Clinical Significance of Circulating Serum Levels of sCD95 and TNF-α in Cytoprotection of Cervical Cancer.

Background: This study correlates the serum levels of sCD95 & TNF-α with a simple cell-based assay to evaluate the capacity of the serum sample to induce apoptosis in Jurkat cells. Interlinking of these parameters can be explored to design a minimum invasive diagnostic strategy for cervical cancer (CC).

Methods: Sera samples were assessed to induce apoptosis in Jurkat cells through FACS.

Phase III, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo controlled trial of Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Antiviral drug Umifenovir vs Standard care of therapy in non-severe COVID-19 patients.

Objective: To test efficacy, safety and tolerability of Umifenovir in non-severe COVID-19 adult patients.

Methods: We carried out randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, phase III trials involving adult (18-75 years), non-severe COVID19 patients, randomized 1:1 on placebo or Umifenovir (800 mg BID, maximum 14 days) respectively along with standard-of-care. The primary endpoint for Asymptotic-mild patients was time to nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR test negativity.

Leptin DNA Methylation and Its Association with Metabolic Risk Factors in a Northwest Indian Obese Population.

Background: It is well established that obesity is a major health risk in diabetes and associated diseases. Epigenetic changes, specially DNA methylation, play an important role in regulation of adipokines. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the DNA methylation status at the promoter region of the leptin gene in obese individuals and its association with metabolic risk factors.

Aspirin & clopidogrel non-responsiveness & its association with genetic polymorphisms in patients with myocardial infarction.

Background & Objectives: Cytochrome P450, P2Y 12, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX1) and glycoprotein V1 (GPVI) gene polymorphisms are known to affect patient responsiveness towards aspirin and clopidogrel dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). The present study was undertaken to identify aspirin and clopidogrel non-responsiveness and its association with genetic polymorphism in patients with myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: A total of 207 MI patients who were on DAPT, were included.

Decline in seminal quality in Indian men over the last 37 years.

Background: Since the first report of a decline in semen quality in 1974, there have been several reports of similar declines across populations. Despite some scattered reports of declining semen quality in the Indian sub-continent, comprehensive studies analyzing semen quality over the last few decades have not been undertaken. We undertook the present study to investigate the temporal trend in semen parameters in Indian populations over a period of 37 years (1979-2016).

Oncostatin M upregulates HIF-1α in breast tumor associated macrophages independent of intracellular oxygen concentration.

Aims: HIF is an important transcription-regulator for adaptation to cellular stress in cells of myeloid origin. Classically, expression and activity of HIF1-α is regulated by oxygen-concentration within cell. However, there exists an alternative regulatory mechanism affecting HIF1-α levels independent of oxygen concentration particularly in inflammatory cells like macrophages.

Humans from Wuchereria bancrofti endemic area elicit substantial immune response to proteins of the filarial parasite Brugia malayi and its endosymbiont Wolbachia.

Background: In the past, immune responses to several Brugia malayi immunodominant antigens have been characterized in filaria-infected populations; however, little is known regarding Wolbachia proteins. We earlier cloned and characterized few B. malayi (trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase, Bm-TPP and heavy chain myosin, BmAF-Myo) and Wolbachia (translation initiation factor-1, Wol Tl IF-1 and NAD-dependent DNA ligase, wBm-LigA) proteins and investigated the immune responses, which they triggered in animal models.

Understanding molecular markers in recurrent oral squamous cell carcinoma treated with chemoradiation.

Introduction: Oral cancer accounts for approximately 2.1% of all cancers worldwide. In India, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common cancer with half a million new cases diagnosed every year.

Macrophages promote matrix protrusive and invasive function of breast cancer cells via MIP-1β dependent upregulation of MYO3A gene in breast cancer cells.

The potential of a tumor cell to metastasize profoundly depends on its microenvironment, or "niche" interactions with local components. Tumor-associated-macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant subpopulation of tumor stroma and represent a key component of tumor microenvironment. The dynamic interaction of cancer cells with neighboring TAMs actively drive cancer progression and metastatic transformation through intercellular signaling networks that need better elucidation.

IL-6 gene expression in adipose tissue of postmenopausal women and its association with metabolic risk factors.

Adipose tissue secretes various kinds of adipokines that controls the glucose and lipid metabolism in humans. The abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) both are associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. IL-6 is one of the adipokines, which promotes insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in humans.

Calcitonin gene- and parathyroid hormone-related peptides in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies: a nested case-control study.

Purpose: To identify whether CGRP and PTHrP serve as screening biomarkers for early detection of preeclampsia or even before the development of preeclampsia in early pregnancy.

Methods: It was a nested case-control study. The subjects were divided into normotensive (controls) and preeclamptic (cases) groups.

Strong impact of TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms on breast cancer risk in Indian women: a case-control and population-based study.

Introduction: TGF-β1 is a multi-functional cytokine that plays an important role in breast carcinogenesis. Critical role of TGF-β1 signaling in breast cancer progression is well documented. Some TGF-β1 polymorphisms influence its expression; however, their impact on breast cancer risk is not clear.

Androgen receptor CAG repeats length polymorphism and the risk of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Objective: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) refers to an inheritable androgen excess disorder characterized by multiple small follicles located at the ovarian periphery. Hyperandrogenism in PCOS, and inverse correlation between androgen receptor (AR) CAG numbers and AR function, led us to hypothesize that CAG length variations may affect PCOS risk.

Methods: CAG repeat region of 169 patients recruited following strictly defined Rotterdam (2003) inclusion criteria and that of 175 ethnically similar control samples, were analyzed.

Adiponectin mRNA in adipose tissue and its association with metabolic risk factors in postmenopausal obese women.

Objective: The present study evaluates adiponectin mRNA in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and also evaluates its association with metabolic risk factors in postmenopausal obese women.

Design: A case control study was carried out on postmenopausal women (n=68), in which 34 were obese and 34 were non-obese. Blood sample, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues were obtained.

DART MS based chemical profiling for therapeutic potential of Piper betle landraces.

Piper betle Linn. leaves are traditionally used as a folk medicine in India and other Asiatic countries. Twenty-one P.

Characteristic differences in metabolite profile in male and female plants of dioecious Piper betle L.

Piper betle is a dioecious pan-Asiatic plant having cultural and medicinal uses. It belongs to the family Piperaceae and is a native of the tropics although it is also cultivated in subtropical areas. Flowering in P.

Resistin gene expression in visceral adipose tissue of postmenopausal women and its association with insulin resistance.

Aim: The present study evaluates resistin mRNA expression in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and its correlation with insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment) in postmenopausal obese women.

Materials & Methods: A total of 68 (nonobese = 34 and obese = 34) age-matched (49-70 years) postmenopausal women were recruited for the study. Fasting blood samples were collected at admission and abdominal VAT were obtained during surgery for gall bladder stones or hysterectomy.

Evaluation of Low Blood Lead Levels and Its Association with Oxidative Stress in Pregnant Anemic Women: A Comparative Prospective Study.

To correlate blood lead levels (BLLs) and oxidative stress parameters in pregnant anemic women. A total of 175 pregnant women were found suitable and included for this study. Following WHO criteria, 50 each were identified as non-anemic, mild anemic and moderate anemic and 25 were severe anemic.

MDR-1 gene polymorphisms in steroid-responsive versus steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in children.

Background: The putative genetic regulation of multidrug resistance gene-1 (MDR-1) gene expression and P-glycoprotein function has not yet been clearly delineated in patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS). We undertook this study to examine the distribution of three most frequent MDR-1 exonic polymorphisms G3435C, G2677T/A and C1236T in patients with NS and control children to investigate their usefulness as markers of responsiveness of the disease to steroids.

Methods: Two hundred and sixteen children with NS and 216 healthy controls were genotyped for three exonic MDR-1 polymorphisms (G3435C, G2677T/A and C1236T) by using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique.

High fat diet prevents over-crowding induced decrease of sex ratio in mice.

Adaptive theory predicts that mothers would be advantaged by adjusting the sex ratio of their offspring in relation to their offspring's future reproductive success. In the present study, we tested the effect of housing mice under crowded condition on the sex ratio and whether the fat content of the diet has any influence on the outcome of pregnancies. Three-week-old mice were placed on the control diet (NFD) for 3 weeks.

Modulation of in vivo immunoglobulin production by endogenous histamine and H1R and H2R agonists and antagonists.

The present study was designed to delineate the immunomodulatory role of histamine receptors (H1R and H2R) and their antibody generation in a rabbit model. Six groups containing 18 rabbits each received either vehicle (sterile distilled water, 1 ml/kg x b.i.

Oral iron supplementation leads to oxidative imbalance in anemic women: a prospective study.

Background & Aims: This study was aimed to assess the desirable and undesirable effects of iron (100 mg/day as ferrous sulphate) and folic acid (500 μg/day) supplementation in iron deficient anemic women.

Methods: Iron and folic acid supplementations were given to 117 anemic women (mild = 55, moderate = 40, and severe = 22) and 60 age matched placebo treated (100 mg cane sugar) non-anemic controls for 100 days. Blood index values, oxidative stress parameters, antioxidant enzymes and vitamins were estimated as per standard protocols.

Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma neck with occult primary: A retrospective analysis.

Introduction: Metastatic carcinoma in the lymph nodes of the neck from an unknown primary is relatively rare, accounting for about 3% of all head and neck cancers. Management of secondary neck of undetermined primary is controversial.

Materials And Methods: The case records of all the patients treated in the Department of Radiotherapy, Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, from Oct 1999 to Sep 2004, were studied and the patients with secondary neck without a known primary tumor were analyzed in detail to elucidate the outcome of various treatment modalities in various stages of the disease.

Circadian variation in radiation-induced intestinal mucositis in patients with cervical carcinoma.

Background: Mucositis, a radiotherapy-associated toxicity, is an important factor determining morbidity and treatment compliance. Gastrointestinal mucositis in patients undergoing radiotherapy may also depend on time of administration of radiation in addition to several other factors. The presence of any correlation between the severity of acute gastrointestinal mucositis in cervical carcinoma patients and the time of irradiation was prospectively evaluated.

A prospective comparision of sequential chemoradiation vs concurrent chemoradiation in locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinomas.

Purpose: Induction chemotherapy has shown to provide consistent benefit for local control in primary treatment of advanced oropharyngeal cancer. The beneficial role of chemoradiation following induction chemotherapy over concurrent chemoradiation has not been evaluated. Present study evaluates the same prospectively.