a contraceptive vaccine against human chorionic gonadotropin.

Introduction: There is continuing need for contraceptives. According to World Health Organization, 210 million pregnancies occur each year, out of which some 80 million are unintended. A vaccine offering privacy and periodic intake would be an attractive proposition.

Priming with DNA Enhances Considerably the Immunogenicity of hCG β-LTB Vaccine.

Problem: Necessity to elicit antibody response above the protective threshold titres by sexually active women immunized to prevent pregnancy.

Method Of Study: Recombinant hCGβ-LTB vaccine expressed as both DNA and protein. Balb C mice employed for testing immunogenicity.

Development of a recombinant hCG-specific single chain immunotoxin cytotoxic to hCG expressing cancer cells.

A large number of cancers express human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or its subunits ectopically. Patients harboring such cancers have poor prognosis and adverse survival. PiPP is a monoclonal antibody of high affinity and specificity for hCGβ/hCG.

Examining cultural drifts in artworks through history and development: cultural comparisons between Japanese and western landscape paintings and drawings.

Research on cultural products suggest that there are substantial cultural variations between East Asian and European landscape masterpieces and contemporary members' landscape artwork (Masuda et al., 2008c), and that these cultural differences in drawing styles emerge around the age of 8 (Senzaki et al., 2014b).

Profile of type 2 diabetes mellitus without overt complications of diabetes mellitus at a tertiary care center.

Introduction And Objectives: Internal audit of an aspect of a disease at repeated intervals helps in predicting the new emerging trends. This study was planned to assess the profile of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) without overt complications.

Materials And Methods: Patients with HbA1c between 6% and 9% on oral hypoglycemic agents and who did not have clinically overt complications of diabetes were recruited from outpatient clinic of Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) from April 2009 to October 2011.

Detecting structure in diffusion tensor MR images.

We derive herein first and second-order differential operators for detecting structure in diffusion tensor MRI (DTI). Unlike existing methods, we are able to generate full first and second-order differentials without dimensionality reduction and while respecting the underlying manifold of the data. Further, we extend corner and curvature feature detectors to DTI using our differential operators.

Severe cyclophosphamide-induced haemorrhagic cystitis treated with hyperbaric oxygen.

Aim: Cyclophosphamide-induced haemorrhagic cystitis (CHC) is an uncommon but well-recognised condition caused by a metabolite, acrolein, which is toxic to the urothelium. Based on similarities in the histopathology of radiation- and chemotherapy-induced haemorrhagic cystitis, benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been proposed. HBOT produces an increased oxygen partial pressure diffusion gradient between the circulation and surrounding tissues, which enhances neutrophil function and fibroblast and macrophage migration into damaged hypoxic soft tissue, promoting collagen formation, fibroblast growth, angiogenesis and white-cell bacterial killing.

Interventions for minimal change disease in adults with nephrotic syndrome.

Background: Steroids have been used widely since the early 1970s for the treatment of adult-onset minimal change disease. The response rates to immunosuppressive agents in adult minimal change disease, especially steroids, are more variable than in children. The optimal agent, dose, and duration of treatment for the first episode of nephrotic syndrome, or for disease relapse(s) has not been determined.

Ensilage of pineapple processing waste for methane generation.

Pineapple peel wastes, which are seasonal, comprise of peels and rags. Their disposal poses a serious environmental pollution problem. Since pineapple peel is rich in cellulose, hemicellulose and other carbohydrates it was found to be a potential substrate for methane generation by anaerobic digestion.

Lactobacillus farciminis MD, a newer strain with potential for bacteriocin and antibiotic assay.

A native isolate Lactobacillus farciminis MD isolated from fermenting mushroom exhibited a high degree of sensitivity to the majority of the bacteriocins produced by strains of lactobacilli, leuconostoc and pediococci. Also, the efficacy of Lact. farciminis MD as a sensitive strain for antibiotic assay was established against different antibiotics including ampicillin, cefazoline, chloramphenicol and nitrofurantoin at concentrations of 30 microg each, showing an inhibition zone of 30 mm diameter.

Purification and characterization of beta-1,4-glucosidase from Clostridium papyrosolvens.

Clostridium papyrosolvens CFR-1010 was selected for the anaerobic extracellular production of beta-1,4-glucosidase. The enzyme was purified by alcohol precipitation and DEAE ion-exchange chromatography. Its homogeneity was confirmed by SDS/PAGE.

Downstream processing of microbial rennet from solid state fermented moldy bran.

In recent years due to acute shortage of calf-rennet, microbial rennets seem to be an effective alternative and are commercially produced. Mucor miehei was cultivated under the solid state fermentation conditions, and the moldy bran was extracted using a semicontinuous multiple contact forced percolation method. The treated extract was then filtered through 5% R16 clay which enabled easy and efficient removal of impurities such as lipase and protease without involving costly chemical treatments.

The effect of ethanol on cell wall antigens of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and specific isolation of high ethanol producing strains of this yeast, making use of a serological technique.

Generally, natural isolates of high ethanol producing Saccharomyces cerevisiae obtained by screening are used in alcoholic industries. The methods involved in their isolation and identification are elaborate. Antigenic analysis using antibodies raised against whole Saccharomyces cells indicated species specificity of cell wall surface thermostable antigens.