Publications by authors named "Venkatraman Uthra"

Designed recombinant proteins comprising functional domains offer selective targeting of cancer cells for the efficient delivery of therapeutic agents. The efficacy of these carriers can be further enhanced by conjugating engineered proteins to nanoparticle surfaces. However, recombinant protein-loaded nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems are not well addressed for ovarian cancer therapy.

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RNA interference represents a novel therapeutic approach to modulate several neurodegenerative disease-related genes. However, exogenous delivery of siRNA restricts their transport into different tissues and specifically into the brain mainly due to its large size and the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To overcome these challenges, we developed here a strategy wherein a peptide known to target specific gangliosides was fused to a double-stranded RNA binding protein to deliver siRNA to the brain parenchyma.

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Preeclampsia is a disease of worldwide significance with increasing maternal mortality rate of 20-80 %. Though apoptosis is a normal constituent during pregnancy, there seems to be an altered balance between proliferation and apoptosis of endothelial cell in preeclampsia leading to a placental dysregulation resulting in premature delivery. Molecular chaperones like HSP70 and 90 play a significant role in control of preeclamptic progression and protect the developing fetus.

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Context: Preeclampsia is a placenta related disorder of during pregnancy resulting in pre- and post-partum complications of the both mother and fetus. It is associated with improper trophoblast invasion and maternal endothelial cell dysfunction leading to a placental dysregulation resulting in premature delivery.

Objective: Aim of the present study is to elucidate of the protective role of chaperones (HSP70 and 90) in preeclampsia and to test whether it is associated with oxidative stress level in placental tissue.

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Objective: To determine the effect of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection on oxidative stress during preeclampsia.

Methods: The relationship between oxidative stress and U. urealyticum infection was monitored through the estimation of lipid hydroperoxidation level (LHP), glutathione redox ratio (GRR), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) along with heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression in the placenta.

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Background: Evidence is accumulating that mitochondrial (Mt) oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The current study analyzes the stress levels, energy status and associated enzymatic alteration in placental mitochondria of preeclamptic (n=30) and normotensive (n=35) subjects.

Methods: Total Mt stress was measured using dichlorofluorescin (DCFH) oxidant analysis, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, protein carbonyl (PC) concentrations and measurement of nitrite (NO2(-)) and nitrate (NO3(-)).

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