Effect of ageing on some free radical scavengers and the metabolic consequences in rats

Activities of antioxidant enzymes involved oxygen free radical metabolism in the liver and lung were investigated in 2,4, and 30 months old Wistar albino rats. The levels of SOD, GSH-Px, GSH and protein-SH were decreased whereas MDA increased, in the liver as well as the lung of the old rats (30 months old) compared to the young rats (2 and 4 months old). The data suggests that the failure of the free radical protective mechanism may be one of the important contributors to the process of ageing.     

Students’ experiences of co-creating classroom instruction with faculty- a case study in eastern context

In order to co-create teaching and learning for enhanced student engagement, faculty–student partnership in higher education is emerging as a distinguished practice in the West especially for undergraduates. However, little is known about the impact of such practices in the East. This article reports the benefits of a term long collaboration between the faculty and students in designing and delivering classroom instructions through the experiences of faculty–student partnership of post graduate students. The findings indicate that while students had positive experiences, they were also distinct in a number of ways when compared with the experiences of students in the West. Students also provided insightful information on the mechanism of navigating through their newly assigned roles of partnership with their faculty. The implications are discussed for higher education practitioners and recommendations are provided for further investigation to achieve better understanding of this practice.     

Ultrasound: A boon in the synthesis of organic compounds

The use of ultrasound for promoting chemical reactions is described.     

Correlation Between Intron 4 Polymorphism of the Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene and Cardiovascular Risk with the Numbers of Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Healthy Subjects

In the present study, we investigated the relationship between an important 27 bp repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of eNOS and numbers of circulating EPCs in presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a group of healthy human volunteers. The study comprised of 45 healthy subjects (30–50 years). These subjects had various degrees of CVD risk but no history of CVD. The repeat polymorphism of eNOS was detected by polymerase chain reaction and EPC levels were analyzed by flow cytometry. We observed a good association between the intronic 4 mutant a/b genotype and the combined Framingham risk factor score in our subjects (χ² = 3.2, P = 0.07). EPC numbers in subjects with mutant eNOS a/b genotype were also less than those observed in subjects with normal eNOS b/b genotype (P = 0.06). Interestingly, subjects with eNOS a/b genotype showed a significant inverse correlation between framingham risk score and EPC numbers (R = ?0.57, P < 0.05). The study suggests that the presence of CVD risk factors in subjects with eNOS intron 4 polymorphism results in reduced number of circulating EPCs, which may significantly predispose them to CVD and aberrant endothelial repair.     

Application of Tucatinib and Trastuzumab: Dual Anti HER2 Therapy Against HER2 Positive Breast Cancer

Synergism in action of tucatinib and trastumab is reported in breast cancer management. However, its molecular basis is yet to be determined. In this context we attempted to provide an explanation at the molecular level by performing in silico experimentation and coupling its result with already available published observations. Our study will provide basis for planning further experimental study for unravelling the truth.     

“Silent Hypoxemia” Leads to Vicious Cycle of Infection,Coagulopathy and Cytokine Storm in COVID-19: Can Prophylactic Oxygen Therapy Prevent It?

Humankind is facing its worst pandemic of the twenty-first century, due to infection of a novel coronavirus named as SARS-CoV2, started from Wuhan in China. Till now, 15 million people are infected, causing more than 600,000 deaths. The disease, commonly known as, COVID-19, was initially thought to be associated with ARDS only, but later on revealed to have many unexplained and atypical clinical features like coagulopathy and cytokinemia, leading to multi-organ involvements. The patients also suffer from ‘Silent Hypoxemia’, where there is no immediate respiratory signs and symptoms even though alarmingly low SpO₂ level. We hypothesize that this covert hypoxemia may lead to molecular changes exacerbating coagulopathy and cytokine storm in COVID19 patients, which again, in turn, causes a vicious cycle of more hypoxemia/hypoxia and progression of the infection to more severe stages through HIF-1α dependent pathway. Although molecular mechanisms are yet to be substantiated by scientific evidence, hypoxemia remains an independent worsening factor in serious COVID 19 patients. Keeping all in mind, we propose that even in the early and asymptomatic cases, prophylactic oxygen therapy to be initiated to break the vicious cycle and to reduce the mortality in COVID 19 to save precious human lives.     

The Appraisement of Antioxidant and Oxidant Status in Women Undergoing Surgical Menopause

The present study was undertaken to study the impact of surgical menopause on oxidant and antioxidant status in relation to estrogen levels after 3 months of surgery. Total 130 women who had undergone total hysterectomy (TH) with or without bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) were included in this study. The oxidant status was assessed by measuring plasma levels of malondialdehyde and antioxidant status was assessed by measuring superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, estrogen, and Vitamin A, E and C levels. The malondialdehyde level was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in all women who underwent TH with or without BSO. Significant increased levels of superoxide dismutase were observed in women who underwent TH with BSO. The blood glutathione levels were significantly decreased in women after TH only but significantly increased in women who had undergone TH with BSO. The levels of estrogen, vitamin E and vitamin C were significantly decreased in women who underwent TH with BSO. The catalase, GPx and vitamin A did not differ significantly in all groups. The result suggests that surgical menopause is associated with oxidative stress which reiterates the fact that ovaries retain some function even after menopause.     

Diagnostic Value of Lactate Levels in Acute Abdomen Disorders

The supply of oxygen is limited in certain intra abdominal conditions due to direct vascular invasion or inflammatory process, resulting in high lactate levels. Aim of this study was to find the predictive value of lactate levels in the peritoneal fluid (PF) and blood of patients with acute abdomen. The study comprised of fifty patients with acute abdominal conditions, admitted in emergency ward of tertiary care hospital, thirty patients were with surgical abdomen (group I) and twenty patients with non surgical abdomen (group II). Lactate was estimated in PF and blood on Blood Gas Analyzer (NOVA, M-7). The mean lactate levels in PF were significantly higher in group I as compared to group II (14.65 ± 1.195 vs. 5.92 ± 0.97 mmol/L, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in blood lactate levels in both the groups. When PF and blood lactate levels were compared within groups, we found that PF levels were significantly higher than blood in group I (14.65 ± 1.195 vs. 3.85 ± 0.54 mmol/L, p < 0.001) but not in group II (5.92 ± 0.97 vs. 4.36 ± 0.95 mmol/L). Diagnostic value was obtained using ROC curve. Cut off values obtained for PF lactate, difference and ratio of PF and blood lactate (≥6.4 mmol/L, ≥3.3 and ≥2.1 respectively) are at very high degree of sensitivity and specificity. So it can be useful marker of surgical emergency in patients with acute intra abdominal pathology, especially in clinically ill patients or in whom physical examination is not yielding because of neurologic disorders or unresponsiveness.     

Probing transient protein-mediated DNA linkages using nanoconfinement

We present an analytic technique for probing protein-catalyzed transient DNA loops that is based on nanofluidic channels. In these nanochannels, DNA is forced in a linear configuration that makes loops appear as folds whose size can easily be quantified. Using this technique, we study the interaction between T4 DNA ligase and DNA. We find that T4 DNA ligase binding changes the physical characteristics of the DNA polymer, in particular persistence length and effective width. We find that the rate of DNA fold unrolling is significantly reduced when T4 DNA ligase and ATP are applied to bare DNA. Together with evidence of T4 DNA ligase bridging two different segments of DNA based on AFM imaging, we thus conclude that ligase can transiently stabilize folded DNA configurations by coordinating genetically distant DNA stretches.