Analyzing resistance pattern of non-small cell lung cancer to crizotinib using molecular dynamic approaches.

Crizotinib is the potential anticancer drug used for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) approved by FDA in 2011. The main target for the crizotinib is anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). Evidences available indicate that double mutant ALK (L1196M and G1269A) confers resistance to crizotinib. However, how mutation confers drug resistance is not well-understood. Hence, in the present study, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation approach was employed to study the impact of crizotinib binding efficacy with ALK structures at a molecular level. Docking results indicated that ALK double mutant (L1196M and G1269A) significantly affected the binding affinity for crizotinib. Furthermore, MD studies revealed that mutant ALK-crizotinib complex showed higher deviation, higher fluctuation and decreased number of intermolecular H-bonds, when compared to the native ALK-crizotinib complex. These results may be immense importance for the molecular level understanding of the crizotinib resistance pattern and also for designing potential drug molecule for the treatment of lung cancer.

Assessing effect of climate on the incidence of dengue in Tamil Nadu.

Incidence of dengue is reported to be influenced by climatic factors. The objective of this study is to assess the association of local climate with dengue incidence, in two geographically distinct districts in Tamil Nadu. The study uses climate data, rainfall and mean maximum and minimum temperature to assess its association if any, with dengue incidence in two districts of Tamil Nadu, South India. According to this study while precipitation levels have an effect on dengue incidence in Tamil Nadu, non-climatic factors such as presence of breeding sites, vector control and surveillance are important issues that need to be addressed.

Molecular interactions and excess thermodynamic properties of mixed solutions of zinc sulphate and zinc nitrate at 303K by ultrasonic method.

The ultrasonic velocity, density and viscosity were measured in aqueous mixtures of zinc sulphate (Heptahydrate) and zinc nitrate (Hexahydrate) at 308 K. Acoustic parameters, such as specific acoustic impedance, free length, isotropic compressibility, molar compressibility, molar sound velocity, free volume, available volume, relaxation time, excess parameters and the deviation from the experimental values has been evaluated. The value of ultrasonic velocity decreases and comes to a minimum and then increases as the mole fraction of zinc nitrate increases in the mixed salt solution. The excess adiabatic compressibility of zinc sulphate and zinc nitrate mixed solution with water was positive at all concentrations, while it is negative at a mole fraction of 0.7945. Variation of these parameters with concentration indicates the non-linear behavior. This non-linear variation of velocity with increase in concentration indicates the complex formation between the constituents of mixture. The results were interpreted as per the intermolecular interactions.

Kangaroo Mother Care in very low birth weight infants.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted (i) to study through a randomized control trial the effect of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) on breast feeding rates, weight gain and length of hospitalization of very low birth neonates and (ii) to assess the acceptability of Kangaroo Mother Care by nurses and mothers. METHODS: Babies whose birth weight was less than 1500 Grams were included in the study once they were stable. The effect of Kangaroo Mother Care on breast feeding rates, weight gain and length of hospitalization of very low birth weight neonates was studied through a randomized control trial in 28 neonates. The Kangaroo group (n = 14) was subjected to Kangaroo Mother Care of at least 4 hours per day in not more than 3 sittings. The babies received Kangaroo Care after shifting out from NICU and at home. The control group (n = 14) received only standard care (incubator or open care system). Attitude of mothers and nurses towards KMC was assessed on Day 3 +/- 1 and on day 7 +/- 1 after starting Kangaroo Care in a questionnaire using Likert's scale. RESULTS: The results of the clinical trial reveal that the neonates in the KMC group demonstrated better weight gain after the first week of life (15.9 +/- 4.5 gm/day vs. 10.6 +/- 4.5 gm/day in the KMC group and control group respectively p < 0.05) and earlier hospital discharge (27.2 +/- 7 vs. 34.6 +/- 7 days in KMC and control group respectively, p < 0.05). The number of mothers exclusively breastfeeding their babies at 6 week follow-up was double in the KMC group than in the control group (12/14 vs. 6/14) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: KMC managed babies had better weight gain, earlier hospital discharge and, more impressively, higher exclusive breast-feeding rates. KMC is an excellent adjunct to the routine preterm care in a nursery.

Nuclear magnetic resonance and thermal studies of drug doped dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline-H2O systems.

The influence of the sulfone drugs, diamino diphenyl sulfone and diamino monophenyl sulfone on the phase transitions and dynamics of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline-H2O/D2O vesicles have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance. Our results show that diamino diphenyl sulfone interacts quite strongly with the headgroups of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline whereas the diamino monophenyl sulfone-dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline interaction is quite weak. This is attributed to the difference in the structure and hydrophobic character of the two drugs.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa in Malaysia--any change?

The prevalence rate of 749 cases of oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) recorded between 1978-1984 was studied. Results showed that the Indians formed the dominant group (63.8%) followed by the Malays (19.6%) and Chinese (16.6%). The peak incidences were generally located between the sixth and eighth decades. Only in the Chinese group a male preponderance was noted. In the Indians, the buccal mucosa was the most prevalent site; in the Malays and Chinese males, the gingiva and alveolus; and the Chinese female, the tongue. In all three groups, the well-differentiated SCC was the commonest type and the poorly differentiated least common.