TP53 Pro47Ser and Arg72Pro polymorphisms and colorectal cancer predisposition in an ethnic Kashmiri population.

Two TP53 gene polymorphisms at codon 47 (TP53 Pro47Ser) and at codon 72 (TP53 Arg72Pro) have been associated with susceptibility to various cancers. We carried out a case-control study and examined the genotype distribution of TP53 Pro47Ser and Arg72Pro single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), using a PCR-RFLP approach, to determine if these two SNPs are risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC) development and to look for a possible correlation of these two SNPs with clinicopathological variables of CRC. We investigated the genotype distribution of these SNPs in 86 CRC cases in comparison with 160 healthy subjects in an ethnic Kashmiri population. TP53 Arg72Pro SNP genotype frequencies differed significantly (P = 0.000001) between the groups; the frequency of the Pro/Pro mutant was almost 20% in the general population. We also found significant association of the Pro/Pro mutant with tumor location, nodal status/higher tumor grade and bleeding per rectum/constipation. We conclude that Arg72Pro SNP is associated with susceptibility to developing CRC in this ethnic Kashmiri population.

Chemotherapy of leishmaniasis. Part VII: synthesis and bioevaluation of substituted terpenyl pyrimidines.

Some novel 4-N-substituted terpenyl pyrimidines 5(a-d) and 7(a-g) have been synthesized using novel synthetic methods. The compounds were screened for in vivo antileishmanial screening. When compared to 4-thiomethoxy substituted pyrimidine 2 4-N-substituted terpenyl pyrimidines 5(a-d) and 7(a-g) were found inactive.

Characterization of two epimers, 4alpha and 4beta, of a novel podophyllotoxin-4-O-(D)-6-acetylglucopyranoside from Podophyllum hexandrum by LC-ESI-MS-MS.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection interfaced to electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS) is applied to identify the two epimers of a novel and minor constituent, podophyllotoxin-4-O-(D)-6-acetylglucopyraniside from high-altitude Podophyllum hexandrum for the first time. This is done by matching the structural information from the tandem MS data with the reported lignan markers. The results show that LC-MS-MS is the method of choice for fast detection and detailed chemical analysis of mixtures in the crude extracts of Podophyllum. The method can be employed in the absence of reference standards for the markers and is particularly useful in view of the scarcity of these rare chemical standards.

Isolation, characterization and biological evaluation of datura lactones as potential immunomodulators.

Phytochemical investigation of Datura quercifolia (Solanaceae) plant yielded a new datura lactone, 1beta,5alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy-6alpha,7alpha,24alpha,25alpha-diepoxy-20S,22R with-2-enolide (1), along with two known compounds, 2 and 3. The structure of 1 was established on the basis of spectral analysis, as well as by its chemical transformation into known datura lactones. These compounds have been evaluated for immunomodulatory activity by observing their effect on antibody production, T-cell and B-cell activation, and cytokine production from splenocytes. Compound 2 was found to be the most promising immunostimulator in the present study.

Separation of 9-methoxycamptothecin and camptothecin from Nothapodytes foetida by semipreparative HPLC.

The present work describes the isolation of camptothecin and 9-methoxycamptothecin from the aerial parts of Nothapodytes foetida by semipreparative high-performance liquid chromatography because the separation of compounds by conventional procedures is tedious and cumbersome. The purity of the isolates is determined by physicochemical data and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of chalcones and their derived pyrazoles as potential cytotoxic agents.

A series of substituted chalcones and their corresponding pyrazoles were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines. Out of 93 compounds screened, 8 compounds, 1s, 3i,j,n, 4i,j,n and 4s, showed marked activity. Compounds 4j,n and 4s were found to be the most promising in this study. SAR is also discussed.

X-linked myotubular myopathy with probable germline mosaicism.

X-linked myotubular myopathy is a disorder characterized by severe neonatal hypotonia and respiratory insufficiency. The mutation of MTMI gene results in a defective production of myotubularin, which is responsible for the maturational arrest of muscle development. An identical mutation in the carrier mother and the diseased child establishes the inheritance. We report the disease in a neonate with a mutation on exon 6 of the MTMI gene. Surprisingly, the mother was healthy and did not carry this mutation, she is likely to have germline mosaicism.

Collision-induced dissociation of MCl(+) adducts (M = Mg, Mn, Zn, Co, Ni and Cu) and Cu(+) and Ag(+) adducts of dithioalkyl ketene acetals.

Electrospray ionization mass spectra of equimolar solutions of dithioalkyl ketene acetals 1 and 2 and metal chlorides (MgCl(2), MnCl(2), ZnCl(2), CoCl(2), NiCl(2) and CuCl(2)) produced abundant ligated metal ion adducts [1 + MCl](+) and [2 + MCl](+). In addition, CuCl(2) also gave rise to Cu(+) adducts. The ligated metal ion adducts upon collision-induced dissociation (CID) showed characteristic fragmentation pathways reflecting the favoured site of coordination. The results show that MgCl(+) prefers oxygen over sulfur, whereas the reverse is true for ZnCl(+) adducts, exemplified by the preferred fragmentation of [1 + MgCl](+) as elimination of MgCl(OH), while that of [1 + ZnCl](+) is expulsion of ZnCl(SCH(3)). Co and Ni chloride adducts tend to give stable metal coordinated species. Cleavage of the dithiolane ring followed by elimination of C(2)H(4)S is the preferred pathway during the CID of [2 + MCl](+) adducts. The CuCl(+) adducts of 1 and 2 showed reduction of Cu((I)) to Cu((0)) resulting in the M(+)(*)ions of 1 and 2. Abstraction of *CH(3) resulting in elimination of CuCH(3) was observed during CID of Cu(+) adducts of 1 and 2. A comparative study of the corresponding Ag(+) adducts revealed a similar behaviour.

Effects of human milk fortification on morbidity factors in very low birth weights infants.

BACKGROUND: The use of human milk as a sole source of nutrients for preterm infants has been the subject of debate in recent years. We studied the morbidity factors associated with hospitalization of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants fed human milk with and without fortification. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred VLBW infants were randomly assigned to two groups with stratification for gestation and weight. The control group (n=50; mean birth weight 1239+/-186 g and mean gestation 29.3+/-2.1 wks) was fed human milk only, and in the fortifier group (n=50; mean birth weight 1245+/-191 g and mean gestation 29.5+/-2.1 wks), human milk was enriched with a fortifier after the babies reached a volume of 140 mL/kg/day by the enteral route. Weight was measured twice weekly, biochemical indices of nutritional and bone status and serum electrolytes were obtained weekly, and clinical evidence for sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis and feeding intolerance was assessed regularly until infants were discharged. RESULT: Hospital stay was less than 45 days in the majority (94%) of the babies in the fortifier group, whereas the majority (66%) of the babies in the control group stayed for more than 45 days (P<0.01). Low serum phosphorus and raised alkaline phosphatase levels were seen more frequently in the control group without fortification (P<0.01), as well as hyponatremia (P<0.01), late metabolic acidosis of prematurity (P<0.01) and culture-proven sepsis (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Human milk fortification has beneficial effects on the growth of VLBW infants and decreases hospital stay and morbidity associated with prematurity and very low birth weight, with economic and psychological benefits for the parents.