Estimation of Toxic Metals in Scalp Hair Samples of Chronic Kidney Patients

The determination of toxic metals (TMs) in the biological samples of human beings is an important clinical screening procedure. The aim of this work is to determine total content of TMs, aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) in scalp hair samples of chronic kidney male patients (CKPs) on maintenance hemodialysis, during the period of 2005–2007. The study included 115 CKPs (all smokers) and 150 controls or referents [82 (nonsmokers) and 68 (smokers)]. Both controls and patients (males) were of the same age group (ranged 25–55 years), socioeconomic status, localities, and dietary habits. The scalp hair samples were analyzed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer, prior to microwave-induced acid digestion. The accuracy of the total Al, Cd, Ni, and Pb measurements was tested by simultaneously analyzing certified reference material (human hair NCS ZC81002). No significant differences were observed between the analytical results and the certified values (paired t test at p > 0.05). The levels of TMs in scalp hair samples of patients were found to be higher as compared to control nonsmoker and smokers. Moreover, the study shows that levels of Al, Cd, Ni, and Pb in scalp hair samples may be useful to evaluate the impact of cigarette smoking in kidney failure patients.     

Interaction of Copper with Iron, Iodine, and Thyroid Hormone Status in Goitrous Patients

In many developing countries, men and women are at high risk of goiter and iron deficiency. The aim of the recent study is to assess the interaction of (Cu), with iron (Fe), iodine/iodide (I), and thyroid hormones in goitrous patients. Sixty goitrous male (GMPs) and 72 female patients (GFPs) were evaluated for the Cu, Fe, I, and thyroid hormones status in biological samples (serum and urine), and compared to non-goitrous subjects of both genders (M?=?106, F?=?120). The biological samples were analyzed for Cu and Fe concentration using atomic absorption spectrometer, while I was measured by the potentiometric method, prior to microwave-assisted acid digestion (MD). Quality control for the method was established with certified samples. Significantly higher mean values of Cu in serum, and urine samples of GMPs and GFPs, while lower value of Fe and I were observed as compared to control subjects (p?<?0.015), respectively. The mean values of free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxin (FT4) were found to be lower in goitrous patients of both genders than in the age-matched healthy controls (p?<?0.006 and 0.002), respectively, in contrast high mean values of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were detected in patients (p?<?0.009), as compared to non-goitrous subjects. It was observed that the deficiencies of Fe, I, and thyroid hormone in goitrous patients could be influenced by efficiency of Cu.     

Enhancement in the Efficiency of Existing Oxidation Ponds by Using Aquatic Weeds at Little or No Extra Cost—The Macrophyte-Upgraded Oxidation Pond (MUOP)

All over the world, tens of thousands of oxidation ponds are in operation treating sewage and other biodegradable wastewaters. The performance of such ponds can be greatly enhanced if certain aquatic weeds are held in them. The weeds enable better treatment of wastewater in terms of greater reduction in the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorous, metals, etc., than is possible in ponds functioning without the weeds. The additional costs of this ‘upgradation’ are minimal compared to the gains, because it essentially involves introduction in the ponds of easily available plants that have no economic value. This paper presents the gist of the know-how utilizable in ‘upgrading’ existing oxidation ponds with the help of aquatic weeds but without any significant additional civil works. It also dwells upon the strategies for the management of the weeds, and their postharvest utilization.     

Novel insights on effect of atrioventricular programming of biventricular pacemaker in heart failure – a case series

Background

Echocardiography plays an integral role in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure including measurement of left heart pressure as well as mechanical dyssynchrony.

Methods

In this report we describe novel therapeutic uses of echo pulsed wave Doppler in atrioventricular pacemaker optimization in patients who had either not derived significant symptomatic benefit post biventricular pacemaker implantation or deteriorated after deriving initial benefit. In these patients atrioventricular optimization showed novel findings and improved cardiac output and symptoms.

Results

In 3 patients with Cheyne Stokes pattern of respiration echo Doppler showed worsening of mitral regurgitation during hyperpneac phase in one patient, marked E and A fusion in another patient and exaggerated ventricular interdependence in a third patient thus highlighting mechanisms of adverse effects of Cheyne Stokes respiration in patients with heart failure. All 3 patients required a very short atrioventricular delay programming for best cardiac output. In one patient with recurrent congestive heart failure post cardiac resynchronization, mitral inflow pulse wave Doppler showed no A wave until a sensed atrioventricular delay of 190 ms was reached and showed progressive improvement in mitral inflow pattern until an atrioventricular delay of 290 ms. In 2 patients atrioventricular delay as short as 50 ms was required to allow E and A separation and prevent diastolic mitral regurgitation. All patients developed marked improvement in congestive heart failure symptoms post echo-guided biv pacemaker optimization.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the value of echo-guided pacemaker optimization in symptomatic patients post cardiac resynchronization treatment.     

Design and synthesis of novel chrysene-linked pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]-benzodiazepine hybrids as potential DNA-binding agents

Chrysene-linked pyrrolobenzodiazepine hybrids have been prepared that possess cytotoxicity in some cancer cell lines. They also exhibit promising DNA-binding affinity and this is supported by molecular modeling studies.     

Response of Vigna radiata L. (Mung Bean) to Ozone Phytotoxicity Using Ethylenediurea and Magnesium Nitrate

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - The response of Vigna radiata L. (mung bean) to tropospheric ozone (O3) phytotoxicity using Ethylenediurea (EDU) and magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2,...     

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and QSAR studies of novel bisepipodophyllotoxins as cytotoxic agents

Two moieties of epipodophyllotoxin have been linked at C4-position to provide novel bisepipodophyllotoxin analogues. These have been evaluated for their anticancer potential and DNA-topoisomerase II poisoning activity. Most of these analogues have exhibited promising in vitro anticancer activity against different human tumour cell lines and interestingly 4(')-O-methylated analogues have shown increased cytotoxic activity. Similarly, the DNA-topo II poisoning activity tested for these compounds has not only exhibited the DNA cleavage potential comparable to etoposide, but for some compounds this cleavage potential is superior to etoposide. Further, an interesting structure-activity relationship of these epipodophyllotoxin dimers have been generated on the basis of GI(50) values. The equations indicated that GI(50) activity is strongly dependent on structural and thermodynamic properties. These QSAR results are discussed in conjunction with conformational analysis from molecular modelling studies. QSAR models developed in these studies will be helpful in the future to design novel potent bispodophyllotoxin analogues by minor structural modifications.     

Targeting Mcl-1 for Radiosensitization of Pancreatic Cancers

In order to identify targets whose inhibition may enhance the efficacy of chemoradiation in pancreatic cancer, we previously conducted an RNAi library screen of 8,800 genes. We identified Mcl-1 (myeloid cell leukemia-1), an anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, as a target for sensitizing pancreatic cancer cells to chemoradiation. In the present study we investigated Mcl-1 inhibition by either genetic or pharmacological approaches as a radiosensitizing strategy in pancreatic cancer cells. Mcl-1 depletion by siRNA produced significant radiosensitization in BxPC-3 and Panc-1 cells in association with Caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage, but only minimal radiosensitization in MiaPaCa-2 cells. We next tested the ability of the recently identified, selective, small molecule inhibitor of Mcl-1, UMI77, to radiosensitize in pancreatic cancer cells. UMI77 caused dissociation of Mcl-1 from the pro-apoptotic protein Bak and produced significant radiosensitization in BxPC-3 and Panc-1 cells, but minimal radiosensitization in MiaPaCa-2 cells. Radiosensitization by UMI77 was associated with Caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. Importantly, UMI77 did not radiosensitize normal small intestinal cells. In contrast, ABT-737, an established inhibitor of Bcl-2, Bcl-X_L, and Bcl-w, failed to radiosensitize pancreatic cancer cells suggesting the unique importance of Mcl-1 relative to other Bcl-2 family members to radiation survival in pancreatic cancer cells. Taken together, these results validate Mcl-1 as a target for radiosensitization of pancreatic cancer cells and demonstrate the ability of small molecules which bind the canonical BH3 groove of Mcl-1, causing displacement of Mcl-1 from Bak, to selectively radiosensitize pancreatic cancer cells.     

Interaction pattern for the complex of B-DNA Fullerene compounds with a set of known replication proteins using docking study

Fullerenes have attracted considerable attention due to their unique chemical structure and potential applications which has opened wide venues for possible human exposure to various fullerene types. Therefore, in depth knowledge of how fullerene may interfere with various cellular processes becomes quite imperative. The present study was designed to investigate how the presence of fullerene affect the binding of DNA with different enzymes involved in replication process. Different fullerenes were first docked with DNA and then binding scores of different enzymes was analyzed with fullerene docked DNA. C30, C40 & C50 once docked with DNA, reduced the binding score of primase, whereas no significant change in the binding score was observed with the helicase, ssb protein, dna pol δ, dna pol ε, ligase, DNA clamp, and topoisomerases. On the contrast, the binding score of RPA14 decreases in fluctuating manner while interacting with increasing molecular weight of fullerene bound single-stranded DNA complex. The study revealed the affect of fullerene family interacting with DNA on the binding pattern of enzymes involved in replication process. Study suggests that the presence of most of fullerenes may not affect the activity of these enzymes necessary for replication process whereas C30, C40 & C50 may disrupt the activity of primase, (strating point for DNA polymerase) its docking score decreases from 13820 to 10702.     

The impact of different plant extracts on biological parameters of Housefly [Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)]: Implications for management

Housefly is a significant domestic pest, which causes nuisance. The use of insecticides is discouraged to manage housefly; therefore, alternative management strategies are inevitable. The current study investigated the impact of different plant extracts, i.e., Moringa oleifera (moringa), Allium sativum (garlic) and Piper nigrum (black pepper) on biological parameters of house fly. Two different concentrations (i.e., 25 and 50%) of the extracts were blended in larval diet made through mixing of wheat bran, yeast and dried milk powder. The results indicated significant differences for larval duration. Maximum larval duration was recorded for garlic followed by black pepper and moringa, respectively. In case of pupal duration, non-significant differences were observed among plant extracts. Increase rate of oviposition was noticed with moringa at 25% concentration, while decreased oviposition rate was noted for garlic with 50% concentration. Egg hatching percentage remained non-significant for the botanical extracts. The highest survival was observed with moringa, while garlic resulted in the lowest survival. The highest repellency was noticed for garlic followed by black pepper, whereas moringa resulted in the lowest repellency after 30, 60 and 90 min. Prolonged developmental time was observed for bot concentrations of garlic, whereas moringa noted the shortest developmental time. Thus moringa was found to be a promoter of housefly development. Minimum adult emergence was found with both concentrations of garlic followed by 50% concentration of black pepper. The 50% concentration of black pepper promoted the population of adult males, while both concentrations of moringa and 25% concentration of black pepper encouraged the population of female adults. Study outcomes depicted that tested botanical extracts had significant potential for disturbing biological parameters of housefly. The garlic extracts can potentially be used to manage housefly. However, further investigations on the larval and adult mortality are needed.