Consumers using the Internet for insomnia information: The who,what, and why

Information obtained from the Internet often influences the treatment choices of patients with insomnia. This study explored patterns of online information seeking and utilization among patients with insomnia. A total of 1013 participants took part in an online survey about sleep health information between July 2012 and March 2013. Participants also completed the Insomnia Severity Index and the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale. The results showed that those seeking insomnia-related information resources frequently searched online, and the information found appeared to influence important health behaviors such as treatment decisions, taking medication and whether to seek professional care. Information of interest revolved around insomnia treatment options and symptomology. While no predictors for Internet use were identified, the Internet does represent an important health-care portal for insomnia patients and warrants further investigation as targeted e-health interventions become more prominent in the routine management of insomnia.

     

Polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor,toll-like receptor 2 and Toll-Like receptor 4 genes links with Dengue susceptibility

Host genetic factors are known to determine disease susceptibility in dengue virus infection. Therefore, in this study association of gene polymorphisms of Vitamin D Receptor [rs731236 (Taq) and rs7975232 (Apa1)], Toll-like receptor 2 [rs5743708 (Arg735Gln) and rs5743704 (Pro631His)] and Toll-like receptor 4 [rs4986790A/G(Asp299Gly13843) and rs4986791 C/T(Thr399Ile)] were studied in cases with dengue as compared to controls. Total 98 cases of confirmed dengue virus infection and 98 age, sex and geographically matched healthy controls were enrolled and their genetic polymorphisms for the above mentioned regions were studied by Sanger sequencing. Mutant genotypes CC of VDR rs731236 (Taq1) [(OR 3.808, p value =0.02, CI 1.160-12.498)], GG of VDR rs7975232 (Apa1) [(OR 3.485, p value =0.02, CI 1.162-10.45)] and heterozygous genotypes of TLR4 rs4986790 A/G Asp299Gly [OR 2.40, p value= 0.02, CI 1.12-5.14], TLR4 rs4986791 C/T Thr399Ile [OR 2.09, p value=0.02, CI 1.12-5.14] were found to be significantly more in cases with dengue virus infection as compared to the controls. Also, at these positions mutant alleles were observed in significantly higher number of cases than controls. The values for C allele at VDR rs731236 (Taq1) were OR 1.86, p value 0.009, CI 1.162-3.001; for allele G at rs7975232( Apa1) were OR 2.71, p value 0.006, CI 1.196-2.98 for allele G at TLR4s rs4986790 A/G Asp299Gly were OR 2.35, p value 0.009, CI 1.23-4.50 and for allele T at rs4986791 C/T Thr399Ile were OR 2.36, p value=0.006, CI 1.28-4.38. VDR and TLR4 but not TLR2 gene polymorphisms were found to be associated with dengue susceptibility in Indian population.     

Uterovaginal packing with rolled gauze in postpartum hemorrhage

Management options for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) include oxytocics, prostaglandins, genital tract exploration, ligation or angiographic embolization of uterine/internal iliac arteries, and hysterectomy. After excluding uterine rupture, genital tract lacerations, and retained placental tissue, efforts are directed toward contracting the uterus by bimanual compression and oxytocics. If these are not successful, one must resort to surgical techniques. At this stage, an alternative option to remember is uterovaginal packing. Easy and quick to perform, it may be used to control bleeding by tamponade effect and stabilize the patient until a surgical procedure is arranged. Uterovaginal packing may sometimes obviate the need for surgery altogether. Two cases, a primary and a secondary PPH, managed recently with uterovaginal packing are reported. Despite concerns about concealed hemorrhage or the development of infection with this intervention, none of these problems were encountered, and uterine packing was successful even in the case of secondary PPH with documented infection.     

Field performance of bacterial inoculants to alleviate water stress effects in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Plant and Soil - Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) containing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase can play an important role in abiotic stress tolerance in plants, particularly...     

Microtubule stability, Golgi organization, and transport flux require dystonin-a2-MAP1B interaction

Loss of function of dystonin cytoskeletal linker proteins causes neurodegeneration in dystonia musculorum (dt) mutant mice. Although much investigation has focused on understanding dt pathology, the diverse cellular functions of dystonin isoforms remain poorly characterized. In this paper, we highlight novel functions of the dystonin-a2 isoform in mediating microtubule (MT) stability, Golgi organization, and flux through the secretory pathway. Using dystonin mutant mice combined with isoform-specific loss-of-function analysis, we found dystonin-a2 bound to MT-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) in the centrosomal region, where it maintained MT acetylation. In dt neurons, absence of the MAP1B-dystonin-a2 interaction resulted in altered MAP1B perikaryal localization, leading to MT deacetylation and instability. Deacetylated MT accumulation resulted in Golgi fragmentation and prevented anterograde trafficking via motor proteins. Maintenance of MT acetylation through trichostatin A administration or MAP1B overexpression mitigated the observed defect. These cellular aberrations are apparent in prephenotype dorsal root ganglia and primary sensory neurons from dt mice, suggesting they are causal in the disorder.     

Galectin-9: From cell biology to complex disease dynamics

Galectins is a family of non-classically secreted, β-galactoside-binding proteins that has recently received considerable attention in the spatio-temporal regulation of surface ‘signal lattice’ organization, membrane dynamics, cell-adhesion and disease therapeutics. Galectin-9 is a unique member of this family, with two non-homologous carbohydrate recognition domains joined by a linker peptide sequence of variable lengths, generating isoforms with distinct properties and functions in both physiological and pathological settings, such as during development, immune reaction, neoplastic transformations and metastasis. In this review, we summarize the latest knowledge on the structure, receptors, cellular targets, trafficking pathways and functional properties of galectin-9 and discuss how galectin-9-mediated signalling cascades can be exploited in cancers and immunotherapies.     

Metal ion mediated imprinting for electrochemical enantioselective sensing of L-histidine at trace level

Enantioselective trace level sensing of l-histidine (limit of detection, 1.980 ngm L(-1), S/N=3) was feasible with the use of a typical, reproducible, and rugged complex imprinted polymer-based pencil graphite electrode, in aqueous samples. In the present instance, the Cu(2+) ion-mediated imprinting of l-histidine in an molecularly imprinted polymer motif actually helped upbringing electrocatalytic activity to respond an enhanced differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetric oxidation peak of l-histidine, without any cross-reactivity and false-positive, in real samples. The proposed sensor could be considered suitable for the practical applications in biomarking histedinemia, a disease associated with L-histidine metabolic disorders, in clinical settings.     

Conservation, variability and the modeling of active protein kinases

The human proteome is rich with protein kinases, and this richness has made the kinase of crucial importance in initiating and maintaining cell behavior. Elucidating cell signaling networks and manipulating their components to understand and alter behavior require well designed inhibitors. These inhibitors are needed in culture to cause and study network perturbations, and the same compounds can be used as drugs to treat disease. Understanding the structural biology of protein kinases in detail, including their commonalities, differences and modes of substrate interaction, is necessary for designing high quality inhibitors that will be of true use for cell biology and disease therapy. To this end, we here report on a structural analysis of all available active-conformation protein kinases, discussing residue conservation, the novel features of such conservation, unique properties of atypical kinases and variability in the context of substrate binding. We also demonstrate how this information can be used for structure prediction. Our findings will be of use not only in understanding protein kinase function and evolution, but they highlight the flaws inherent in kinase drug design as commonly practiced and dictate an appropriate strategy for the sophisticated design of specific inhibitors for use in the laboratory and disease therapy.