Involvement of potassium channels in hypoglycemic effect of sertraline

Effect of 21 days administration of sertraline (30 mg/kg, po) in streptozotocin (55 mg/kg, ip) induced diabetic and non-diabetic rats produced hypoglycemia in diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Pinacidil (1mg/kg, po), when co-administered with sertraline or glimepiride antagonized the decrease in glucose levels in diabetic rats. Pinacidil (10(-6)-10(-3) M) produced dose dependent relaxation (EC50-1.58 x 10(-5) M). Neither sertraline nor glimepiride had any effect on the resting tension of ileum preparation. Both sertraline and glimepiride antagonized competitively the pinacidil-induced relaxation. The pA2 values of sertraline and glimepiride reversal of pinacidil-induced relaxation were 5.5 and 6.2 respectively. These studies suggest the involvement of K+ channels in hypoglyceimic effects of sertraline.     

Cellulose-Based Matrix Microspheres of Prednisolone Inclusion Complex: Preparation and Characterization

The purpose of the present investigation was to encapsulate pure prednisolone (PRD) and PRD–hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) complex in cellulose-based matrix microspheres. The system simultaneously exploits complexation technique to enhance the solubility of low-solubility drug (pure PRD) and subsequent modulation of drug release from microspheres (MIC) at a predetermined time. The microspheres of various compositions were prepared by an oil-in-oil emulsion–solvent evaporation method. The effect of complexation and presence of cellulose polymers on entrapment efficiency, particle size, and drug release had been investigated. The solid-state characterization was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X-ray diffractometry. The morphology of MIC was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The in vitro drug release profiles from these microspheres showed the desired biphasic release behavior. After enhancing the solubility of prednisolone by inclusion into HPβCD, the drug release was easily modified in the microsphere formulation. It was also demonstrated that the CDs in these microspheres were able to modulate several properties such as morphology, drug loading, and release properties. The release kinetics of prednisolone from microspheres followed quasi-Fickian and first-order release mechanisms. In addition to this, the f ₂-metric technique was used to check the equivalency of dissolution profiles of the optimized formulation before and after stability studies, and it was found to be similar. A good outcome, matrix microspheres (coded as MIC5) containing PRD–HPβCD complex, showed sustained release of drug (95.81%) over a period of 24 h.     

Plant growth regulators ameliorate the ill effect of salt stress through improved growth,photosynthesis, antioxidant system,yield and quality attributes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mentha piperita</Emphasis> L.

The roles of plant growth regulators (PGRs) in plants are well documented. However, there is a little information regarding their roles in alleviating salt stress in plants, particularly peppermint. This necessitated the evaluation of the efficiency of three selected PGRs in counteracting the ill effect of salt stress by conducting a pot experiment on peppermint (Lamiaceae). Three uniform size suckers were transplanted in each pot containing proper nutrients. Thirty day old plants were subjected to 4 levels of salinity, viz. 0, 50, 100 or 150 mM NaCl. Salt stress was given at 30 days after their transplantation (DAT). Plants were sprayed twice, i.e., at 60 and 75 DAT with 10^?6 M each of gibberellic acid (GA₃), salicylic acid (SA) or triacontanol (Tria). The sampling was made at 100 DAT and harvesting at 120 DAT. The graded levels of salinity decreased growth, photosynthesis, carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity, NPK content, peltate glandular trichome (PGT) density, essential oil (EO) and menthol content and herb, EO and menthol yield, but increased catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and proline content linearly. Spray of PGRs particularly SA improved all parameters under both salt and salt free conditions. The maximum values for yields of herb, EO and menthol were noted with 0 mM NaCl?×?SA. However, antioxidants, proline content, PGT density and EO content were found to be maximum with 150 mM NaCl?×?SA.     

Phytoremediation of iron from red soil of tropical region by using Centella asiatica

The accumulation and removal efficiency of Fe by Centella asiatica was carried out at various Fe concentrations in soil treatments (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg Fe/kg soil). Iron accumulation in different parts of C. asiatica (leaf, stem and root) was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Factorial experiment with a completely randomized design and Duncan's test were used for data analyses. The results revealed that C. asiatica have the ability to uptake and accumulate Fe significantly (p < 0.05; r = 0.977) in the aerial parts. The different soil treatments had significant effect on the total Fe accumulations in C. asiatica (p < 0.05). The potential of C. asiatica as a metal hyperaccumulator plant, harvested for analysis, shows efficient accumulation of Fe at high concentration (p < 0.05; r = 0.977). The root showed the highest accumulation of Fe followed by the leaves (p < 0.05) and the stem (p < 0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficient between leaves and root have showed highly significant correlation (p < 0.01; r = 0.785) as compared to the leaves and stem (p < 0.01; r = 0.780). The efficiency of Fe removal by C. asiatica from the contaminated soil has been evaluated by bioconcentration factor and translocation factor, found to be >1 and <1, respectively, further supporting its metal hyperaccumulator properties.     

Identification of QTLs for some agronomic traits in rice using an introgression line from Oryza minuta

Wild progenitor species provide potential gene sources for complex traits such as yield and multiple resistances to biotic and abiotic stresses, and thus are expected to contribute to sustainable food supplies. An introgression line 'IR71033-121-15' was derived from a wild species Oryza minuta (2n = 48, BBCC, Acc No. 101141) at IRRI. Introgression analysis using 530 SSR and STS markers revealed that at least 14 chromosomal segments distributed over 12 chromosomes had been introgressed from O. minuta. An F2:3 population from the cross between IR71033 and Junambyeo (a Korean japonica cultivar) consisting of 146 lines was used for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of 16 agronomic traits. A total of 36 single-locus QTLs (S-QTLs) and 45 digenic epistasis (E-QTLs) were identified. In spite of it's inferiority of O. minuta for most of the traits studied, its alleles contributed positively to 57% of the QTLs. The other QTLs originated from either parent, IR71033 or Junambyeo. QTLs for phenotypically correlated traits were mostly detected on introgressed segments. Fourteen QTLs corresponded to QTLs reported earlier, indicating that these QTLs are stable across genetic backgrounds. Twenty-two QTLs controlling yield and its components had not been detected in previous QTL studies. Of these, thirteen consisted of potentially novel alleles from O. minuta. QTLs from O. minuta introgression could be new sources of natural variation for the genetic improvement of rice.     

Typhoid Fever in Young Children in Bangladesh: Clinical Findings,Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern and Immune Responses

Background

Children bear a large burden of typhoid fever caused by Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (S. Typhi) in endemic areas. However, immune responses and clinical findings in children are not well defined. Here, we describe clinical and immunological characteristics of young children with S. Typhi bacteremia, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolated strains.

Methods

As a marker of recent infection, we have previously characterized antibody-in-lymphocyte secretion (TPTest) during acute typhoid fever in adults. We similarly assessed membrane preparation (MP) IgA responses in young children at clinical presentation, and then 7-10 days and 21-28 days later. We also assessed plasma IgA, IgG and IgM responses and T cell proliferation responses to MP at these time points. We compared responses in young children (1-5 years) with those seen in older children (6-17 years), adults (18-59 years), and age-matched healthy controls.

Principal Findings

We found that, compared to age-matched controls patients in all age cohorts had significantly more MP-IgA responses in lymphocyte secretion at clinical presentation, and the values fell in all groups by late convalescence. Similarly, plasma IgA responses in patients were elevated at presentation compared to controls, with acute and convalescent IgA and IgG responses being highest in adults. T cell proliferative responses increased in all age cohorts by late convalescence. Clinical characteristics were similar in all age cohorts, although younger children were more likely to present with loss of appetite, less likely to complain of headache compared to older cohorts, and adults were more likely to have ingested antibiotics. Multi-drug resistant strains were present in approximately 15% of each age cohort, and 97% strains had resistance to nalidixic acid.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that S. Typhi bacteremia is associated with comparable clinical courses, immunologic responses in various age cohorts, including in young children, and that TPTest can be used as marker of recent typhoid fever, even in young children.     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis class II apurinic/apyrimidinic‐endonuclease/3′‐5′ exonuclease III exhibits DNA regulated modes of interaction with the sliding DNA β‐clamp

The class‐II AP‐endonuclease (XthA) acts on abasic sites of damaged DNA in bacterial base excision repair. We identified that the sliding DNA β‐clamp forms in vivo and in vitro complexes with XthA in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A novel ₂₃₉QLRFPKK₂₄₅ motif in the DNA‐binding domain of XthA was found to be important for the interactions. Likewise, the peptide binding‐groove (PBG) and the C‐terminal of β‐clamp located on different domains interact with XthA. The β‐clamp‐XthA complex can be disrupted by clamp binding peptides and also by a specific bacterial clamp inhibitor that binds at the PBG. We also identified that β‐clamp stimulates the activities of XthA primarily by increasing its affinity for the substrate and its processivity. Additionally, loading of the β‐clamp onto DNA is required for activity stimulation. A reduction in XthA activity stimulation was observed in the presence of β‐clamp binding peptides supporting that direct interactions between the proteins are necessary to cause stimulation. Finally, we found that in the absence of DNA, the PBG located on the second domain of the β‐clamp is important for interactions with XthA, while the C‐terminal domain predominantly mediates functional interactions in the substrate's presence.     

Zinc supplementation in children with cholera in Bangladesh: randomised controlled trial

Objective To investigate the impact of zinc supplementation in children with cholera.Design Double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial.Setting Dhaka Hospital, Bangladesh.Participants 179 children aged 3-14 years with watery diarrhoea and stool dark field examination positive for Vibrio cholerae and confirmed by stool culture.Intervention Children were randomised to receive 30 mg elemental zinc per day (n=90) or placebo (n=89) until recovery. All children received erythromycin suspension orally in a dose of 12.5 mg/kg every six hours for three days.Main outcome measures Duration of diarrhoea and stool output.Results 82 children in each group completed the study. More patients in the zinc group than in the control group recovered by two days (49% v 32%, P=0.032) and by three days (81% v 68%, P=0.03). Zinc supplemented patients had 12% shorter duration of diarrhoea than control patients (64.1 v 72.8 h, P=0.028) and 11% less stool output (1.6 v 1.8 kg/day, P=0.039).Conclusion Zinc supplementation significantly reduced the duration of diarrhoea and stool output in children with cholera. Children with cholera should be supplemented with zinc to reduce its duration and severity.Trial registration Clinical trials {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00226616","term_id":"NCT00226616"}}NCT00226616.     

Inhibitory effect of naked neural BC1 RNA or BC200 RNA on eukaryotic in vitro translation systems is reversed by poly(A)-binding protein (PABP)

Regulated protein biosynthesis in dendrites of neurons might be a key mechanism underlying learning and memory. Neuronal dendritic BC1 RNA and BC200 RNA and similar small untranslated RNAs inhibit protein translation in vitro systems, such as rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Likewise, co-transfection of these RNAs with reporter mRNA suppressed translation levels in HeLa cells. The oligo(A)-rich region of all active small RNAs were identified as the RNA domains chiefly responsible for the inhibitory effects. Addition of recombinant human poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) significantly compensated the inhibitory effect of the small oligo(A)-rich RNA. In vivo, all BC1 RNA appears to be complexed with PABP. Nevertheless, in the micro-environment of dendritic spines of neuronal cells, BC1 RNPs or BC200 RNPs might mediate regulatory functions by differential interactions with locally limited PABP and/or directly or indirectly, with other translation initiation factors.