Reference Range of Plasma Fatty Acids in North Indian Pregnant Population.

Reference values for Fatty Acids (FAs) are not well defined in the Indian population. Therefore, it is critical to establish FAs reference range for the healthy non-pregnant and pregnant Indian population. The present multi-centric, and cross-sectional study determines the 95% reference interval for FAs in an apparently pregnant Indian population and compare it to the healthy non-pregnant women. Physicians identified 164 reference individuals as healthy (56 non-pregnant and 108 pregnant) at various government and private hospitals of northern India. The 95th and 97.5th percentile reference limits were used to estimate the 95 percentile of the reference distribution. The reference ranges observed for Alpha-linolenic acid (0.29-0.42%; 0.36-0.58%), Docosahexaenoic-acid (3.38-4.23%; 3.8-4.55%), Eicosapentaenoic-acid (1.24-1.76%; 1.09-1.62%), Docosapentaenoic-acid-3 (0.61-0.69%; 0.65-0.76%), Linoleic-acid (18.44-20.75%; 19.51-21.88%), gamma-linolenic-acid (0.24-0.35%; 0.32-0.42%), Eicosatrienoic-acid (0.26-0.32%; 0.34-0.39%), Arachidonic-acid (9.29-11.02%; 10.02-11.56%), Docosatetraenoic-acid (0.62-0.89%; 0.79-1.09%), Docosapentaenoic-acid-6 (0.23-0.31%; 0.33-0.41%), Eicosatrienoic-acid (1.17-1.41%; 1.43-1.74%), Eicosenoic-acid (0.28-0.38%; 0.37-0.49%), Nervonic-acid (1.39-1.69%; 1.41-1.74%), Palmitoleic-acid (1.17-1.58%; 2-2.66%), Oleic-acid (19.8-22.26%; 19.68-22.94%), Myristic-acid (1.16-1.68%; 0.82-1.3%), Palmitic-acid (20.05-21.8%; 20.7-22.43%), Stearic-acid (11.34-12.56%; 10.29-11.02%), Arachidic-acid (0.17-0.2%; 0.18-0.23%), Lignoceric-acid (0.81-1.08%; 0.77-1.08%), trans-palmitoleic-acid (0.22-0.29%; 0.26-0.37%), trans-oleic-acid (0.55-0.72%; 0.68-0.84%), trans-linoleic-acid (0.38-0.54%; 0.42-0.59%) respectively for non-pregnant and pregnant women. Furthermore, total FAs were significantly (p ≤ 0:05) higher in women aged 31-45 years than in women aged 16-30 years. whereas, there was no significant change in total FAs profile based on omega-supplementation, diet category, preterm-birth history, and gestation period. Thus, the current study provides information about an individual who is deficient in FAs and the dose required to increase FA concentrations in the body.

Plant Prebiotics and Their Role in the Amelioration of Diseases.

Prebiotics are either natural or synthetic non-digestible (non-)carbohydrate substances that boost the proliferation of gut microbes. Undigested fructooligosaccharides in the large intestine are utilised by the beneficial microorganisms for the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids for their own growth. Although various food products are now recognized as having prebiotic properties, several others, such as almonds, artichoke, barley, chia seeds, chicory, dandelion greens, flaxseeds, garlic, and oats, are being explored and used as functional foods. Considering the benefits of these prebiotics in mineral absorption, metabolite production, gut microbiota modulation, and in various diseases such as diabetes, allergy, metabolic disorders, and necrotising enterocolitis, increasing attention has been focused on their applications in both food and pharmaceutical industries, although some of these food products are actually used as food supplements. This review aims to highlight the potential and need of these prebiotics in the diet and also discusses data related to the distinct types, sources, modes of action, and health benefits.

Topical delivery of tetrahydrocurcumin lipid nanoparticles effectively inhibits skin inflammation: in vitro and in vivo study.

Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) also referred to as 'white curcumin', is a stable colorless hydrogenated product of curcumin with superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study is an attempt to elevate the topical bioavailability of THC, post-incorporation into a nano-carrier system with its final dosage as a hydrogel. Lipid nanoparticles of THC (THC-SLNs) prepared by microemulsification technique were ellipsoidal in shape (revealed in transmission electron microscopy) with a mean particle size of 96.6 nm and zeta potential of -22 mV. Total drug content and entrapment efficiency of THC-SLNs was 94.51% ± 2.15% and 69.56% ± 1.35%, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the formation of THC-SLNs. In vitro drug release studies showed the drug release from THC-SLNs gel to follow Higuchi's equation revealing a Fickian diffusion. Ex vivo permeation studies indicated a 17 times (approximately) higher skin permeation of THC-SLNs gel as compared with the free THC gel. Skin irritation, occlusion, and stability studies indicated the formulation to be nonirritating, and stable with a desired occlusivity. Pharmacodynamic evaluation in an excision wound mice model clearly revealed the enhanced anti-inflammatory activity of THC-SLNs gel and was further confirmed using biochemical and histopathological studies. It is noteworthy to report here that THC-SLNs gel showed significantly better (p ≤ 0.001) activity than free THC in gel. As inflammation is innate to all the skin disorders, the developed product opens up new therapeutic avenues for several skin diseases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper elaborating the therapeutic usefulness of white curcumin-loaded lipidic nanoparticles for skin inflammation.

Functional and structural diversity in GH62 α-L-arabinofuranosidases from the thermophilic fungus Scytalidium thermophilum.

The genome of the thermophilic fungus Scytalidium thermophilum (strain CBS 625.91) harbours a wide range of genes involved in carbohydrate degradation, including three genes, abf62A, abf62B and abf62C, predicted to encode glycoside hydrolase family 62 (GH62) enzymes. Transcriptome analysis showed that only abf62A and abf62C are actively expressed during growth on diverse substrates including straws from barley, alfalfa, triticale and canola. The abf62A and abf62C genes were expressed in Escherichia coli and the resulting recombinant proteins were characterized. Calcium-free crystal structures of Abf62C in apo and xylotriose bound forms were determined to 1.23 and 1.48 Å resolution respectively. Site-directed mutagenesis confirmed Asp55, Asp171 and Glu230 as catalytic triad residues, and revealed the critical role of non-catalytic residues Asp194, Trp229 and Tyr338 in positioning the scissile α-L-arabinofuranoside bond at the catalytic site. Further, the +2R substrate-binding site residues Tyr168 and Asn339, as well as the +2NR residue Tyr226, are involved in accommodating long-chain xylan polymers. Overall, our structural and functional analysis highlights characteristic differences between Abf62A and Abf62C, which represent divergent subgroups in the GH62 family.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the dissimilatory sulfite reductase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F.

Dissimilatory sulfite reductase (Dsr) plays an important role in sulfate respiration in many sulfate-reducing bacteria. Dsr from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F has been purified and crystallized at 277 K using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method with PEG 3350 and potassium thiocyanate as precipitants. A data set was collected to 3.7 Šresolution from a single crystal at 100 K using synchrotron radiation. The Dsr crystal belonged to space group P4(1)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 163.26, c = 435.32 Å. The crystal structure of Dsr was determined by the molecular-replacement method based on the three-dimensional structure of Dsr from D. vulgaris Hildenborough. The crystal contained three α(2)ß(2)γ(2) units per asymmetric unit, with a Matthews coefficient (V(M)) of 2.35 Å(3) Da(-1); the solvent content was estimated to be 47.7%.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of adenylylsulfate reductase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F.

Sulfur in its various oxidation states is used for energy conservation in many microorganisms. Adenylylsulfate reductase is a key enzyme in the sulfur-reduction pathway of sulfate-reducing bacteria. The adenylylsulfate reductase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F has been purified and crystallized at 277 K using the vapour-diffusion method with ammonium sulfate as the precipitating agent. A data set was collected to 1.7 A resolution from a single crystal at 100 K using synchrotron radiation. The crystal belonged to space group P3(1), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 125.93, c = 164.24 A. The crystal contained two molecules per asymmetric unit, with a Matthews coefficient (V(M)) of 4.02 A(3) Da(-1); the solvent content was estimated to be 69.4%.

Awareness of emergency contraception among female college students in Chandigarh, India.

UNLABELLED: Adolescents and young women are at the greatest risk of unintended pregnancy because they are unlikely to see a family planning provider before or immediately after the sexual activity. Therefore, preventing unintended pregnancy among them is the important concern. Sexually active young women are clients with special needs for contraception. They are eligible to use a variety of the available contraceptives. Introduction of emergency contraception (EC) in the recent past can help them avoid such unintended pregnancies. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the awareness of emergency contraception in female college students. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted among college-going undergraduate and graduate female students of Punjab University, Chandigarh. Systematic random sampling was used to select the respondents. RESULTS: Of the 1,017 college students included in the study, 507 (49.9%) knew about different contraceptive methods. Maximum awareness was regarding oral contraceptive pills (239, 47.1%). Only 74 (7.3%) had knowledge about emergency contraceptive pills (ECP). Of them, 10 (14.7%) students knew the correct time for use of ECP and the side effects of ECP were known to 48 (88.9%) respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness about ECP was very low among female college students of Chandigarh, especially regarding correct timing of its use and its side effects. Appropriate awareness programs on EC are needed for them.

Deletion of chromosome 3p14.2-p25 involving the VHL and FHIT genes in conventional renal cell carcinoma.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome 3p and inactivation of the VHL gene are associated with the development of conventional renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). Recently, it was suggested that LOH at the FHIT gene at 3p14.2 is an early event in the development of RCC and is characteristic for all types of RCC. We have analyzed 88 conventional, 30 papillary, and 22 chromophobe RCCs for LOH at the VHL and FHIT regions and at other loci on chromosome 3p. A continuous deletion of 3p14.2-p25 harboring the VHL and FHIT genes occurred in 96% of the conventional RCCs but only in 10% of the papillary RCCs and 18% of the chromophobe RCCs. Our data indicate that LOH at chromosome 3p14.2-p25 is specific for conventional RCC and that loss of one allele of both the VHL and FHIT genes occurs in early stage of tumorigenesis.