Carbon microelectromechanical systems as a substratum for cell growth.

The study of the biocompatible properties of carbon microelectromechanical systems (carbon-MEMS) shows that this new microfabrication technique is a promising approach to create novel platforms for the study of cell physiology. Four different types of substrates were tested, namely, carbon-MEMS on silicon and quartz wafers, indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass and oxygen-plasma-treated carbon thin films. Two cell lines, murine dermal fibroblasts and neuroblastoma spinal cord hybrid cells (NSC-34) were plated onto the substrates.

Conformational stability and integrity of alpha-amylase from mung beans: evidence of kinetic intermediate in GdmCl-induced unfolding.

alpha-Amylase from mung beans (Vigna radiata) being one of the few plant alpha-amylases purified so far was studied with respect to its conformational stability by CD and fluorescence spectroscopy. The enzyme was shown to bind 3-4 Ca(2+) ions, which all are important for its activity. In contrast to other alpha-amylases no inhibition was observed at high Ca(2+) concentrations (100 mM).

Renal adenocarcinoma presenting as a groin swelling: a case report.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is known to have myriad presentations due to the extremely vascular nature of the organ. RCC are known to metastasize extensively to various organs of the body. We report a case of a 70-years-old male who presented with multiple inguinal lymph node enlargements which on excision biopsy showed metastatic adenocarcinomatous deposit.

Discriminant analysis: A supportive tool for monogenoidean taxonomy.

Data on the measurements of haptoral parts of 47 parasite species of Bychowskyella (1), Cornudiscoides (2) and Thaparocleidus (3), found on Indian freshwater catfish, were gathered from previously reported studies. Based on six morphometric variables concerning haptors, these species were subjected to discriminant analysis in order to more accurately distinguish their generic placement. This paper describes a comparative study of several classification models.

Descriptive epidemiology of dengue transmission in Uttar Pradesh.

We report epidemiology of dengue infection as revealed through a hospital based surveillance for dengue infection over a 3 year period in Lucknow, U.P., India.

Design and development of gliclazide mucoadhesive microcapsules: in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

In this study an attempt was made to prepare mucoadhesive microcapsules of gliclazide using various mucoadhesive polymers designed for oral controlled release. Gliclazide microcapsules were prepared using sodium alginate and mucoadhesive polymer such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (sodium CMC), carbopol 934P or hydroxy propylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) by orifice-ionic gelation method. The microcapsules were evaluated for surface morphology and particle shape by scanning electron microscope.

Translational regulation of lipoprotein lipase in adipocytes: depletion of cellular protein kinase Calpha activates binding of the C subunit of protein kinase A to the 3'-untranslated region of the lipoprotein lipase mRNA.

Adipose LPL (lipoprotein lipase) plays an important role in regulating plasma triacylglycerols and lipid metabolism. We have previously demonstrated that PKCalpha (protein kinase Calpha) depletion inhibits LPL translation in 3T3-F442A adipocytes. Using in vitro translation experiments, the minimum essential region on the 3'UTR (3'-untranslated region) of LPL mRNA required for the inhibition of translation was identified as the proximal 39 nt.

Prevalence of dengue infection in north Indian children with acute hepatic failure.

Unlabelled: Hepatic manifestations of dengue viral infection are well known and cases of acute hepatic failure (AHF) with evidence of dengue infection are reported.

Objectives: To study the role of dengue infection in AHF presenting to hospital.

Setting: Pediatric wards of a teaching hospital in northern India.

Nitric oxide and immune response.

Nitric oxide (NO), initially described as a physiological mediator of endothelial cell relaxation plays an important role in hypotension. It is an intercellular messenger and has been recognized as one of the most versatile players in the immune system. Cells of the innate immune system--macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cells use pattern recognition receptors to recognize molecular patterns associated with pathogens.

Origin and progeny of reactive gliosis: A source of multipotent cells in the injured brain.

Reactive gliosis is the universal reaction to brain injury, but the precise origin and subsequent fate of the glial cells reacting to injury are unknown. Astrocytes react to injury by hypertrophy and up-regulation of the glial-fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Whereas mature astrocytes do not normally divide, a subpopulation of the reactive GFAP(+) cells does so, prompting the question of whether the proliferating GFAP(+) cells arise from endogenous glial progenitors or from mature astrocytes that start to proliferate in response to brain injury.

Roles and mechanism of natural killer cells in clinical and experimental transplantation.

Natural killer (NK) cells are an important component of the innate immune response against intracellular pathogens and also play a role in the tissue inflammation associated with autoimmune diseases. Being a potent effector response, it must be well regulated in order to avoid unwanted destruction of normal tissues. Indeed, NK cells are unique in bearing both stimulatory and inhibitory receptor tolerance.

Immunobiology of human imunodeficiency virus infection.

After the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its role in the causation of most devastating epidemic acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), there has been an increasing trend to decipher the mechanism of infection and to understand why it cannot be controlled by our immune system. By evolution, our immune system has been empowered and enough trained to recognize, elicit immune response and remove antigens and pathogens from the body. Simultaneously, HIV has also gained enough mechanism to escape the natural immune response.

Tuberculosis presenting as osteolytic soft tissue swellings of skull in HIV positive patient: a case report.

We present a clinical case report of a 40-year old HIV positive male patient presenting with fever, cough with expectoration and osteolytic, cystic, multiple soft tissue swellings of skull (aspirate showing AFB). The various clinical possibilities are discussed along with interpretation of subsequent investigations.

Mechanism to combat cobalt toxicity in cobalt resistant mutants of Aspergillus nidulans.

Characteristics of fungal species tolerant to high levels of metals in natural environment can be amplified by isolation and selection of resistant mutants. Step-by-step culturing led to identification of highly stable Co-resistant (Co(R)) mutants of A. nidulans.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hop1 protein zinc finger motif binds to the Holliday junction and distorts the DNA structure: implications for holliday junction migration.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae HOP1, which encodes a component of synaptonemal complex, plays an important role in crossing over between homologues. Hop1p contains a zinc finger motif, and substitution of a conserved Cys371 by Ser rendered the hop1 mutant allele defective in sporulation and meiosis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the function of Hop1 zinc finger motif (ZnF) remains obscure.

The role of nitric oxide in inflammatory reactions.

Nitric oxide (NO) was initially described as a physiological mediator of endothelial cell relaxation, an important role in hypotension. NO is an intercellular messenger that has been recognized as one of the most versatile players in the immune system. Cells of the innate immune system--macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer cells--use pattern recognition receptors to recognize the molecular patterns associated with pathogens.

Development and characterization of nickel accumulating mutants of Aspergillus nidulans.

Stable mutants of Aspergillus nidulans, resistant to 1 mM Ni were developed by step-by-step repeated culturing of the fungus on the medium containing increasing concentrations of nickel chloride. Characterization of mutants could differentiate them into two categories Ni(R) I and Ni(R) II. Each category of mutants exhibited alterations in growth, conidial germination and melanin secretion both in Ni-free and Ni-containing media.

Interleukin-10 (-819 C/T) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (-308 G/A) gene variants influence gastritis and lymphoid follicle development.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) causes gastritis, development of lymphoid follicles and later monoclonal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. We evaluated the association of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (-308 G/A) and IL-10 (-819 C/T) gene polymorphisms with gastritis and lymphoid follicle formation.

Immune response to leishmania: paradox rather than paradigm.

The leishmaniases are a group of diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Various Leishmania species can cause human infection, producing a spectrum of clinical manifestations. It is estimated that 350 million people are at risk, with a global yearly incidence of 1-1.

Role of Sandhika: a polyherbal formulation on MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells.

Sandhika is a polyherbal formulation, (water soluble fraction of Commiphora mukul, Boswellia serrata, Semecarpus anacardium and Strychnos nux vomica), which has been in clinical use in India for last 20 years. Its modified formulation BHUx has shown specific inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and lipoxygenase (LOX)-15 and has prevented diet-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. In order to explore the possibility of the use of Sandhika for the management of osteoporosis, we have examined its influence on MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells in presence of lipopolysaccharide (1 microg/ml) in terms of calcium nodule formation and alkaline phosphatase activity.

Bioactivity of novel transition metal complexes of N'-[(4-methoxy)thiobenzoyl]benzoic acid hydrazide.

Cu(II), Fe(III), and Mn(II) complexes of a novel ligand N'-[(4-methoxy)thiobenzoyl]benzoic acid hydrazide (H(2)mtbh) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV-vis, NMR, mass, EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results suggest a square planar structure for [Cu(Hmtbh)Cl] and [Cu(mtbh)] whereas an octahedral structure for [Mn(Hmtbh)(2)] and [Fe(Hmtbh)(mtbh)]. Mn(II) and Fe(III) complexes were found to inhibit proliferation of HT29 cells.

Bim/Bcl-2 balance is critical for maintaining naive and memory T cell homeostasis.

We examined the role of the antiapoptotic molecule Bcl-2 in combating the proapoptotic molecule Bim in control of naive and memory T cell homeostasis using Bcl-2(-/-) mice that were additionally deficient in one or both alleles of Bim. Naive T cells were significantly decreased in Bim(+/-)Bcl-2(-/-) mice, but were largely restored in Bim(-/-)Bcl-2(-/-) mice. Similarly, a synthetic Bcl-2 inhibitor killed wild-type, but not Bim(-/-), T cells.

Alpha-amylase from mung beans (Vigna radiata)--correlation of biochemical properties and tertiary structure by homology modelling.

Alpha-amylase from germinated mung beans (Vigna radiata) has been purified 600-fold to electrophoretic homogeneity and a final specific activity of 437 U/mg. SDS-PAGE of the final preparation revealed a single protein band of 46 kDa. The optimum pH was 5.

Cutting Edge: Limiting amounts of IL-7 do not control contraction of CD4+ T cell responses.

During the acute T cell response most effector T cells die while some survive and become memory T cells. Selective expression of CD127 (IL-7Ralpha) on effector T cells has been proposed to engender their survival into the memory pool. We assessed the role of IL-7 in effector T cell survival using MHC class II tetramers to track a CD4+ T cell response following infection with a recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV-2W1S).