Publications by authors named "R Vittal"

Tissue fibrosis remains unamenable to meaningful therapeutic interventions and is the primary cause of chronic graft failure after organ transplantation. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF4E), a key translational regulator, serves as convergent target of multiple upstream profibrotic signaling pathways that contribute to mesenchymal cell (MC) activation. Here, we investigate the role of MAP kinase-interacting serine/threonine kinase-induced (MNK-induced) direct phosphorylation of eIF4E at serine 209 (Ser209) in maintaining fibrotic transformation of MCs and determine the contribution of the MNK/eIF4E pathway to the pathogenesis of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD).

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Antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) have become significant concerns, contributing to adverse environmental effects. The extensive use of antibiotics in poultry farming has resulted in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant APEC strains. This study prioritizes the molecular screening of APEC to uncover their antibiotic resistance and virulence attributes, with specific attention to their environmental impact.

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Article Synopsis
  • Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by ongoing tissue damage and scarring in the lungs, driven by persistent activation of mesenchymal cells related to various signaling pathways.
  • The study focuses on the role of the transcription factor NFAT1, which controls a key profibrotic mediator (autotaxin) in lung mesenchymal cells, finding that mice lacking NFAT1 have improved survival and less lung fibrosis after injury.
  • The research indicates that NFAT1 activates profibrotic processes in IPF and suggests it could be a potential target for therapeutic intervention in treating the disease.
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Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a major environmental problem in freshwater and marine environments. The effects of these polymers on aquatic life are well studied; however, there is limited knowledge of MP-associated health hazards in humans. We estimated the presence of MPs in different brands of bottled water available in India using the Nile red (NR) staining method.

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The use of herbal products as traditional medicines has been a practice in India for centuries. Due to high ethnic diversity, the pool of herbal medicines is enormous, and they are often preferred over modern medicines in certain parts of the country. Cancer is one of the major non-communicable diseases affecting people worldwide.

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