Niemann-Pick type C fibroblasts have a distinct microRNA profile related to lipid metabolism and certain cellular components.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level. Dysregulation of miRNA expression may lead to severe pathophysiologies in human cells. Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a complex lipid storage disease characterized by late endosomal-lysosomal accumulation of multiple lipid molecules.

High incidence of zidovudine induced anaemia in HIV infected patients in eastern India.

Background & Objectives: Zidovudine (ZDV) is the preferred nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor in the first line antiretroviral regimen in India. It is known to be associated with life threatening toxicity like anaemia. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of ZDV induced anaemia in HIV infected patients initiated on ZDV containing antiretroviral therapy regimen and also to find out the correlates, if any, for causing ZDV induced anaemia.

Glutathione biosynthesis in the yeast pathogens Candida glabrata and Candida albicans: essential in C. glabrata, and essential for virulence in C. albicans.

Redox pathways play a key role in pathogenesis. Glutathione, a central molecule in redox homeostasis in yeasts, is an essential metabolite, but its requirements can be met either from endogenous biosynthesis or from the extracellular milieu. In this report we have examined the importance of glutathione biosynthesis in two major human opportunistic fungal pathogens, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata.

Molecular Characterization of Tomato leaf curl Palampur virus and Pepper leaf curl betasatellite Naturally Infecting Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) in India.

Pumpkin cultivation in India is affected by severe incidence of a yellow vein mosaic disease. Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus and Squash leaf curl China virus are known to be associated with this disease in India. We were able to identify a third begomovirus-Tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (ToLCPMV), from pumpkin showing typical symptoms of the disease at Varanasi based on the sequence of complete DNA-A genome of the virus.

Morphological and genetic differentiation among four pigment producing Indian species of Phoma (Saccardo, 1899).

A PCR-based technique, involving the random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), was used for assessing genetic relatedness among isolates of the genus Phoma. Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) revealed the presence of interspecific genetic variation among the pigment producing isolates of Phoma and has shown distinct phylogenetic cluster. The major objective of the study was to study the genetic variation, if any.

The population genomics of begomoviruses: global scale population structure and gene flow.

Background: The rapidly growing availability of diverse full genome sequences from across the world is increasing the feasibility of studying the large-scale population processes that underly observable pattern of virus diversity. In particular, characterizing the genetic structure of virus populations could potentially reveal much about how factors such as geographical distributions, host ranges and gene flow between populations combine to produce the discontinuous patterns of genetic diversity that we perceive as distinct virus species. Among the richest and most diverse full genome datasets that are available is that for the dicotyledonous plant infecting genus, Begomovirus, in the Family Geminiviridae.

Distinct reactivities of interleukin-4-specific antibodies with recombinant and native canine interleukin-4 in various assays.

Interleukin 4 (IL-4) plays a central role in immune responses to parasites and allergens. IL-4 drives the differentiation of naive T cells into Th2 cells and regulates immunoglobulin class switching to IgE.Little is known about the role of IL-4 in canine allergies and parasite infections.

Ayurvedic approach for improving reaction time of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affected children.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral disorder of children. It is the most common neurological disorder of childhood. The present study was conducted to examine the increase in attention span in 43 ADHD-affected children treated with different approaches.

The epidemiology of Leishmania donovani infection in high transmission foci in India.

Objective: Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is highly prevalent in Bihar, India. India and its neighbours aim at eliminating VL, but several knowledge gaps in the epidemiology of VL may hamper that effort. The prevalence of asymptomatic infections with Leishmania donovani and their role in transmission dynamics are not well understood.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against NS1 protein of H5N1 avian influenza virus.

A panel of 11 murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was generated against NS1 (non-structural) protein of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus using whole viral antigen as immunogen and as antigen in the preliminary screening of clones followed by a more specific screening through recombinant NS1 protein-based ELISA. Isotyping showed two clones 10E2 (IgG2b) and 5H8 (IgG3) to be IgG type and 6B9 and 4C4 to be IgA type, while the rest could not be isotyped due to weak reactivity with NS1 antigen. The subclone 10E2E7G3 was selected for subsequent work, which showed comparatively higher OD in NS1-based ELISA.

The definition of exertion-related cardiac events.

Vigorous physical activity increases the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) but there is no standard definition as to what constitutes an exertion-related cardiac event, specifically the time interval between physical exertion and cardiac event. A systematic review of studies related to exertion-related cardiac events was performed and the time interval between exertion and the event or the symptoms leading to the event was looked for in all the articles selected for inclusion. A total of 12 of 26 articles "suggested" or "defined" exertion-related events as those events whose symptoms started during or within 1 h of exertion.

Atropine-induced rhabdomyolysis: an uncommon and potentially fatal adverse drug reaction.

A 25 year old woman received daily injection of 0.6 mg atropine for seven days by the intra-venous route. In addition to fever, incomprehensible speech and alteration of sensorium she developed albuminuria, hemoglobinuria and myoglobinuria.

In vitro testing of a new aspiration thrombus device.

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy can restore blood flow to the brain after acute ischemic stroke, but may be associated with risks, such as breakage of moving parts and clot fragmentation. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new aspiration thrombus device (ATD), the GP ATD, which has no moving parts and extracts clots by suction in a vortex flow pattern.

Methods: The GP ATD is used to extract porcine blood clots inserted into the middle cerebral artery (MCA) of a model of the circle of Willis, and from porcine aorta.

Co-expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 and interleukin-4 in an in vitro inflammatory model.

The ailment osteoarthritis (OA) has two aspects - inflammation and cartilage degradation - where combined transgene expression may offer an effective gene therapy. Our present study focuses on the co-expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and insulin-like-growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which specifically target inflammation and cartilage repair, respectively. In this study, we analyze the expression of IGF-1 and IL-4 from a single plasmid vector, where each gene is expressed through an independent promoter and enhancer sequence.

Myths about diabetes and its treatment in North Indian population.

Background: Myths prevailing about diabetes in the society have become a major hurdle for its proper treatment and control.

Aim: To find out about various myths related to diabetes and its treatment in the population.

Materials And Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in a teaching hospital of Delhi in 2008.

Single-dose liposomal amphotericin B for visceral leishmaniasis in India.

Background: Some 50% of patients with visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) worldwide live in the Indian state of Bihar. Liposomal amphotericin B is an effective treatment when administered in short courses. We wanted to determine whether the efficacy of a single infusion of liposomal amphotericin B was inferior to conventional parenteral therapy, consisting of 15 alternate-day infusions of amphotericin B deoxycholate.

Two new pimelic diphenylamide HDAC inhibitors induce sustained frataxin upregulation in cells from Friedreich's ataxia patients and in a mouse model.

Background: Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), the most common recessive ataxia in Caucasians, is due to severely reduced levels of frataxin, a highly conserved protein, that result from a large GAA triplet repeat expansion within the first intron of the frataxin gene (FXN). Typical marks of heterochromatin are found near the expanded GAA repeat in FRDA patient cells and mouse models. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) with a pimelic diphenylamide structure and HDAC3 specificity can decondense the chromatin structure at the FXN gene and restore frataxin levels in cells from FRDA patients and in a GAA repeat based FRDA mouse model, KIKI, providing an appealing approach for FRDA therapeutics.

Evidence for a "Founder Effect" among HIV-infected injection drug users (IDUs) in Pakistan.

Background: We have previously reported a HIV-1 subtype A infection in a community of injection drug users (IDUs) in Karachi, Pakistan. We now show that this infection among the IDUs may have originated from a single source.

Methods: Phylogenetic analysis was performed of partial gag sequences, generated using PCR, from 26 HIV-positive IDU samples.

Mycogenic metal nanoparticles: progress and applications.

Nanotechnology is relevant to diverse fields of science and technology. Due to the many advantages over non-biological systems, several research groups have exploited the use of biological systems for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Among the different microbes used for the synthesis of nanoparticles, fungi are efficient candidates for fabrication of metal nanoparticles both intra- and extracellulary.