Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Testis in a Patient With Cecal Carcinoma.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are uncommon tumors that can be classified among fibroinflammatory disorders. IMTs are diagnosed after excluding all other entities, which can be considered differential diagnoses of IMTs. Microscopic examination of IMTs shows multiple myofibroblastic spindle cells, which are surrounded by inflammation. IMTs have lesser chances of progression to malignancy. The case defined below is one of the few cases in the literature that reports the presentation of IMT and another malignancy. We describe a 72-year-old man who was found to have cecal carcinoma and later diagnosed with an IMT of the testis. IMTs are generally benign tumors with a tendency for local recurrence. Patients affected by IMTs usually get diagnosed only after more than one biopsy. IMT is diagnosed only after ruling out other differential diagnoses. They rarely show invasiveness and metastasize. The presence of metastasis, recurrence, and other malignancies probably indicate poor prognosis and poor survival. The course of IMTs is usually benign, with good outcomes after surgery. IMTs have been known to recur, invade, or metastasize in sites such as paranasal sinuses, mediastinum, and the abdomen. In the case that we researched, vimentin and smooth muscle actin were strongly positive in the spindle-shaped cells, whereas anaplastic lymphoma kinase-1 was negative.

Assessment of cosmesis and quality of life and their correlation using novel, validated methods in breast cancer patients who had undergone breast conservation therapy.

PURPOSE: To assess cosmesis [Breast Cancer Conservation Treatment. Cosmetic Results (BCCT.CORE) software] & QOL [EORTC QLQ (Quality of Life Questionnaire)-C30, BR23 questionnaires] using objective methods &to correlate effect of cosmesis on QOL (Quality of life) in breast cancer patients post BCT (Breast conservation therapy) using a cross-sectional observational study from a tertiary hospital. MATERIALS & METHODS: Cosmesis & QOL had been assessed in all biopsy-proven adult patients of unilateral breast cancer, who had undergone BCT with minimum three months post-BCT & three months post last adjuvant chemotherapy cycle, whichever is delivered last (with just hormonal therapy or followup remaining based on hormone receptor status). Pearson chi-square & Kendall correlation Tau-b tests had been used for testing association between Cosmesis & QOL. Variation of QOL scores between Cosmetic groups had been assessed using Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Cosmesis was Excellent/Good in 60.4 % of patients. 58.4 % of patients had Excellent/Good Quality of Life. Cosmesis & QOL had a positive correlation (intermediate strength) [Kendall correlation factor-0.484]. QOL-Global scale had better median scores in Excellent/ Good cosmetic group when compared to Fair/Poor group, while for functional & symptomatic scales, contrary had been true. Difference of median-scores between the two groups hadn't been statistically significant in five aspects - being upset over hair loss (p-0.09), sexual-enjoyment (p-0.33), nausea-vomiting (p-0.29), constipation (p0.32) & diarrhea (p-0.72). CONCLUSION: About 2/3rds of patients post-BCT had Excellent/Good Cosmesis & Excellent/Good QOL. Every measure taken before, during & post-BCT to improve Cosmesis might result in better QOL. Future studies must use more accurate three-dimensional methods to assess Cosmesis & its effect on QOL.

Emblica officinalis (Amla) Ameliorates High-Fat Diet Induced Alteration of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology.

BACKGROUND: Dietary high fat possibly causes oxidative stress. Also, it alters the pathophysiology of metabolically active myocardial tissues and vascular architecture. Emblica officinalis contains a potential antioxidant that counteracts oxidative stress and possibly maintains vascular integrity. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of ethanolic extract of Emblica officinalis (EEO) on High Fat Diet (HFD) induced changes in vascular chemistry and histopathology of the cardiovascular system in male albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethanolic extract of Emblica officinalis (EEO) was prepared and phytochemical analysis was done. Rats were divided into four groups, having six rats in each group as follows: group 1- Control (20% fat); group 2 (20% fat+ EEO 100 mg/kg/b w); group 3 (30% fat) and group 4 (30% fat + EEO 100 mg/kg/b w). Dietary and EEO supplementation was continued for 21 days. Gravimetric and oxidative stress markers like MDA, NO, antioxidants like Vitamin C and E, and molecular marker (NOS3) were evaluated. Histopathological analysis was done on the myocardium and elastic artery along with measurement of coronary arterial wall thickness and lumen diameter. One way ANOVA was done for analysis of data. RESULTS: High fat diet showed a significant increase in MDA, decrease of NO with unaltered NOS3 protein in rats fed with high fat diet, which indicate possible alteration of vascular pathophysiology. Supplementation of EEO showed an ameliorating effect on high fat diet induced oxidative stress. These results were further corroborated with findings of a histopathological study on the myocardium, elastic artery and coronary arterial architecture. CONCLUSION: Ethanolic extract of Emblica officinalis (EEO) indicates its cardioprotective efficacy against rats fed with high fat diet.

A study on the performance and emission characteristics of esterified pinnai oil tested in VCR engine.

Biodiesel is a clean renewable fuel derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. It is biodegradable, oxygenated, non toxic and free from sulfur and aromatics. The biodiesel prepared from pinnai oil undergoes acid esterification followed by alkaline transesterification process. The fatty acid methyl esters components were identified using gas chromatography and compared with the standard properties. The properties of biodiesel are comparable with diesel. The yield of the biodiesel production depends upon the process parameters such as reaction temperature, pH, time duration and amount of catalyst. The yield of biodiesel by transesterification process was 73% at 55°C. This fuel was tested in a variable compression ratio engine with blend ratios of B10 and B20. During the test runs the compression ratio of the engine was varied from 15:1 to 18:1 and the torque is adjusted from zero to maximum value of 22Nm. The performance characteristics such as the brake thermal efficiency, brake specific energy consumption and exhaust gas temperature of the engine are analyzed. The combustion characteristics of biodiesel like ignition delay, combustion duration and maximum gas temperature and the emission characteristics are also analyzed. The performance characteristics, combustion characteristics and engine emission are effective in the variable compression ratio engine with biodiesel and it is compared with diesel.

Structural analysis uncovers lipid-binding properties of Notch ligands.

The Notch pathway is a core cell-cell signaling system in metazoan organisms with key roles in cell-fate determination, stem cell maintenance, immune system activation, and angiogenesis. Signals are initiated by extracellular interactions of the Notch receptor with Delta/Serrate/Lag-2 (DSL) ligands, whose structure is highly conserved throughout evolution. To date, no structure or activity has been associated with the extreme N termini of the ligands, even though numerous mutations in this region of Jagged-1 ligand lead to human disease. Here, we demonstrate that the N terminus of human Jagged-1 is a C2 phospholipid recognition domain that binds phospholipid bilayers in a calcium-dependent fashion. Furthermore, we show that this activity is shared by a member of the other class of Notch ligands, human Delta-like-1, and the evolutionary distant Drosophila Serrate. Targeted mutagenesis of Jagged-1 C2 domain residues implicated in calcium-dependent phospholipid binding leaves Notch interactions intact but can reduce Notch activation. These results reveal an important and previously unsuspected role for phospholipid recognition in control of this key signaling system.

Notch receptor-ligand binding and activation: insights from molecular studies.

The Notch receptor is part of a core signalling pathway which is highly conserved in all metazoan species. It is required for various cell fate decisions at multiple stages of development and in the adult organism, with dysregulation of the pathway associated with genetic and acquired diseases including cancer. Although cellular and in vivo studies have provided considerable insight into the downstream consequences of Notch signalling, relatively little is known about the molecular basis of the receptor/ligand interaction and initial stages of activation. Recent advances in structure determination of the extracellular regions of human Notch-1 and one of its ligands Jagged-1 have given new insights into docking events occurring at the cell surface which may facilitate the development of new highly specific therapies. We review the structural data available for receptor and ligands and identify the challenges ahead.

Heparin binding domain in vitronectin is required for oligomerization and thus enhances integrin mediated cell adhesion and spreading.

Vitronectin is a multi-functional protein found predominantly as a monomer in blood and as an oligomer in the extracellular matrix. We have dissected the minimal regions of vitronectin protein needed for effective integrin dependent cell adhesion and spreading. A fragment of vitronectin containing the RGD integrin binding site showed similar binding affinity as that of full vitronectin protein to purified integrin alphavbeta3 but had diminished cell adhesion and spreading function in vivo. We demonstrate that the oligomeric state of the protein is responsible for this effect. We provide compelling evidence for the involvement of the heparin binding domain of vitronectin in the oligomerization process and show that such oligomerization reinforces the activity of vitronectin in cell adhesion and spreading.

Caco-2 cell lines in drug discovery- an updated perspective.

Cell lines are the invitro models used for the drug permeability studies in the preclinical and clinical phases of the drug discovery. Cell line models are simple and quick to use and avoids the usage of animal models for pharmacological and toxicological studies and hence cost effective, produce reliable and reproducible results for understanding and evaluating the permeability characteristics of the potential lead drug candidates. Different cell line models used in the drug permeability studies, their characteristics has been summarized emphasizing on CACO-2. By virtue of its merits, CACO-2 cell line development, transport experiments, automated assays, optimization of experimental conditions and mechanistic uses of CACO-2 cell lines dealt comprehensively in the following context.

Right-left asymmetry in tonic pain perception and its modification by simultaneous contralateral noxious stimulation.

Administration of the cold pressor test (I test) in normal healthy subjects revealed lateralization of pain perception with the right hand showing higher threshold and tolerance, as well as lower pain scores on Graphic Rating Scale, PPI and MPQ. To find out whether this lateralization persists, the cold pressor test was given while the contralateral hand was simultaneously exposed to non-noxious stimulus (II test) or noxious stimulus (III test). Reversal of laterality to the left hand was observed in the III test in 40% of the subjects for pain threshold. The mechanism of diffuse noxious controls and attentional focus to the noxious stimulus that is more intense, are suggested for the observed changes in laterality when two concurrent noxious stimuli are present.