Peripheral Blood CD34 Donor Chimerism has Greater Clinical Utility Than CD3 for Detecting Relapse after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Monitoring of donor chimerism (DC) may detect early relapse following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Most centers use unfractionated peripheral blood or T-cells to monitor DC, although CD34 DC may be more predictive. The limited adoption of CD34 DC may be due to the lack of detailed, comparative studies.

Effect of vinyl chloride exposure on cardiometabolic toxicity.

Vinyl chloride (VC) is an organochlorine mainly used to manufacture its polymer polyvinyl chloride, which is extensively used in the manufacturing of consumer products. Recent studies suggest that chronic low dose VC exposure affects glucose homeostasis in high fat diet-fed mice. Our data suggest that even in the absence of high fat diet, exposure to VC (0.

All India Ophthalmological Society members survey results: Cataract surgery antibiotic prophylaxis current practice pattern 2017.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to document the current practice pattern of Indian ophthalmologists for antibiotic prophylaxis in cataract surgery to prevent endophthalmitis.

Methods: Fifteen structured questions were sent online to all ophthalmologists registered with the All India Ophthalmological Society. The questionnaire was divided into three main categories of prophylaxis - preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative.

B-Cell Epitope Mapping Using a Library of Overlapping Synthetic Peptides in an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay.

This chapter describes a strategy for mapping linear B-cell epitopes of proteins using synthetic biotinylated peptides in an ELISA.A set of overlapping peptides were designed based upon a known amino acid sequence of the target protein, VapA (Virulence-associated Protein A) of the bacterium Rhodococcus equi, an important pulmonary pathogen in foals. The peptides synthesized as biotinylated peptides were coated directly onto micro titer plates which had been pre-coated with NeutrAvidin™ and used to screen sera from foals confirmed to have R.

Inhibition of autophagy prevents cadmium-induced prostate carcinogenesis.

Background: Cadmium, an established carcinogen, is a risk factor for prostate cancer. Induction of autophagy is a prerequisite for cadmium-induced transformation and metastasis. The ability of Psoralidin (Pso), a non-toxic, orally bioavailable compound to inhibit cadmium-induced autophagy to prevent prostate cancer was investigated.

Withaferin A Inhibits Prostate Carcinogenesis in a PTEN-deficient Mouse Model of Prostate Cancer.

We recently demonstrated that AKT activation plays a role in prostate cancer progression and inhibits the pro-apoptotic function of FOXO3a and Par-4. AKT inhibition and Par-4 induction suppressed prostate cancer progression in preclinical models. Here, we investigate the chemopreventive effect of the phytonutrient Withaferin A (WA) on AKT-driven prostate tumorigenesis in a Pten conditional knockout (Pten-KO) mouse model of prostate cancer.

Biomarkers of Chronic Acrolein Inhalation Exposure in Mice: Implications for Tobacco Product-Induced Toxicity.

Exposure to tobacco smoke, which contains several harmful and potentially harmful constituents such as acrolein increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Although high acrolein levels induce pervasive cardiovascular injury, the effects of low-level exposure remain unknown and sensitive biomarkers of acrolein toxicity have not been identified. Identification of such biomarkers is essential to assess the toxicity of acrolein present at low levels in the ambient air or in new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes.

Synthesis of Psoralidin derivatives and their anticancer activity: First synthesis of Lespeflorin I.

Synthetic scheme for the preparation of a number of different derivatives of anticancer natural product Psoralidin is described. A convergent synthetic approach is followed using simple starting materials like substituted phenyl acetic esters and benzoic acids. The developed synthetic route leads us to complete the first synthesis of an analogous natural product Lespeflorin I, a mild melanin synthesis inhibitor.

Oral administration of withaferin A inhibits carcinogenesis of prostate in TRAMP model.

We previously reported that withaferin A (WA), a natural compound, deters prostate cancer by inhibiting AKT while inducing apoptosis. In the current study, we examined its chemopreventive efficacy against carcinogenesis in the prostate using the transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. Two distinct sets of experiments were conducted.

miR-301a expression: A prognostic marker for prostate cancer.

Purpose: The diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (CaP) continues to be challenging, as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) appears to be overly sensitive and biopsy is the only reliable method for confirmation. Hence, the goal of the study is to identify a biomarker that could distinguish malignant cancer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) during the early diagnosis of the disease.

Materials And Methods: A total of 75 formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) with matching controls, 4 paired metastatic tumors, 6 fresh tumor tissues and BPH (13 cases) with their clinical diagnosis were selected for this study.

Activation of AKT negatively regulates the pro-apoptotic function of death-associated protein kinase 3 (DAPK3) in prostate cancer.

The activation of AKT governs many signaling pathways and promotes cell growth and inhibits apoptosis in human malignancies including prostate cancer (CaP). Here, we investigated the molecular association between AKT activation and the function of death-associated protein kinase 3 (DAPK3) in CaP. An inverse correlation of pAKT and DAPK3 expression was seen in a panel of CaP cell lines.

Inhibition of AKT promotes FOXO3a-dependent apoptosis in prostate cancer.

Growth factor-induced activation of protein kinase-B (PKB), also known as AKT, induces pro-survival signaling and inhibits activation of pro-apoptotic signaling molecules including the Forkhead box O-3a (FOXO3a) transcription factor and caspase in transformed prostate cells in vitro. Earlier we reported that Withaferin-A (WA), a small herbal molecule, induces pro-apoptotic response-4 (Par-4) mediated apoptosis in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that inhibition of AKT facilitates nuclear shuttling of FOXO3a where it regulates Par-4 transcription in CRPC cells.

Withaferin-A suppress AKT induced tumor growth in colorectal cancer cells.

The oncogenic activation of AKT gene has emerged as a key determinant of the aggressiveness of colorectal cancer (CRC); hence, research has focused on targeting AKT signaling for the treatment of advanced stages of CRC. In this study, we explored the anti-tumorigenic effects of withaferin A (WA) on CRC cells overexpressing AKT in preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) models. Our results indicated that WA, a natural compound, resulted in significant inhibition of AKT activity and led to the inhibition of cell proliferation, migration and invasion by downregulating the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in CRC cells overexpressing AKT.

Targeting Notch Signaling in Colorectal Cancer.

The activation of Notch signaling is implicated in tumorigenesis in the colon due to the induction of pro-survival signaling in colonic epithelial cells. Chemoresistance is a major obstacle for treatment and for the complete eradication of colorectal cancer (CRC), hence, the inhibition of Notch is an attractive target for CRC and several groups are working to identify small molecules or monoclonal antibodies that inhibit Notch or its downstream events; however, toxicity profiles in normal cells and organs often impede the clinical translation of these molecules. Dietary agents have gained momentum for targeting several pro-survival signaling cascades, and recent studies demonstrated that agents that inhibit Notch signaling result in growth inhibition in preclinical models of CRC.

The pro-apoptotic role of autophagy in breast cancer.

Background: Autophagy is a catabolic process that has a vital role in cancer progression and treatment. Current chemotherapeutic agents, which target autophagy, result in growth inhibition in many cancer types. In this study, we examined the role of autophagy in breast cancer (BCa) patients as well as BCa cell lines.

Silencing NOTCH signaling causes growth arrest in both breast cancer stem cells and breast cancer cells.

Background: Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are characterized by high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzyme activity and are refractory to current treatment modalities, show a higher risk for metastasis, and influence the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), leading to a shorter time to recurrence and death. In this study, we focused on examination of the mechanism of action of a small herbal molecule, psoralidin (Pso) that has been shown to effectively suppress the growth of BSCSs and breast cancer cells (BCCs), in breast cancer (BC) models.

Methods: ALDH(-) and ALDH(+) BCCs were isolated from MDA-MB-231 cells, and the anticancer effects of Pso were measured using cell viability, apoptosis, colony formation, invasion, migration, mammosphere formation, immunofluorescence, and western blot analysis.

Withaferin A, a steroidal lactone from Withania somnifera, induces mitotic catastrophe and growth arrest in prostate cancer cells.

Cell cycle deregulation is strongly associated with the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. Clinical trials of cell cycle regulators that target either the G0/G1 or G2/M phase to inhibit the growth of cancers including prostate cancer are increasing. The present study focused on the cell cycle regulatory potential of the withanolide withaferin A (1) on prostate cancer cells.

Activation of AKT signaling promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor growth in colorectal cancer cells.

Activation of the serine-threonine protein kinase AKT has emerged as a central feature of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is the initial step for metastasis in many cancer models, including colorectal cancer. The focus of our study was to dissect the role of AKT and its molecular regulation of EMT in colorectal cancer. HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells stably overexpressing AKT (AKT/HCT-116) showed significantly higher cell proliferation compared with vector-transfected cells (pCMV/HCT-116).

Changing profile of organisms causing scleral buckle infections: a clinico-microbiological case series.

Purpose: To study the microbiological spectrum and in vitro susceptibility of bacterial isolates from explanted scleral buckles and to correlate clinical presentation to the causative agent.

Method: Medical records of patients who underwent buckle explantation from July 2007 to May 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical features and microbiological profile were noted and correlated.

Induction of reactive oxygen species generation inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and promotes growth arrest in prostate cancer cells.

Oxidative stress is one causative factor of the pathogenesis and aggressiveness of most of the cancer types, including prostate cancer (CaP). A moderate increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) induces cell proliferation whereas excessive amounts of ROS promote apoptosis. In this study, we explored the pro-oxidant property of 3,9-dihydroxy-2-prenylcoumestan (psoralidin [pso]), a dietary agent, on CaP (PC-3 and C4-2B) cells.

Submental intubation: A journey over the last 25 years.

Airway management in patients with faciomaxillary injuries is challenging due to disruption of components of upper airway. The anesthesiologist has to share the airway with the surgeons. Oral and nasal routes for intubation are often not feasible.

Associated factors for age-related maculopathy in the adult population in southern India: the Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study.

Background: To assess prevalence, potential risk factors and population attributable risk percentage (PAR) for age-related maculopathy (ARM) in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Methods: A population-based study, cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India during 1996 and 2000. Participants from 94 clusters in one urban and three rural areas representative of the population of Andhra Pradesh underwent a detailed interview and a detailed dilated ocular evaluation by trained professionals.

Hemoglobin magnetism in aqueous solution probed by muon spin relaxation and future applications to brain research.

A marked difference in spin relaxation behavior due to hemoglobin magnetism was found for positive muons (μ(+)) in deoxyhemoglobin in comparison with that observed in oxyhemoglobin in aqueous solution at room temperature under zero and external longitudinal magnetic fields upto 0.4 Tesla. At the same time, small but significant unique relaxation pattern was observed in nonmagnetic oxyhemoglobin.