Comparative analysis of shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) miRNAs expression profiles during WSSV infection under experimental conditions and in pond culture.

In recent years, the importance of viral and host microRNAs (miRNAs) in mediating viral replication and control of host cellular machinery, has been realised and increasing efforts have been taken in order to understand the interactions of miRNAs from host and pathogen during infection. However, all existing studies has thus far been conducted in controlled experimental conditions and the veracity of these data for field conditions are yet to be established. In this framework, small RNA sequencing was performed to identify the miRNAs involved in shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) immune responses under two different WSSV infection conditions of natural infection and experimentally challenged conditions. The expression profiles of miRNAs of shrimp infected with WSSV under two contrasting conditions were compared and as a result, 23365 known miRNAs and 481 novel miRNAs were identified. Amongst the most abundantly expressed miRNAs, the hypoxia related miR-210 and immune pathway related miR-29b were expressed only in infected shrimps of both conditions. miR-8-5p, having a functional role in modulation of chitin biosynthesis was exclusively represented in higher numbers in the WSSV -infected shrimps under natural conditions whilst four of the miRNAs (mja-miR-6493-5p, mja-miR-6492, mmu-miR-3968, tcf-miR-9b-5p) identified from shrimps collected from pond culture targeted chitinase, an important enzyme involved in growth and moulting in shrimps, indicating an interaction between WSSV infection and moult cycle under culture conditions. Some of the miRNAs (tca-miR-87b-3p, cte-miR-277a) and miRNAs belonging to class miR-9, miR-981 that were identified only in WSSV infected shrimps under experimental conditions, are known to respond against WSSV infection in shrimps. Moreover, the miRNA target prediction revealed several immune-related gene targets such as cathepsin, c-type lectin, haemocyanin and ubiquitin protein ligase were commonly identified under both the conditions. However, the miRNAs identified from challenge experiment had wide number of gene targets as compared to the miRNAs of natural infection. The shrimp miRNA mja-miR-6489-3p, was also found to target early virus gene wsv001 of WSSV. Our study, therefore, provides the comparative analysis of miRNA expression from shrimp during WSSV infection in two different conditions.

Thyroid function in type 2 diabetes mellitus and in diabetic nephropathy.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic patients have higher prevalence of thyroid disorders than the general population which may have an influence on diabetic management. The present study compared the levels of thyroid hormones, serum creatinine, glycated haemoglobin and urine microalbumin between type 2 diabetics without any complications, type 2 diabetics with nephropathy and age and sex matched normal controls. RESULT: The mean serum T3 level in type 2 diabetics without any complications was 91.27 ± 14.56 ng/dl , in type 2 diabetics with nephropathy was 88.5320 ± 30.87 ng/dl and in controls was 134.98 ± 28.55 ng/dl. The mean serum T4 level in type 2 diabetics without any complications was 7.73 ± 1.42 µg/dl, in type 2 diabetics with nephropathy was 7.25 ± 2.72 µg/dl and in controls was 8.61 ± 1.73 µg/dl. The mean serum TSH level in type 2 diabetics without any complications was 3.99 ± 1.87 µIU/ml, in type 2 diabetics with nephropathy was 4.27 ± 1.62 µIU/ml and in controls was 2.07 ± 1.09 µIU/ml. Correlations between T3, T4, TSH with serum creatinine, glycated haemoglobin were not statistically significant in type 2 diabetes without any complications and diabetic nephropathy. We found a statistically significant correlation between T3 and urine microalbumin in patients with diabetic nephropathy. CONCLUSION: Failure to recognize the presence of abnormal thyroid hormone levels may be a primary cause of poor management of diabetes mellitus type 2. Therefore there is a need for the routine assay of thyroid hormones in type 2 diabetics and diabetic nephropathy in order to improve the quality of life and reduce the morbidity.

Synthesis, anticancer activity and photophysical properties of novel substituted 2-oxo-2H-chromenylpyrazolecarboxylates.

2-Oxo-2H-chromenylpyrazolecarboxylates (8a-h and 12a-zb) have been synthesized by [3 + 2] cycloaddition of 2H-chromenophenylhydrazones (7a-h and 11a-w) with diethyl/dimethylbut-2-ynedioates. Phenylchromeno[4,3-c]pyrazol-4(1H)-ones (13i-n) were prepared from corresponding phenylhydrazones (7a-h) with catalytic amount of piperidine in presence of pyridine as a solvent at 100 °C. All the synthesized compounds (8a-h, 12a-zb and 13a-n) were screened for anticancer activity against three human cancer cell lines such as prostate (DU-145), lung adenocarcinoma (A549), and cervical (HeLa) by standard MTT assay method. Further, photophysical properties (UV and fluorescence) for these compounds were discussed.

Predictive value of serum sialic Acid in type-2 diabetes mellitus and its complication (nephropathy).

INTRODUCTION: Sialic acid levels are increased in type-2 diabetes mellitus and its estimation helps in predicting the occurrence of microvascular complication such as diabetic nephropathy. The present study compared the levels of sialic acid, glycated haemoglobin, serum creatinine and urine microalbumin: in type-2 diabetics without any complications; in type-2 diabetics with nephropathy; and in age and sex matched healthy individual (controls). RESULTS: The study observed an increased level of sialic acid in type-2 diabetics without any complications and type-2 diabetics with nephropathy. Serum sialic acid levels in type-2 diabetics without any complications was 64.44 ± 3.93 mg/dl, in type-2 diabetics with nephropathy was 73.88 ± 4.41 mg/dl, and in controls it was 53.16 ± 3.40 mg/dl. Urine sialic acid levels in type-2 diabetics without any complications was 6.62 ± 0.70 mg/dl, in type-2 diabetics with nephropathy was 8.46 ± 0.97 mg/dl, and in controls it was 4.44 ± 0.62 mg/dl. Correlation of sialic acid levels with glycated haemoglobin and urine microalbumin was statistically significant but with serum creatinine was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Sialic acid is an important component of vascular cell membrane. Their increased levels indicate extensive vascular damage in type-2 DM. Therefore, estimation of sialic acid levels help in early prediction and prevention of microvascular complications occurring due to diabetics, thereby decreasing the mortality and morbidity in them.

Epidemiology and risk management of listeriosis in India.

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that can cause serious invasive illness, mainly in certain well-defined high-risk groups, including elderly and immunocompromised patients, pregnant women, newborns and infants. In India, this pathogen has been isolated from humans, animals and foods. The incidence of Listeria is generally comparable to those reported elsewhere in the world. In humans, maternal/neonatal listeriosis is the most common clinical form reported. Among animal populations, spontaneous abortions, subclinical mastitis, meningoencephalitis and endometritis were the commonest forms reported. The disease largely remains undiagnosed and under reported. From reported analyses of a variety of foods for Listeria, milk and milk products, meat and meat products, seafood and vegetables have been reported to be contaminated in India. The legal framework for microbiological safety of foods against microbes including L. monocytogenes is summarised. The epidemiological studies would help in understanding of the sources of infection and persistence and their risk assessment, routes of transmission, clinical forms and allow for better management of the infection.

Cytogenetic analysis of acute myeloid leukemia with t(8;21) from a tertiary care center in India with correlation between clinicopathologic characteristics and molecular analysis.

The t(8;21)(q22;q22) is the most common translocation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We describe the clinicopathologic and cytogenetic profile of 117 patients with t(8;21) AML. There were 76 males and 88 adults. The median age was 26 years. Most patients (80%) had AML M2. Dysplasia was present in 68% of patients and eosinophilia in 18%. Eight patients had fewer than 20% blasts. Additional chromosomal aberrations were seen in 103 patients (88%) with loss of a sex chromosome (LSC) in 78 patients (66%) and deletion 9q in 21 (18%). The other recurrent abnormalities were trisomies 4, 8 and 15, monosomy 17 and deletion 7q (less than 5% each). Three- or four-way variant t(8;21) were seen in 6% of patients and 3% had tetraploidy. Aberrant expression of CD19 was seen in 54% of patients. FLT3 mutations were seen in 7.5% of patients (3/40) and c-KIT mutations in 6.6% (2/30). None had NPM1 or JAK2 V617F mutations. One patient had a granulocytic sarcoma. Complete remission was achieved in 96% of the 26 newly diagnosed patients after first induction. The median follow-up was 25 months (range 4-68). The overall survival was 69% at 31 months.

alpha-Glucosidase inhibitory antihyperglycemic activity of substituted chromenone derivatives.

Series of 3,4- and 3,6-disubstituted chromenones including new chromenone derivatives were synthesized applying various synthetic strategies including Pechmann condensation, Knoevenagel condensation, Reimer-Tiemann reaction and Suzuki coupling in very good yields. Synthesized compounds (4a-z) were screened for in vitro alpha-glucosidase inhibitory and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activities. Majority of compounds displayed varying degrees of alpha-glucosidase inhibitory and DPPH scavenging activity. Compound 4x emerged as the most potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitor in present series of compounds owing to the presence of 3-acetyl-6-(6-methoxy-3-pyridyl) group on chromenone; however, it could not display DPPH scavenging activity and was found to be mixed non-competitive type inhibitor of rat intestinal alpha-glucosidase. When tested in vivo for antihyperglycemic activity in starch loaded Wistar rats, it displayed significant antihyperglycemic property. This is the first report assigning rat intestinal alpha-glucosidase inhibitory property for this class of new chromenones and presents new family of compounds possessing alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities and antihyperglycemic property. Compound 4x may serve as an interesting new compound for the development of therapeutics targeted against diet-induced hyperglycemia in diabetes.