Molecular Interaction between the Glucocorticoid Receptor and MAPK Signaling Pathway: A novel link in Modulating the Anti-inflammatory Role of Glucocorticoids.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) have a broad spectrum of life-sustaining functions and play an important role in health and diseases. At pharmacologic doses, GCs are potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agents. Inflammation and its related diseases present a huge ever increasing burden on the health and disease management. A plausible link of inflammation with aging, cardiovascular diseases and cancer makes matter even worst and calls for a better understanding to resolve the mechanisms associated with the cause and cure of inflammation. Understanding the physiological and molecular interlinks is an utmost importance in designing novel therapeutic strategies in combating inflammation. Advancement in research related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and its regulation on inflammation has open up new and promising avenues in targeting inflammation as well as understanding the anti-inflammatory property of GCs. Molecular interaction between the ligand-activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the MAPK signaling at different junctions inhibit the latter and thus may account for the anti-inflammatory role of GCs. Therapeutic application of GCs in combination with the recently added class of GR modulators having greater transrepresssion over transactivation (dissociative property) might overcome the clinical side effects associated with GCs.

Study of bio-physico-chemical parameters of Mothronwala swamp, Dehradun (Uttarakhand).

Aquatic biodiversity is one of the most essential characteristics of the aquatic ecosystem formaintaining its stability and a means of coping with any environmental change. The entire stretch of the Mothronwala swamp has rich riparian vegetation for providing conducive environment for the growth of aquatic organisms. The present work has been undertaken to study the bio-physico-chemical characteristics of the swamp. The data on physico-chemical environmental variables (temperature, total dissolved solutes, size and composition of substratum, pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity chlorides, and hardness) have been given under the present contribution. A total of 16 genera of aquatic insects belonging to orders Trichoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Ephemeroptera, Odonata and Phylum Mollusca represented the macroinvertebrates of Mothronwala swamp. The fresh water swamp of Mothronwala is under threat due to human interference and other anthropogenic activities. Some of the natural and anthropogenic environmental problems of the Mothronwala swamp have been identified and the ameliorative measures for the protection of aquatic environment and the conservation measures for the swamp have been suggested. The qualitative study revealed the present status of the aquatic biodiversity of the swamp and also about the physico-chemical parameters, which would be very helpful for policy makers to take precautionary measures to save the swamp.

Impact of Tehri Dam on aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity of Bhagirathi, Uttarakhand (India).

Aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity in the Bhagirathi river was monitored for the period of twelve months (September 2004 to August 2005) for assessing the impact of Asia's highest dam, Tehri Dam. Comparative data on diversity of macroinvertebrates revealed that the number of taxa in the downstream stretch, especially close to the dam was significantly reduced. The velocity of water current, hydromedian depth, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and the bottom substrates of the river were found drastically influenced due to the construction activities of the dam. Macroinvertebrate diversity (Shannon-Wiener Index) was altered from 3.44 to 1.98. The members of ephemeroptera and trichoptera were drastically influenced in comparison to other macroinvertebrates.

Cutaneous sarcoidosis: clinical profile of 23 Indian patients.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease of undetermined etiology. Indian studies on cutaneous sarcoidosis are not many and mainly comprise case reports. AIMS: This retrospective study was carried out to assess the clinical profile of sarcoidosis patients presenting with cutaneous lesions. METHODS: All histopathologically proven cases of cutaneous sarcoidosis seen consecutively between 1999 and 2004 were studied. Their age, sex, presenting features, evolution of disease and laboratory parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients (F:M 15:8) between 31 to 78 years (mean 44.3 years) of age had the mean duration of skin lesions of 1.4 years. Six patients had one to four lesions; two patients each had scar sarcoidosis and angiolupoid and one patient each had recurrent erythema nodosum, leg lymphedema and subcutaneous sarcoidosis. Others showed combination of papules, nodules, plaques and psoriasiform lesions. Peripheral lymph nodes were involved in two patients. Among 10 patients of pulmonary involvement, three had become symptomatic four months to four years after the cutaneous lesions. Routine laboratory investigations including serum calcium estimation were normal in all cases. Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme levels were raised in 3 out of 6 patients. Asymptomatic lytic lesions of digital bones were detected in hand X-ray of one patient. CONCLUSION: Skin lesions of sarcoidosis are like the tip of an iceberg indicating more changes in other organs. The symptomatology and abnormal laboratory results do not necessarily correlate with the severity of cutaneous involvement in general.

Behcet's disease with HIV infection: response to antiretroviral therapy.

The differential diagnosis of oral ulcerations in a patient with AIDS/HIV infection is often challenging to the clinician. While old diseases have appeared in a new garb, many new ones are also being recognized. The association of Behetaet's disease and AIDS/HIV infection has been recently recognized. We present an HIV-positive patient having oro-genital aphthosis conforming to the diagnostic criteria for Behetaet's disease. Erythema nodosum, periphlebitis, erythematous papulopustular lesions, half and half nails, ocular congestion, raised ESR and dimorphic anemia were some other features present. He had low CD4+/CD8+ counts. He had no other HIV-related disease. He responded well to triple anti-retroviral treatment alone. The possible pathomechanism of the occurrence of both diseases is also discussed.

Characterization and management of municipal solid waste of Srinagar-Garhwal.

Characterization and physico-chemical composition of municipal solid waste of Srinagar-Garhwal, a hill town of Uttaranchal were carried out to know the composition of solid waste for its efficient management. A total of 28,56,500 kg (2,856.5 tonnes) of solid waste was produced per annum. A disposal site away from the open bank of Alaknanda has been suggested. 1,500 m3 volume of land will be required for the land filling of half of the solid waste generated in Srinagar town. In addition to it, 60 numbers of trenches (size 10 m x 3 m x 1 m) with clear spacing of 2.0 m will be required for the composting of remaining half of the solid waste. A list of suggestions has also been made for reducing the waste generation at source.

Lattissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap in management of advanced cancer breast

To determine the effectiveness of the use of lattissimus dorsi muscle in management of advanced cancer breast. Plastic surgery service, Surgical Department, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain. Review of all cases of advanced cancer of breast necessitating use of flaps for coverage of skin defect after or management of advanced cancer breast. The flaps survived completely in all the 8 patients. Lattissimus dorsi is a very useful flap in management of advanced cancer breast cases