TiO nanoparticles induce omphalocele in chicken embryo by disrupting Wnt signaling pathway.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) are among abundantly used metal oxide NPs but their interactions with biomolecules and subsequent embryonic toxicity in higher vertebrates is not extensively reported. Physicochemical interactions of TiO NPs with egg albumen reveals that lower doses of TiO NPs (10 and 25 µg/ml) accounted for higher friccohesity and activation energy but an increment in molecular radii was recorded at higher doses (50 and 100 µg/ml). FTIR analysis revealed conformational changes in secondary structure of egg albumen as a result of electrostratic interactions between egg albumen and TiO NPs.

MeCP2 overexpression inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion of C6 glioma by modulating ERK signaling and gene expression.

MethylCpG binding protein-2 (MeCP2) is an epigenetic regulator and essential for brain development. MeCP2 mutations are associated with a spectrum of neuro-developmental disorders that vary depending on the patient gender, most notably Rett Syndrome. MeCP2 is essential for normal neuronal maturation, and glial cell function in the brain.

Neuropharmacological evaluation on four traditional herbs used as nervine tonic and commonly available as Shankhpushpi in India.

Background: Shankhpushpi is an Ayurvedic drug, widely used for its actions on the central nervous system, especially to improve intellect and boost memory. Four botanicals viz. Canscora decussata Schult.

Evaluation of multikinase inhibitor LDN193189 induced hepatotoxicity in teleost fish .

Currently, scientists show keen interest in the drugs that inhibit multiple kinases, LDN193189, being an example. It combats certain cancers as well as , making it a prerequisite for researchers to study the toxic potential of this drug in animal models. As most of the drugs metabolized by liver cause hepatic injury, LDN193189-induced hepatotoxicity was examined using a teleost fish, .

In Vitro Screening of Indigenous Lactobacillus Isolates for Selecting Organisms with Better Health-Promoting Attributes.

Lactobacilli have several attributes that provide health benefits to the host. The aim of this study was to screen indigenous lactobacilli from human gut and fermented foods for such attributes as production of β- and α-galactosidase and also their ability to reduce serum cholesterol. Lactobacilli were cultured on MRS broth and β-galactosidase activity was determined using o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) as a substrate.

COX-2 activity and expression pattern during regenerative wound healing of tail in lizard Hemidactylus flaviviridis.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an important mediator of the immune response. It is found upregulated after pathogen invasion or tissue injury and also in many cancers. Of the lesser known functions of this enzyme is its role in effecting epimorphic regeneration.

Differential insulin and steroidogenic signaling in insulin resistant and non-insulin resistant human luteinized granulosa cells-A study in PCOS patients.

Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the significant aberrations in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), however is only observed in 70%-80% of obese PCOS and 20%-25% of lean PCOS. Hyperinsulinemia accompanies PCOS-IR along with hyperandrogenemia against normal insulin and androgen levels in PCOS-non insulin resistance (NIR). This could possibly be due to defects in the downstream signaling pathways.

Toxicity evaluation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles reveals neuronal loss in chicken embryo.

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) display the ability to cross blood - brain barrier and are envisioned as diagnostic and therapeutic applications, but there are few studies on their potential embryonic toxicity in higher vertebrates. This study investigates interaction of IONs with egg albumen and its subsequent toxicity on chicken embryo. Physicochemical interactions of IONs with egg albumen revealed alterations in friccohesity and secondary structural changes due to weak Vander Waals forces.

Preparation, characterization and in vivo evaluation of pH sensitive, safe quercetin-succinylated chitosan-alginate core-shell-corona nanoparticle for diabetes treatment.

The study aims for development of an efficient polymeric carrier for evaluating pharmaceutical potentialities in modulating the drug profile of quercetin (QUE) in anti-diabetic research. Alginate and succinyl chitosan are focused in this investigation for encapsulating quercetin into core-shell nanoparticles through ionic cross linking. The FT-IR, XRD, NMR, SEM, TEM, drug entrapment and loading efficiency are commenced to examine the efficacy of the prepared nanoparticles in successful quercetin delivery.

Investigation of (n, p), (n, 2n) reaction cross sections for Sn isotopes for fusion reactor applications.

The compound NbSn possess superconductivity at suitable temperatures, therefore, it is best suited to be used in the toroidal coils of superconducting magnets which holds the fusion plasma and confine it inside the reactor core. The neutron induced reaction cross-sections are required from threshold to 20MeV for different isotopes of Tin (Sn). Since limited data is available for the reactions with the Sn isotopes.

Involvement of topoisomerase mutations and qnr and aac(6')Ib-cr genes in conferring quinolone resistance to clinical isolates of Vibrio and Shigella spp. from Kolkata, India (1998-2009).

Objectives: Quinolone antibiotics have been widely used to treat diarrhoeal diseases caused by bacterial agents such as those belonging to the genera Vibrio and Shigella. As these pathogens are accumulating quinolone resistance, treating infections caused by them has become complicated.

Methods: In this study, Vibrio and Shigella spp.

Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Stable SPES/SPANI Composite Polymer Electrolyte Membranes by Enriched Ionic Nanochannels.

Herein, we present the results of sulfonated polyaniline (SPANI) and sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) (SPES) composite polymer electrolyte membranes. The membranes are established for high-temperature proton conductivity and methanol permeability to render their applicability. Composite membranes have been prepared by modifying the SPES matrix with different concentrations of SPANI (e.

BMP signaling regulates the skeletal and connective tissue differentiation during caudal fin regeneration in sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna).

Caudal fin regeneration in sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur 1821) involves an initial wound healing stage, followed by blastema that is formed of fast proliferating cells. In order to replicate the lost fin, correct differentiation of the blastemal cells into various tissues is the prime essence. Among the molecular signals governing proper differentiation of blastemal cells, members of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family are crucial.

Indigenous lactobacilli strains of food and human sources reverse enteropathogenic E. coli O26:H11-induced damage in intestinal epithelial cell lines: effect on redistribution of tight junction proteins.

The aim of the study was to investigate the neutralizing effect of lactobacilli isolated from indigenous food and human sources on enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) O26 : H11-induced epithelial barrier dysfunction in vitro. This was assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and permeability assays using intestinal cell lines, HT-29 and Caco-2. Furthermore, the expression and distribution of tight junction (TJ) proteins were analysed by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence assay, respectively.

Back-Bonding Signature with High Pressure: Raman Studies on Silver Nitroprusside.

In centrosymmetric molecules, like A[M(CN)] (where A is alkali metal cation), normally all stretching vibrations of cyanide (CN) shift to high frequency in response to nonhydrostatic pressure, whereas, in non-centrosymmetric molecules in which one axial CN ligand is replaced by NO ligand, one observes unusual softening of only equatorial CN stretching modes. This effect is pronounced when A is replaced by Ag with difference in coordination ability of latter, resulting in expression of characteristic signature of back-bonding. One can correlate this uneven stretching of cyanide to Poisson-like effect, where the axial Fe-N, Fe-C, and C-N stretching modes harden but the equatorial C-N stretching modes soften due to expansion at the equatorial plane.

Anthocyanin rich extract of Brassica oleracea L. alleviates experimentally induced myocardial infarction.

Cardioprotective potential of anthocyanin rich red cabbage extract (ARCE) was assessed in H2O2 treated rat neonatal cardiomyoblasts (H9c2 cells) and isoproterenol (ISO) induced rodent model of myocardial infarction. H2O2 treated H9c2 cells recorded cytotoxicity (48-50%) and apoptosis (57.3%), the same were reduced in presence of ARCE (7-10% & 12.

Tracing the Vedic Saraswati River in the Great Rann of Kachchh.

The lost Saraswati River mentioned in the ancient Indian tradition is postulated to have flown independently of the Indus River into the Arabian Sea, perhaps along courses of now defunct rivers such as Ghaggar, Hakra and Nara. The persistence of such a river during the Harappan Bronze Age and the Iron Age Vedic period is strongly debated. We drilled in the Great Rann of Kachchh (Kutch), an infilled gulf of the Arabian Sea, which must have received input from the Saraswati, if active.

Dendrimer nanohybrid carrier systems: an expanding horizon for targeted drug and gene delivery.

Highly controllable dendritic structural design means dendrimers are a leading carrier in drug delivery applications. Dendrimer- and other nanocarrier-based hybrid systems are an emerging platform in the field of drug delivery. This review is a compilation of increasing reports of dendrimer interactions, such as dendrimer-liposome, dendrimer-carbon-nanotube, among others, known as hybrid carriers.

Chitosan supramolecularly cross linked with trimesic acid - Facile synthesis, characterization and evaluation of adsorption potential for chromium(VI).

A facile synthesis of Chitosan Supramolecularly cross-linked with Trimesic Acid (CTMA) is reported in this work. The adsorption potential of CTMA for removal of hexavalent chromium was evaluated and the influence of pH, temperature, contact time and adsorbent dose on the adsorption process was investigated. The experimental results showed that CTMA could efficiently adsorb Cr and partially reduce it to the less toxic Cr state.

Differential Regulation of MeCP2 Phosphorylation by Laminin in Oligodendrocytes.

Oligodendrocytes (OLGs) are the myelinating cells of the central nervous system (CNS), and its proper differentiation is crucial for normal functioning of neurons. Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a multifunctional methylated DNA binding protein; mutation of which causes Rett syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder. Previously, we reported that MeCP2 is expressed in all the stages of oligodendrocyte development, and also shown the role of MeCP2 as a transcription regulator of myelin genes in OLGs.

MicroRNA dynamics in a wild and cultivated species of Convolvulaceae exposed to drought stress.

Agricultural productivity is severely hampered by drought in many parts of the globe. It is well-known that wild plant species can tolerate drought better when compared with their closely related cultivated plant species. Better drought adaptation of wild species over cultivated ones is accounted for their ability to differentially regulate gene expression.

How closely do many-body potentials describe the structure and dynamics of Cu-Zr glass-forming alloy?

Molecular dynamics investigations of the structure and dynamics of CuZr metallic glass-forming alloy have been carried out using five different semi-empirical, many-body interaction potentials based on the Finnis-Sinclair model [M. I. Mendelev et al.

Spectral and DFT studies of anion bound organic receptors: Time dependent studies and logic gate applications.

New colorimetric receptors and with varied positional substitution of a cyano and nitro signaling unit having a hydroxy functionality as the hydrogen bond donor site have been designed, synthesized and characterized by FTIR, H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The receptors and exhibit prominent visual response for F and AcO ions allowing the real time analysis of these ions in aqueous media. The formation of the receptor-anion complexes has been supported by UV-vis titration studies and confirmed through binding constant calculations.

Hydrophobically modified polyethylenimine-based ternary complexes for targeting brain tumor: stability, in vitro and in vivo studies.

Hydrophobic modification of low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI 2 kDa) by cholic acid (ChA) was done to obtain PEI2-ChA. The nanoplexes of PEI2-ChA with gWIZ-GFP demonstrated increase transfection efficiency (∼27%) in NT8e cell lines. The cell-cycle analysis of NT8e cells (p53 mutant) treated with transferrin containing nanoplexes showed increased apoptosis of cells.

Inhibition of Cyclooxygenase-2 Alters Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in the Regenerating Tail of Lizard .

Epimorphic regeneration in vertebrates involves the restoration of lost tissue or organs through the formation of a regeneration blastema and occurs through a complex interaction of a number of molecular signaling pathways. Of the many effectors of successful tail regeneration in the lizard , one crucial pathway is the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mediated PGE signaling pathway. The current study was aimed at understanding whether COX-2 signaling plays any role in the expression of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling components during regenerative outgrowth in .