Antiulcerogenic and anti-inflammatory effects of emodin, isolated from Rhamnus triquerta wall

Emodin, an anthraquinone derivative, isolated from the whole plant of R. triquerta, in 15 mg/kg dose (ip) exhibited anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenin-induced pedal inflammation in rats. In the same dosage it also showed antiulcer activity against 4 hr pylorus-ligated, aspirin and immobilization stress-induced gastric ulcers in rats. It decreased acid and pepsin output and augmented mucus secretion in terms of total carbohydrate: protein ratio in the gastric juice of aspirin treated pylorus-ligated rats, indicating that the antiulcerogenic effect of emodin may be due to its effect on gastric secretion.     

Development of thermotolerance in Neurospora crassa by heat shock and other stresses eliciting peroxidase induction.

Hyperthermia, CdCl2, sodium arsenite, and H2O2 led to the rapid appearance of high levels of peroxidase in Neurospora crassa cultures and induced tolerance toward normally lethal temperatures in 60-h-old colonies. Intracellular superoxide dismutase levels did not correlate with the development of thermotolerance.     

On the computation of the tertiary structure of globular proteins. III. Inter-residue distances and computed structures

An analysis of geometrical models for computing the tertiary structure of globular proteins from the primary structure is presented. The roles of initial configuration, input information on inter-residue distances and the errors in this information are delineated. It is shown that for local information like that on secondary structure, the calculated structure is very sensitive to errors and to the initial configuration. Thus, such information is far from adequate for predicting the tertiary structure. On the other hand, global information on all the inter-residue distances is quite insensitive to errors. A semi-empirical method is presented to estimate these distances and the calculated structures are given for two proteins—pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and parvalbumin. These structures have good resemblances to those determined by X-ray diffraction. A strategy for further refinement of the method is indicated.     

Computer simulation of cellular movements: cell-sorting, cellular migration through a mass of cells and contact inhibition

The motility rules for cellular movement proposed earlier by Goel &; Rogers for engulfment of two or more intact embryonic tissues have been used to simulate on a computer the phenomena of cell-sorting, migration of individual cells through a mass of cells and contact inhibition of overlapping. These simulations in the most part are found to be consistent with the observations with real cells.     

Molecular characterization of Vibrio cholerae outbreak strains with altered El Tor biotype from southern India

Forty-four Vibrio cholerae isolates collected over a 7-month period in Chennai, India in 2004 were characterized for gene traits, antimicrobial susceptibility and genomic fingerprints. All 44 isolates were identified as O1 El Tor Ogawa, positive for various toxigenic and pathogenic genes viz. ace, ctxB, hlyA, ompU, ompW, rfbO1, rtx, tcpA, toxR and zot. Nucleotide sequencing revealed the presence of cholera toxin B of classical biotype in all the El Tor isolates, suggesting infection of isolates by classical CTXΦ. Antibiogram analysis showed a broad-spectrum antibiotic resistance that was also confirmed by the presence of resistant genes in the genomes. All isolates contained a class 1 integron and an SXT constin. However, isolates were sensitive to chloramphenicol and tested negative for the chloramphenicol resistant gene suggesting a deletion in SXT constin. Fingerprinting analysis of isolates by ERIC- and Box PCR revealed similar DNA patterns indicating the clonal dissemination of a single predominant V. cholerae O1 strain throughout the 2004 outbreak in Chennai.     

Age as a factor in induction of systemic acquired resistance in tomato against bacterial speck by aqueous fruit extracts of Azadirachta indica

In the present study, the effect of aqueous fruit extracts of Azadirachta indica on activity of Peroxidase (POX) at different ages of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) leading to induction of systemic resistance against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato was evaluated. For this evaluation, four ages, that is, 6, 8, 10 and 12?weeks of plants were selected. A single leaf at the third node from base of each plant was treated either singly or with different combinations of Neem extract and pathogen. Samples were collected at an interval of 24?h for up to five days and after two weeks of the treatment from both treated and untreated nodes. The change in the activity of defence enzyme POX and expression of its isoforms was studied. The results demonstrate that systemic acquired resistance induced by the Neem fruit extract increases as the plant matures but it is not only the limiting factor.     

Characterization of extracellular vesicle miRNA identified in peripheral blood of chronic pancreatitis patients

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Plasma-derived extracellular vesicles (EV) can serve as markers of cell damage/disease but can also have therapeutic utility depending on the nature of their...