Tissue distribution and antileishmanial activity of liposomised Amphotericin-B in Balb/c mice§

Antileishmanial activity and organ distribution of the antifungal drug Amphotericin-B in free and liposomised form have been studied in Balb/c mice infected withLeishmania donovani. Results indicate that Amphotericin-B in the liposomised form is significantly more active than the free form. This increase in the activity is perhaps related to the reduced drug toxicity rather than the altered drug distribution at the site of infection. CDRI communication No. 4789     

Arsenic toxicity and epimutagenecity: the new LINEage

Global methylation pattern regulates the normal functioning of a cell. Research have shown arsenic alter these methylation landscapes within the genome leading to aberrant gene expression and inducts various pathophysiological outcomes. Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1) normally remains inert due to heavy methylation of it’s promoters, time and various environmental insults, they lose these methylation signatures and begin retro-transposition that has been associated with genomic instability and cancerous outcomes. Of the various high throughput technologies available to detect global methylation profile, development of LINE-1 methylation index shall provide a cost effect-screening tool to detect epimutagenic events in the wake of toxic exposure in a large number of individuals. In the present review, we tried to discuss the state of research and whether LINE-1 methylation can be considered as a potent epigenetic signature for arsenic toxicity.     

Tumour Suppressor Mechanisms in the Control of Chromosome Stability: Insights from BRCA2

Cancer is unique amongst human diseases in that its cellular manifestations arise and evolve through the acquisition of somatic alterations in the genome. In particular, instability in the number and structure of chromosomes is a near-universal feature of the genomic alterations associated with epithelial cancers, and is triggered by the inactivation of tumour suppressor mechanisms that preserve chromosome integrity in normal cells. The nature of these mechanisms, and how their inactivation promotes carcinogenesis, remains enigmatic. I will review recent work from our laboratory on the tumour suppressor BRCA2 that addresses these issues, focusing on new insights into cancer pathogenesis and therapy that are emerging from improved understanding of the molecular basis of chromosomal instability in BRCA2-deficient cancer cells.     

Preparation of poly(l-lactide) blends and biodegradation by Lentzea waywayandensis

As a biodegradable polyester, polylactide (PLA) has applications as a packaging material, in biomedical fields and tissue engineering. With the dual aim of improving its properties and biodegradability, PLA was blended with other polymers such as gum arabic, thermoplastic starch, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol and polyhydroxy butyrate in 1:1 (w/w) by melt-blending technique. The thermal properties of the blends were compared with that of unblended PLA by thermo-gravimetric analysis. Biodegradation using Lentzea waywayandensis was in the order of PLA–gum arabic?>?PLA–thermoplastic starch?>?PLA(virgin)?>?PLA–microcrystalline cellulose?>?PLA–polyethylene glycol?>?PLA–polyhydroxy butyrate. Weight loss of 99?% (w/w) was noted within 4?days for PLA–thermoplastic starch and PLA-gum arabic blends.     

Gelatin interpenetration in poly N-isopropylacrylamide network reduces the compressive modulus of the scaffold: A property employed to mimic hepatic matrix stiffness

The progression of liver disease from normal to cirrhotic state is characterized by modulation of the stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Mimicking this modulation in vitro scaffold could provide a better insight into hepatic cell behavior. In this study, interpenetrating poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-gelatin) cryogels were synthesized in 48 different compositions to yield scaffolds of different properties. It was observed that a high concentration of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) leads to the formation of small pores while gelatin interpenetration on poly-NIPAAm framework renders porous structure. Swelling properties and porosity of the gels decreased with an increase in NIPAAm concentration owing to the increased compactness of the gels. Gelatin interpenetration relaxed the gels and enhanced these properties. An increase in gelatin concentration led to a reduction in compressive moduli indicating that gelatin interpenetration in the poly-NIPAAm network softens the cryogel. With the increase in NIPAAm concentration, the effect of gelatin interpenetration in reducing the compressive moduli expanded. The cytocompatibility studies indicated that the gels are cell-adherent and compatible with HepG2. Furthermore, biochemical and real-time polymerase chain reaction studies revealed that HepG2 and Huh-7 cells cultured on scaffolds mimicking the ECM stiffness of normal liver (1.5–2.5 kPa) exhibited optimum liver-specific functionalities. Increasing the stiffness to fibrotic (4–9 kPa) and cirrhotic (10–20 kPa) ECM decreases the functionality.     

On Two Auxiliary Variates in Ratio Method of Estimation

A ratio type estimator using two auxiliary variates is suggested which is found to be more practicable than that of AGARWAL'S (1980) estimator.     

Intrauterine Malnutrition and the Brain: Effects on Enzymes and Free Amino Acids Related to Glutamate Metabolism

Abstract: The effect of feeding pregnant rats with wheat and Bengal gram (black chick pea) diets during the later part of pregnancy on brain growth, enzymes, and free amino acids of glutamate metabolism in 1-day-old rats was investigated. These diets did not induce growth dissociation, and the body and brain weights were equally affected. The concentrations of DNA, RNA, protein, and free α-amino nitrogen in brain decreased significantly and the activities of glutamine synthetase, glutamine transferase, glutaminase 1, glutaminase 11, and glutamate decarboxylase and the concentrations of free amino acids, glutamic acid, glutamine, alanine, and GABA were also decreased. The concentration of aspartic acid, however, was increased. Wheat and Bengal gram diets fortified with lysine and with methionine, cystine, and tryptophan respectively showed various beneficial effects on the changes observed in the brain. A 20% casein diet induced higher body and brain weights and better brain protein and free α-amino nitrogen concentrations than those observed on a 10% casein diet.