A cross-sectional observational study for ethno-geographical disparities in sleep quality, brain morphometry and cognition (a SOLACE study) in Indians residing in India, and South Asians and Europeans residing in the UK - a study protocol.

Introduction: As individuals age, their sleep patterns change, and sleep disturbances can increase the risk of dementia. Poor sleep quality can be a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Epidemiological studies show a connection between sleep quality and cognitive changes, with brain imaging revealing grey matter volume reduction and amyloid beta accumulation in Alzheimer's disease.

A novel methodology to demonstrate vestibulo-ocular reflex using caloric stimulation in undergraduate physiology laboratory.

The study aims to develop a novel methodology to demonstrate the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and nystagmus by caloric stimulation in an undergraduate medical physiology laboratory. The experimental setup involved two sets of electrodes: one set positioned laterally to both eyes, and another set positioned vertically over either the right or left eye. The caloric method is used to stimulate ears, which involves irrigation of warm (44°C) and cold (30°C) water into the ears while maintaining a temperature difference of approximately ±7°C from the body temperature.

Introducing virtual classrooms for undergraduate physiology teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic: acceptance by students and subjective impact on learning.

The COVID-19 pandemic and worldwide lockdowns brought major changes in education systems. There was a sudden obligatory shift toward utilization of digital resources for teaching and learning purposes. Medical education, specifically physiology teaching, comprises hands-on training in the laboratory.

Rac1 controls cell turnover and reversibility of the involution process in postpartum mammary glands.

Cell turnover in adult tissues is essential for maintaining tissue homeostasis over a life span and for inducing the morphological changes associated with the reproductive cycle. However, the underlying mechanisms that coordinate the balance of cell death and proliferation remain unsolved. Using the mammary gland, we have discovered that Rac1 acts as a nexus to control cell turnover.

Acute sleep deprivation induces synaptic remodeling at the soleus muscle neuromuscular junction in rats.

Sleep is important for cognitive and physical performance. Sleep deprivation not only affects neural functions but also results in muscular fatigue. A good night's sleep reverses these functional derangements caused by sleep deprivation.

Surveillance of Zika and Dengue viruses in field-collected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from different states of India.

The emergence of Zika created a panic situation worldwide and burdened the public health system of the affected countries. In India, Zika outbreak occurred in 2017 and in July 2021 one laboratory-confirmed case was also reported in Kerala state. The study aimed to assess any positivity in field-collected mosquitoes for ZIKV and DENV during 2016-2021.

How Losing Sleep Following Vaccination May Weaken the Response to SARS-CoV Vaccines.

With the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, a close analysis of factors that affect the efficacy of the vaccine in different groups is a must. It is important to elucidate the role of clinical, behavioral and host factors on modulation of immunogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Data from other vaccines have shown that duration and efficiency of sleep affect the immunogenicity of the vaccine.

Mediodorsal thalamus lesion increases paradoxical sleep in rats.

Introduction: The mediodorsal thalamic nucleus has extensive connections with prefrontal cortex, which is considered as seat of cognition. It also receives connections from sleep-wakefulness regulating areas in the brainstem and hypothalamus. Decreased volume and degeneration of mediodorsal thalamic nuclei have been reported in schizophrenia and fatal familial insomnia, respectively.

Muscle temperature is least altered during total sleep deprivation in rats.

It has often been said that the brain is mostly benefitted from sleep. To understand the importance of sleep, extensive studies on other organs are too required. One such unexplored area is the understanding of muscle physiology during the sleep-wake cycle.

Changes in sleep-wake cycle after microinjection of agonist and antagonist of endocannabinoid receptors at the medial septum of rats.

The role of medial septum in the genesis of slow-wave sleep and the inhibition of rapid eye movement sleep has been established using neurotoxic lesion and chemical stimulation of the medial septum. Intracerebroventricular injection of endocannabinoids (anandamide) decreases wake and increases slow-wave and rapid eye movement sleep in rats. Central cannabinoid (CB1) receptors are localized in the rat medial septum; however, the role of cannabinoid receptors at the medial septum on the regulation of sleep-wakefulness in rats lacks evidence.

First report on the transmission of Zika virus by Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) during the 2018 Zika outbreak in India.

In a recent outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in Jaipur city (Rajasthan, India), a total of 159 cases were reported in September 2018. In order to identify vector responsible for Zika transmission, mosquitoes were collected from houses with reported Zika cases and nearby houses. A total of 108 pools containing 522 mosquitoes were tested for presence of ZIKV using RT-PCR and Real Time RT-PCR.

β1 integrin is a sensor of blood flow direction.

Endothelial cell (EC) sensing of fluid shear stress direction is a critical determinant of vascular health and disease. Unidirectional flow induces EC alignment and vascular homeostasis, whereas bidirectional flow has pathophysiological effects. ECs express several mechanoreceptors that respond to flow, but the mechanism for sensing shear stress direction is poorly understood.

Hijacking a Morphogenesis Proteinase for Cancer Cell Invasion.

A long-standing question in biology is whether cancer cells exploit developmental processes to invade the surrounding stroma. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Feinberg et al. (2018) identify the matrix metalloproteinase Mmp14 as a key driver of mammary invasion common to both development and cancer but expose an underlying twist.

Role of An. culicifacies as a vector of malaria in changing ecological scenario of Northeastern states of India.

Background & Objectives: Malaria has become endemic and subject of concern in most part of the India especially Northeastern states of India. Surveys before 2000 revealed that Anopheles minimus was major vector responsible for transmission of malaria in this region followed by An. dirus and An.

Rac1 Controls Both the Secretory Function of the Mammary Gland and Its Remodeling for Successive Gestations.

An important feature of the mammary gland is its ability to undergo repeated morphological changes during each reproductive cycle with profound tissue expansion in pregnancy and regression in involution. However, the mechanisms that determine the tissue's cyclic regenerative capacity remain elusive. We have now discovered that Cre-Lox ablation of Rac1 in mammary epithelia causes gross enlargement of the epithelial tree and defective alveolar regeneration in a second pregnancy.

An integrin-ILK-microtubule network orients cell polarity and lumen formation in glandular epithelium.

The extracellular matrix has a crucial role in determining the spatial orientation of epithelial polarity and the formation of lumens in glandular tissues; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. By using Cre–Lox deletion we show that β1 integrins are required for normal mammary gland morphogenesis and lumen formation, both in vivo and in a three-dimensional primary culture model in which epithelial cells directly contact a basement membrane. Downstream of basement membrane β1 integrins, Rac1 is not involved; however, ILK is needed to polarize microtubule plus ends at the basolateral membrane and disrupting each of these components prevents lumen formation.

Specific β-containing integrins exert differential control on proliferation and two-dimensional collective cell migration in mammary epithelial cells.

Understanding how cell cycle is regulated in normal mammary epithelia is essential for deciphering defects of breast cancer and therefore for developing new therapies. Signals provided by both the extracellular matrix and growth factors are essential for epithelial cell proliferation. However, the mechanisms by which adhesion controls cell cycle in normal epithelia are poorly established.

Signal co-operation between integrins and other receptor systems.

The multicellular nature of metazoans means that all cellular processes need to be tuned by adhesive interactions between cells and their local microenvironment. The spatial organization of cells within tissues requires sophisticated networks of extracellular signals to control their survival and proliferation, movements and positioning, and differentiated function. These cellular characteristics are mediated by multiple inputs from adhesion systems in combination with soluble and developmental signals.

Molecular dissection of integrin signalling proteins in the control of mammary epithelial development and differentiation.

Cell-matrix adhesion is essential for the development and tissue-specific functions of epithelia. For example, in the mammary gland, beta1-integrin is necessary for the normal development of alveoli and for the activation of endocrine signalling pathways that determine cellular differentiation. However, the adhesion complex proteins linking integrins with downstream effectors of hormonal signalling pathways are not known.

Biosorption characteristics of unicellular green alga Chlorella sorokiniana immobilized in loofa sponge for removal of Cr(III).

Loofa sponge (LS) immobilized biomass of Chlorella sorokiniana (LSIBCS), isolated from industrial wastewater, was investigated as a new biosorbent for the removal of Cr(III) from aqueous solution. A comparison of the biosorption of Cr(III) by LSIBCS and free biomass of C. sorokiniana (FBCS) from 10-300 mg Cr(III)/L aqueous solutions showed an increase in uptake of 17.

Rac1 links integrin-mediated adhesion to the control of lactational differentiation in mammary epithelia.

The expression of tissue-specific genes during mammary gland differentiation relies on the coincidence of two distinct signaling events: the continued engagement of beta1 integrins with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and a hormonal stimulus from prolactin (Prl). How the integrin and Prl receptor (PrlR) systems integrate to regulate milk protein gene synthesis is unknown. In this study, we identify Rac1 as a key link.

Spinal motoneuron excitability in iron deficiency anaemia.

Decreased tissue oxygenation resulting from iron deficiency anaemia produces generalized weakness and fatigue. The precise physiological mechanism underlying this weakness is unknown and studies in this regard have been scarce. One possible underlying mechanism has been suggested to be reduction of spinal motoneuron excitability.

A role for the cytoskeleton in prolactin-dependent mammary epithelial cell differentiation.

The function of exocrine glands depends on signals within the extracellular environment. In the mammary gland, integrin-mediated adhesion to the extracellular matrix protein laminin co-operates with soluble factors such as prolactin to regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The mechanism of matrix and prolactin crosstalk and the activation of downstream signals are not fully understood.