Role of homeobox d10 gene targeted signaling pathways in cancers

Homeobox D10 (HOXD10) is a transcription factor from the homeobox gene family that controls cell differentiation and morphogenesis throughout development.Due to their functional interaction, changes in HOXD10 gene expression might induce tumors. This narrative review focuses on how and why the dysregulation in the signaling pathways linked with HOXD10 contributes to the metastatic development of cancer. Organ development and tissue homeostasis need highly conserved homeotic transcription factors from homeobox (HOX) genes. Their dysregulation disrupts regulatory molecule action, causing tumors. The HOXD10 gene is upregulated in breast, gastric, hepatocellular, colorectal, bladder, cholangiocellular carcinoma and prostate cancer. Tumor signaling pathways are affected by HOXD10 gene expression changes. This study examines HOXD10-associated signaling pathway dysregulation, which may alter metastatic cancer signaling. In addition, the theoretical foundations that alter HOXD10-mediated therapeutic resistance in malignancies has been presented. New cancer therapy methods will be simpler to develop with the newly discovered knowledge. This review showed that HOXD10 may be a tumor suppressor gene and a new cancer treatment target signaling pathway.

Characterization, Cytotoxicity and Anti-oxidant Studies of Phytoniosome Loaded with Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Tinospora Cordifolia

Background

From time immemorial herbal preparations are been employed for the treatment of several ailments. In recent years due to poor bioavailability the conventional herbal preparations are replaced by phytoniosomes, an advanced novel drug delivery system in which the herbal extracts are incorporated into a non-ionic surfactant to yield higher absorption and remarkable desired pharmacological activity. The present study is aimed to prepare and characterize the ethanolic leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia (nELETC) loaded phytoniosome and to compare its antioxidant properties with ethanolic leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia (ELETC).

Methods

The ethanolic leaf extract and ethanolic leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia loaded phytoniosome (ELETC and nELETC) were prepared. The characterization of the prepared phytoniosomes were performed by UV-Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, DLS and zeta potential. The nontoxic nature of the prepared phytoniosomes was analyzed using MTT assay in vero cell line. The antioxidant potential of ELETC and nELETC were compared by the scavenging activity of DPPH, Hydrogen peroxide and Superoxide radicals.

Results

The formation of ethanolic leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia loaded phytoniosome (nELETC) was confirmed with UV-Vis spectroscopy. The SEM and TEM images confirmed the spherical shape of the nELETC with average size ranging from 600 to 1800 nm. The zeta potential showed magnitude of -65.55 to -77.83 mV and its crystalline structure was confirmed by XRD analysis. Through the FTIR spectrum presence of alcohols, alkanes, phenols, esters, aliphatic and aromatic compounds as well as alkenes and carbolic acids were identified. MTT assay establishes the non-toxic nature of the synthesized nELETC and excellent antioxidant potential was observed for nELETC than ELETC.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ethanolic leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia loaded phytoniosome (nELETC) will serve as a promising drug carrier in scavenging the free radicals and can be used in various biological applications.

Efficiency of Paecilomyces variotii in Bioremoval of Reactive Black Dye from Tannery Effluent

The present work investigates the efficiency of Paecilomyces variotii upon degrading Reactive Black dye which has been termed a recalcitrant variety of synthetic dye. In this research, initially a predominant fungal species, Paecilomyces variotii was isolated from the tannery effluent sample. The study was carried out by assessing the ability of fungi to decolorize the dye under various parameters like pH (5,7 and 9), Temperature (7°C, 30°C, and 45°C), Dye concentration (200, 300, and 400 mg/L) for different incubation or exposure time interval (3, 5 and 7 days). From the experimental study, it was found that Paecilomyces variotii showed a maximum percentage of dye decolorization at 7°C at pH 9 with 75%, at 30°C at pH 7 with 85%, at 45°C at pH 5 with 82% and a maximum period of incubation with 7 days in 200 mg.L-1 concentration. This result conveys that the strength of Paecilomyces variotii in decolorizing the synthetic dye is effective at a moderate temperature with neutral pH for maximum exposure time. So Paecilomyces variotii could be a good candidate of choice for the biodegradation of various synthetic dyes when manipulated wisely. Also, the result sparks a positive attribute toward decreasing industrial wastewater pollution.

Efficacy of green synthesized gold nanoparticles conjugated with 5-fluorouracil in targeting breast cancer cell - An in vitro study

Introduction and Aim: Presently, research and development in nanomaterials is gaining hypersonic reach in various areas of applications.  Biological way of preparing such nanomaterials is acquiring noteworthiness in the view of affordability and environment-friendly approach. In this current work, gold nanoparticles(AuNPs) were prepared using leaves extract of Chloroxylon swietenia having anticancer behaviour with the focus to blend the therapeutic activity among the nanoparticles was studied by conjugating with 5 Fluorouracil (5-FU) to target breast cancer cells.   Materials and Methods: Chloroxylon swietenia leaf extract was prepared and chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) was added to synthesis AuNPs. As prepared AuNPs were characterized using UV-visible spectrophotometry, TEM and EDAX. The antioxidant tests were done by DPPH assay. Further, the AuNPs were conjugated with5-fluorouracil. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the synthesized gold nanoparticles and conjugated AuNPs were assessed by MTT assay against normal and A549 breast cancer cell lines and the efficacy was noted.   Results: Preparation of AuNPsthrough the leaf extract of C. swietenia was carried out in an effective way.The preliminary test for the confirmation of as synthesized NPs was done through spectroscopic analysis, resulting in a characteristic peak at 539nm. The TEM examination provided the information about size and the pattern of NPs. Cytotoxicity investigation of NPs with VERO cell lines confirmed its non-toxic nature towards the cells. Anticancer study with A549 breast cancer cell lines also proved the NPs with IC50 value at 25µl/ml.    Conclusion: The conjugated AuNPs with 5-FU revealed anticancer activity in A549 breast cancer cell line but correspondingly it is proved to be safe with standard VERO cell line. The findings stand with a strong point to expand the studies through the evolution of potential drug molecules to deal with the disease of interest.

Comparative Antioxidant and Anti-gout Activities of Citrullus colocynthis loaded Fruit Silver nanoparticles with its Ethanolic extract

Background: The biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant materials is a rapidly developing method with several alternative medical applications. This comparative study of ethanolic fruit extract of Citrullus colocynthis (C. colocynthis) (EFECC) and synthesized silver nanoparticles (CC-AgNPs) were carried out for antioxidants and anti-gout arthritic activities.   Methods: The AgNPs were synthesized using C. colocynthis fruit and its characterization was done by UV-visible spectroscopy, TEM, XRD and FT-IR. The 90% ethanol was used for extract preparation. Antioxidant activity was analyzed by DPPH and the Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) method. In vitro anti-arthritic activity was tested by xanthine oxidase inhibition, protein denaturation and HRBC membrane stabilization assay.   Results: The synthesized CC-AgNPs were confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy and TEM images displayed spherical shapes with 10-45 nm size range. Furthermore, the functional groups and crystalline structure of CC-AgNPs were determined by FT-IR and XRD analysis. The biosynthesized CC-AgNPs exhibited an excellent free radical scavenging ability than EFECC. In anti-arthritic activity, the CC-AgNPs showed effective inhibition of xanthine oxidase production, protein denaturation, and damaged RBC membranes compared to EFECC.   Conclusion: The antioxidant activities and in vitro anti-arthritic assays revealed that CC-AgNPs are better anti-gout agents than EFECC. This research suggested that biosynthesized silver nanoparticles from C. colocynthis fruit are an important target in the field of anti-gout drug discovery.

Comparative Antioxidant and Anti-gout Activities of Citrullus colocynthis loaded Fruit Silver nanoparticles with its Ethanolic extract

Background

The biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant materials is a rapidly developing method with several alternative medical applications. This comparative study of ethanolic fruit extract of Citrullus colocynthis (C. colocynthis) (EFECC) and synthesized silver nanoparticles (CC-AgNPs) were carried out for antioxidants and anti-gout arthritic activities.

Methods

The AgNPs were synthesized using C. colocynthis fruit and its characterization was done by UV-visible spectroscopy, TEM, XRD and FT-IR. The 90% ethanol was used for extract preparation. Antioxidant activity was analyzed by DPPH and the Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂) method. In vitro anti-arthritic activity was tested by xanthine oxidase inhibition, protein denaturation and HRBC membrane stabilization assay.

Results

The synthesized CC-AgNPs were confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy and TEM images displayed spherical shapes with 10-45 nm size range. Furthermore, the functional groups and crystalline structure of CC-AgNPs were determined by FT-IR and XRD analysis. The biosynthesized CC-AgNPs exhibited an excellent free radical scavenging ability than EFECC. In anti-arthritic activity, the CC-AgNPs showed effective inhibition of xanthine oxidase production, protein denaturation, and damaged RBC membranes compared to EFECC.

Conclusion

The antioxidant activities and in vitro anti-arthritic assays revealed that CC-AgNPs are better anti-gout agents than EFECC. This research suggested that biosynthesized silver nanoparticles from C. colocynthis fruit are an important target in the field of anti-gout drug discovery.

Study on PIK3CA Gene Mutations in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma among South Indian populations

The present investigation was performed in South Indian Populations to determine the hotspot mutation frequency in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) patients with PIK3CA gene Exon 9 and Exon 20 and its correlations with help of their clinical characteristics leading to these mutations. PI3KCA belongs to a group of regulatory heterodimeric lipid kinase which is involved in proliferation of cells, apoptosis and as well in metastasis which is controlled by PIK3CA gene is subjected to high frequency of somatic mutation in various tumors including OSCC. Total of 25 OSCC patients samples comprising of male and female subjects from Government tertiary care Centre were included in this study. Tumor specimen samples were collected and amplified for PIK3CA gene by PCR and subjected to genomic DNA Sequencing. Our findings showed total of 20% of oncogenic frequency in PIK3CA gene. We also observed two hot spot mutations (E545K) in exon 9 gene and three hot spot mutations (H1047Q, H1047Y, H1048Q) in exon 20 gene in our study populations. 0 Based on our findings it may be concluded that PIK3CA gene Exon 9 and Exon 20 contributes to a major role in pathogenesis on OSCC among South Indian populations may act as therapeutic target for a anticancer drug for the treatment OSCC.

Precuneus functioning differentiates first-episode psychosis patients during the fantasy movie Alice in Wonderland

BACKGROUND

While group-level functional alterations have been identified in many brain regions of psychotic patients, multivariate machine-learning methods provide a tool to test whether some of such alterations could be used to differentiate an individual patient. Earlier machine-learning studies have focused on data collected from chronic patients during rest or simple tasks. We set out to unravel brain activation patterns during naturalistic stimulation in first-episode psychosis (FEP).

METHOD

We recorded brain activity from 46 FEP patients and 32 control subjects viewing scenes from the fantasy film Alice in Wonderland. Scenes with varying degrees of fantasy were selected based on the distortion of the 'sense of reality' in psychosis. After cleaning the data with a novel maxCorr method, we used machine learning to classify patients and healthy control subjects on the basis of voxel- and time-point patterns.

RESULTS

Most (136/194) of the voxels that best classified the groups were clustered in a bilateral region of the precuneus. Classification accuracies were up to 79.5% (p = 5.69 × 10-8), and correct classification was more likely the higher the patient's positive-symptom score. Precuneus functioning was related to the fantasy content of the movie, and the relationship was stronger in control subjects than patients.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are the first to show abnormalities in precuneus functioning during naturalistic information processing in FEP patients. Correlational findings suggest that these alterations are associated with positive psychotic symptoms and processing of fantasy. The results may provide new insights into the neuronal basis of reality distortion in psychosis.

Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in apparently healthy adult population of Tamil Nadu, India: a population-based study

Since the epidemiology of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in apparently healthy population has not been studied in India, a population-based study was conducted in the state of Tamil Nadu, India in order to analyse the prevalence of genital chlamydial infections in the community and to implement control programmes. A representative sample was taken from three randomly selected districts by using the 'probability proportional to size' cluster survey method. Households were the basic units of clusters. Adults aged 15-45 years, pre-identified from the selected households were enrolled during the medical camps conducted for a major study on community prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in Tamil Nadu. Blood and urine samples collected from the study subjects were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-chlamydial IgM antibodies and by the commercial Amplicor polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for chlamydial DNA. The prevalence of anti- C. trachomatis antibodies determined by IgM-ELISA was 2.4% (95% CI 1.6%-3.2%). The prevalence of genital chlamydial infection determined by PCR was 1.1% (95% CI 0.5%-1.7%). Majority of the detected infections (68.8%) were asymptomatic. This is the first Indian report on the prevalence of genital chlamydial infections in the general population. It is concluded that this study provides evidence for a substantial burden of approximately 10 million asymptomatic genital chlamydial infection cases in the sexually active age groups in the general population of India.

Antidiabetic antihyperlipidemic and hepato-protective effect of Gluconorm-5: A polyherbal formulation in steptozotocin induced hyperglycemic rats

Background:

The antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, and hepato-protective effect of Gluconorm-5, was studied in steptozotocin (STZ) induced hyperglycemic rats.

Materials and Methods:

The hypoglycemic effect of single dose of Gluconorm-5 (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight) made up of five plants namely Camellia sinensis, Punica granatum, Macrotyloma uniflorum, Foeniculum vulgare and Trigonella foenum-graecum was studied in normal, glucose loaded normal and diabetes-induced rats. The extent of antihyperlipidemic and liver-protective effect was studied by estimating the lipid profile, and the liver marker enzymes. Histopathological studies of the pancreatic tissue were also carried out with glibenclamide as standard antihyperglycemic agent.

Results:

Fifteen days of oral feeding of the Gluconorm-5 (300 and 600 mg/kg) to diabetic rats resulted in a significant (P < 0.01) reduction of blood glucose, lipid profile, liver weight and marker enzymes as compared to those rats in whom STZ induced toxicity was untreated. The diabetic rats treated with the drug showed expanded islets as compared to the untreated diabetic rats, which showed the shrunken islets. The animals that received 300 mg/kg of Gluconorm-5 showed pronounced antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and hepato-protective effect in the present study, which was comparable with glibenclamide, a standard drug.

Conclusion:

Gluconorm-5 exerts potent antidiabetic antihyperlipidemic and hepato-protective effect, which can be used as adjuvant in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Whey powder: a potential anti-diarrheal agent through its biofilm formation

Whey, the natural product resulting from coagulation of milk is reported to have diverse pharmaceutical credentials. In the present investigation the anti-diarrhoeal activity of the whey powder was investigated. The Whey powder which was prepared using rennet powder and lactic acid, was studied against Magnesium sulphate-induced Diarrhea in Swiss Albino mice. Castor oil-induced enteropooling studies and in vitro biofilm-forming potentials of the whey powder were also carried out, as this is believed to contribute to the anti-diarrhoeal activities of the preparation. Anti-diarrhoeal activity was more pronounced in mice which received 250 mg kg b.wt. of whey powder when compared to those which received 500 mg kg(-1) b.wt. The percentage inhibition of total number of feces in the 250 mg kg(-1) b.wt. drug-treated group was 56.14%,whereas the animals which received 500 mg kg(-1) b.wt. of whey powder showed 37.18% inhibition. The loperamide treated animal group showed 63.81% inhibition. In castor oil induced enteropooling, the percentage inhibition of intestinal content in the 250 mg kg(-1) b.wt. drug-treated group was 61.42% against atropine-treated animal group that showed 26.24% inhibition. The whey powder also exhibited strong biofilm forming capacity with increase in concentration. The anti-diarrhoeal activity of whey preparation established herein is believed to be owing to certain active principles present in it or due to biofilm-forming capacity, which inhibits the attachment of mediators of diarrhoea to mucosal walls of the GI tract or due to interaction of diarrhoea inducing chemicals with whey peptides, which needs further investigation.

Intersubject consistency of cortical MEG signals during movie viewing

According to recent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, spectators of a movie may share similar spatiotemporal patterns of brain activity. We aimed to extend these findings of intersubject correlation to temporally accurate single-trial magnetoencephalography (MEG). A silent 15-min black-and-white movie was shown to eight subjects twice. We adopted a spatial filtering model and estimated its parameter values by using multi-set canonical correlation analysis (M-CCA) so that the intersubject correlation was maximized. The procedure resulted in multiple (mutually uncorrelated) time-courses with statistically significant intersubject correlations at frequencies below 10 Hz; the maximum correlation was 0.28 ± 0.075 in the ≤1 Hz band. Moreover, the 24-Hz frame rate elicited steady-state responses with statistically significant intersubject correlations up to 0.29 ± 0.12. To assess the brain origin of the across-subjects correlated signals, the time-courses were correlated with minimum-norm source current estimates (MNEs) projected to the cortex. The time series implied across-subjects synchronous activity in the early visual, posterior and inferior parietal, lateral temporo-occipital, and motor cortices, and in the superior temporal sulcus (STS) bilaterally. These findings demonstrate the capability of the proposed methodology to uncover cortical MEG signatures from single-trial signals that are consistent across spectators of a movie.

Isolation, culture optimization and physico-chemical characterization of laccase enzyme from Pleurotus fossulatus

Pleurotus fossulatus (Cooke) Sace is member of oyster mushroom can produced extracellular laccase (benzenediol: oxygen oxidoreductase; EC 1.10.3.2) in submerged fermentation. To analyze the optimum production for laccase P. fossulatus was cultured both in stationary and shaking condition in different media. Partial purification of laccase was done after 0-80% ammonium sulphate precipitation, followed by DEAE (Diethylaminoethyl) Sephadex (A-50) anion exchange chromatography. Potato-sucrose peptone (PSP) medium and Potato-dextrose (PD) medium showed highest laccase production in shaking and stationary conditions, respectively. Though the time required for optimum laccase production in stationary condition was much more than the shaking condition but the amount of laccase was about 2.75t greater in former condition. The laccase produced in stationary condition was more stable than the enzyme produced in shaking condition. The partially purified enzyme showed highest affinity towards o-dianisidine than guaiacol and ABTS (2,2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as evidenced by their K(m). The physico-chemical properties of the laccase suggested the significance of this enzyme in industrial applications.

Brain state-triggered stimulus delivery: An efficient tool for probing ongoing brain activity

What is the relationship between variability in ongoing brain activity preceding a sensory stimulus and subsequent perception of that stimulus? A challenge in the study of this key topic in systems neuroscience is the relative rarity of certain brain 'states'-left to chance, they may seldom align with sensory presentation. We developed a novel method for studying the influence of targeted brain states on subsequent perceptual performance by online identification of spatiotemporal brain activity patterns of interest, and brain-state triggered presentation of subsequent stimuli. This general method was applied to an electroencephalography study of human auditory selective listening. We obtained online, time-varying estimates of the instantaneous direction of neural bias (towards processing left or right ear sounds). Detection of target sounds was influenced by pre-target fluctuations in neural bias, within and across trials. We propose that brain state-triggered stimulus delivery will enable efficient, statistically tractable studies of rare patterns of ongoing activity in single neurons and distributed neural circuits, and their influence on subsequent behavioral and neural responses.

Diagnosis of herpes simplex virus-1 keratitis: Comparison of Giemsa stain, immunofluorescence assay and polymerase chain reaction

PURPOSE

To evaluate three different diagnostic tests against the gold standard of viral isolation, in the diagnosis of HSV-1 keratitis.

METHODS

Corneal scrapings from 170 patients with clinically suspected HSV keratitis were tested by; 1) Giemsa staining procedure for the presence of multinucleated giant cells and lymphocytes, 2) immunofluorescence assay for HSV-1 antigen, 3) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HSV-1 DNA and 4) virus isolation by shell vial culture in SIRC (Rabbit corneal epithelial cell line). The results of the former three tests were compared among 14 cases that were culture positive and 156 cases that were culture negative for HSV-1.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of PCR was 100%, while IFA and Giemsa had sensitivities of 85.7% and 57.1% respectively. The specificity of PCR, IFA and Giemsa were found to be 67.9%, 85.3% and 85.9% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, a combination of PCR and immunofluorescence assay appears to be the most suitable choice of tests for diagnosis of HSV-1 keratitis, while detection of MNGC by Giemsa staining procedure may give us a presumptive diagnosis of suspected viral infection.

Alpha-fetoprotein as a tumor marker in hepatocellular carcinoma: investigations in south Indian subjects with hepatotropic virus and aflatoxin etiologies

OBJECTIVES

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is reportedly the main cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in India, where hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated HCC is believed to be relatively less prevalent. We verified the usefulness of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as a tumor marker and analyzed the influence of viral etiology on AFP levels in HCC.

METHODS

Of a total of 1012 cases with liver disease, 202 were investigated for the presence of AFP (142 HCC cases, 30 cirrhosis cases, and 30 chronic liver disease (CLD) cases). In addition, serum samples from 30 healthy patients, 30 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, and 30 acute viral hepatitis cases were included as controls. AFP was quantitatively determined using a commercial ELISA (Quorum Diagnostics, Canada). Out of the 142 HCC cases screened for AFP, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) detection was carried out in 38 HCC cases using an in-house immunoperoxidase test.

RESULTS

In HBV and HCV co-infected HCC cases, the AFP positivity was 85.7%. In HBV alone-associated HCC, the positivity was 62.9%, and 54.5% of AFB1 positive HCC cases showed AFP positivity. In HBV and HCV negative HCC cases, the positivity was 20.5%, and in HCV-associated HCC it was 17.6%. The HBV/HCV co-infected group and HBV alone positive HCC cases had significantly elevated levels of AFP. When AFP positivity was analyzed based on the marker profile of HBV, 89.7% of AFP positive cases were HBV-DNA positive.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall positivity pattern of AFP in HCC does indicate that higher levels of AFP are observed with hepatitis virus positivity, especially with HBV. Further studies must be carried out to correlate the serum levels of AFP with the size, number, and degree of differentiation of HCC nodules.

The imprint of action: Motor cortex involvement in visual perception of handwritten letters

Humans are able to recognize handwritten texts accurately despite the extreme variability of scripts from one writer to another. This skill has been suggested to rely on the observer's own knowledge about implicit motor rules involved in writing. To investigate the possible neural correlates of such an ability, we monitored with magnetoencephalography (MEG) the approximately 20-Hz oscillations originating from the motor cortex. The oscillations were more suppressed after visual presentation of handwritten than printed letters, indicating stronger excitation of the motor cortex to handwritten scripts. These results support the idea of embodied visual perception of handwritten scripts and the involvement of the motor cortex in the underlying action-perception link.

Neuromagnetic responses to vowels vs. tones reveal hemispheric lateralization

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether a simple auditory paradigm could demonstrate a difference in cortical lateralization between right- and left-handed subjects. Such information would be important for later development of clinical noninvasive tests of hemispheric language dominance in candidates for brain surgery.

METHODS

Healthy subjects (10 strongly right-handed, 10 strongly left-handed, 5 weakly right-handed, and two ambidextrous) listened to binaural pairs of tones and pairs of Finnish vowels and decided whether the items in the pair were the same (target probability 20%). Cortical responses were recorded with whole-scalp magnetoencephalography.

RESULTS

The laterality index for strengths of the auditory-cortex 100 ms responses (N100m) to vowels vs. tones suggested left-hemispheric dominance in 8 of the 10 strongly right-handed subjects, and right-hemispheric dominance in 7 of the 10 left-handed subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate difference in hemispheric dominance for processing of vowels between right-handed and left-handed subjects. This difference resembles language lateralization suggested by previous invasive studies as well as by anatomical and functional comparisons in left- and right-handed subjects.

SIGNIFICANCE

After comparison with the Wada test, this simple paradigm could prove useful as a noninvasive test for language lateralization in clinical settings.

On the human sensorimotor-cortex beta rhythm: sources and modeling

Cortical oscillations in the beta band (13-35 Hz) are known to be modulated by the GABAergic agonist benzodiazepine. To investigate the mechanisms generating the approximately 20-Hz oscillations in the human cortex, we administered benzodiazepines to healthy adults and monitored cortical oscillatory activity by means of magnetoencephalography. Benzodiazepine increased the power and decreased the frequency of beta oscillations over rolandic areas. Minimum current estimates indicated the effect to take place around the hand area of the primary sensorimotor cortex. Given that previous research has identified sources of the beta rhythm in the motor cortex, our results suggest that these same motor-cortex beta sources are modulated by benzodiazepine. To explore the mechanisms underlying the increase in beta power with GABAergic inhibition, we simulated a conductance-based neuronal network comprising excitatory and inhibitory neurons. The model accounts for the increase in the beta power, the widening of the spectral peak, and the slowing down of the rhythms with benzodiazepines, implemented as an increase in GABAergic conductance. We found that an increase in IPSCs onto inhibitory neurons was more important for generating neuronal synchronization in the beta band than an increase in IPSCs onto excitatory pyramidal cells.

Evaluation of immunogenicity and safety of Genevac B: a new recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in comparison with Engerix B and Shanvac B in healthy adults

PURPOSE

Genevac B, a new indigenous recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was evaluated for its immunogenicity and safety in comparison with Engerix B (Smithkline Beecham Biologicals, Belgium) and Shanvac B (Shantha Biotechnics, India) in healthy adult volunteers.

METHODS

While 240 study subjects were included in the Genevac B group, 80 each were the subjects for Engerix B and Shanvac B. A three dose regimen of 0,1,2 months was adopted with 20 gm dosage uniformly in all the three groups. Vaccinees were assessed during prevaccination, followup and post vaccination periods for clinical, haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters for safety and immunogenicity.

RESULTS

Successful follow-up in all parameters for four months could be achieved in 92.5% (222/240) for Genevac B study subjects and the same was 85% (68/80) and 80% (64/80) for Engerix B and Shanvac B respectively. While 100% seroconversion was observed in all the three groups, the rate of seroprotectivity was 99.5% by Genevac B, 98.5% by Engerix B and 98.4% for Shanvac B. However the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The GMT values of anti HBs after one month of completion of the vaccination were 735.50, 718.23 and 662.20 mIU/mL respectively. No systemic reaction was either seen or reported by the volunteers during the vaccination process of Genevac B and other two vaccines. Clinical, haematological and biochemical safety parameters remained within normal limits throughout the study period.

CONCLUSION

The study confirms that Genevac B, the new recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine has the acceptable international standards of safety and immunogenicity.

Activation of the human posterior parietal and temporoparietal cortices during audiotactile interaction

We recorded cortical-evoked responses with a whole-scalp neuromagnetometer to study human brain dynamics associated with audiotactile interaction. The subjects received unilateral auditory (A) or tactile (T) stimuli, or both stimuli simultaneously (AT), alternating to the left and right side. Responses to AT stimuli differed significantly from the algebraic sum of responses to A and T stimuli (A + T) at 75-85 and 105-130 ms and indicated suppressive audiotactile interaction. Source modeling revealed that the earlier interaction occurred in the contralateral posterior parietal cortex and the later interaction in the contralateral parietal opercula between the SII cortex and the auditory cortex. The interaction was significantly stronger in the left than the right hemisphere. In most subjects, AT responses were far more similar to T than to A responses, suggesting suppression of auditory processing during the spatially and temporally concordant audiotactile stimuli in which the tactile component was subjectively more salient.

Serodiagnosis of syphilis in a community: an evaluatory study

PURPOSE

To analyse the prevalence of syphilis in the apparently healthy population and to provide data for implementation of the joint STD/HIV control programme, a population based study was undertaken by using 'probability proportional to size' cluster survey method in three randomly chosen districts of Tamil Nadu, India namely Dindigul, Ramnad and Tanjore.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected from adults (n=1873) aged 15-45 years, from the selected households enrolled in this study. The sera were tested parallelly by rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination (TPHA) tests. Reactive samples by RPR and/or TPHA were later analysed by fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test.

RESULTS

The prevalence of syphilis in the community of Tamil Nadu as per RPR positivity was 2.7% (50/1873) as against 0.7% by TPHA (13/1873). FTA-ABS positivity was observed in only 12 out of 48 (25%) RPR/TPHA reactive samples tested. By taking the positivity by two of the three tests, the community prevalence of acute ongoing syphilis in Tamil Nadu was determined as 1.1% (20/1873).

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirmed that no single serological test for syphilis can act as the marker of ongoing acute infection in an apparently healthy population. The study suggests that for specific diagnosis of ongoing syphilis, the FTA-ABS test may be performed along with RPR and TPHA.

Task-dependent modulations of cortical oscillatory activity in human subjects during a bimanual precision grip task

Oscillations are a widespread feature of normal brain activity and have been reported at a variety of different frequencies in different neuronal systems. The demonstration that oscillatory activity is present in motor command signals has prompted renewed interest in the possible functions of synchronous oscillatory activity within the primate sensorimotor system. In the current study, we investigated task-dependent modulations in coupling between sensorimotor cortical oscillators during a bimanual precision grip task. The task required a hold-ramp-hold pattern of grip force to be exerted on a compliant object with the dominant right hand, while maintaining a steady grip with the nondominant hand. We found significant task-related modulation of 15- to 30-Hz coherence between magnetoencephalographic (MEG) activity recorded from the left sensorimotor cortex and electromyographic (EMG) activity in hand muscles on the right side. This coherence was maximal during steady hold, but disappeared during the ramp movements. Interestingly coherence between the right sensorimotor MEG and left-hand EMG showed a similar, although less deeply modulated, task-related pattern, even though this hand was maintaining a simple steady grip. No significant ipsilateral MEG-EMG coherence was observed in the 15- to 30-Hz passband for either hand. These results suggest that the cortical oscillators in the two sensorimotor cortices are independent to some degree but that they may share a common mechanism that attenuates the cortical power in both hemispheres in the 15- to 30-Hz range during movements of one hand. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that oscillatory activity in the motor system is important in resetting the descending motor commands needed for changes in motor state, such as those that occur in the transition from movement to steady grip.

Dorsal penile nerve stimulation elicits left-hemisphere dominant activation in the second somatosensory cortex

Activation of peripheral mixed and cutaneous nerves activates a distributed cortical network including the second somatosensory cortex (SII) in the parietal operculum. SII activation has not been previously reported in the stimulation of the dorsal penile nerve (DPN). We recorded somatosensory evoked fields (SEFs) to DPN stimulation from 7 healthy adults with a 122-channel whole-scalp neuromagnetometer. Electrical pulses were applied once every 0.5 or 1.5 sec to the left and right DPN. For comparison, left and right median and tibial nerves were stimulated alternatingly at 1.5-sec intervals. DPN stimuli elicited weak, early responses in the vicinity of responses to tibial nerve stimulation in the primary somatosensory cortex. Strong later responses, peaking at 107-126 msec were evoked in the SII cortices of both hemispheres, with left-hemisphere dominance. In addition to tactile processing, SII could also contribute to mediating emotional effects of DPN stimuli.

Herbal medicines for liver diseases in India

The use of natural remedies for the treatment of liver diseases has a long history, starting with the Ayurvedhic treatment, and extending to the Chinese, European and other systems of traditional medicines. The 21st century has seen a paradigm shift towards therapeutic evaluation of herbal products in liver diseases by carefully synergizing the strengths of the traditional systems of medicine with that of the modern concept of evidence-based medicinal evaluation, standardization of herbal products and randomized placebo controlled clinical trials to support clinical efficacy. The present review provides the status report on the scientific approaches made to herbal preparations used in Indian systems of medicine for the treatment of liver diseases. In spite of the availability of more than 300 preparations for the treatment of jaundice and chronic liver diseases in Indian systems of medicine using more than 87 Indian medicinal plants, only four terrestrial plants have been scientifically elucidated while adhering to the internationally acceptable scientific protocols. In-depth studies have proved Sylibum marianum to be anti-oxidative, antilipidperoxidative, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating and liver regenerative. Glycyrrhiza glabra has been shown to be hepatoprotective and capable of inducing an indigenous interferon. Picrorhiza kurroa is proved to be anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory. Extensive studies on Phyllanthus amarus have confirmed this plant preparation as being anti-viral against hepatitis B and C viruses, hepatoprotective and immunomodulating, as well as possessing anti-inflammatory properties. For the first time in the Indian systems of medicine, a chemo-biological fingerprinting methodology for standardization of P. amarus preparation has been patented.

Oscillatory cortical drive to isometrically contracting muscle in Unverricht-Lundborg type progressive myoclonus epilepsy (ULD)

OBJECTIVE

We investigated with whole-scalp magnetoencephalography (MEG) oscillatory cortical drive to isometrically contracting muscle in 8 genetically verified, and thus etiologically homogeneous, Unverricht-Lundborg type progressive myoclonus epilepsy (ULD) patients suffering from cortical myoclonus and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The results were compared with those of 8 healthy control subjects.

METHODS

Cortical MEG signals were measured simultaneously with surface electromyography (EMG) during isometric contraction of the left and right first dorsal interosseus muscles. Cortex-muscle coherence and cross-correlograms between MEG and EMG signals were calculated as indicators of oscillatory cortical drive to muscle. The cortical areas involved in the maximum cortex-muscle coherence were also identified.

RESULTS

In patients, the strengths of the dominant coherent peaks were 2-4 fold compared with the healthy controls. Whereas the coherence was found strictly in the contralateral primary motor cortex in controls, additional coherent activity was observed ipsilaterally in 5 out of 8 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The remarkably increased MEG-EMG coherence in ULD patients suggests altered oscillatory cortical drive to the muscle during isometric contraction. We suggest that the enhanced cortex-muscle coherence in ULD patients reflects reduced inhibition in the motor cortex, and may contribute to disturbed voluntary movements.

Whose arm is it anyway? An fMRI case study of supernumerary phantom limb

Under normal circumstances, information from a number of sources is combined to compute a unitary percept of the body. However, after pathology these influences may be perceived simultaneously, resulting in multiple dissociated conscious representations. In a recent paper, we described subject E.P., a right-handed female stroke patient with a right frontomesial lesion who sporadically experiences a supernumerary 'ghost' left arm that occupies the previous position of the real left arm after a delay of 60-90 s. We used a delayed response paradigm with functional MRI to examine the haemodynamic correlates of E.P.'s illusion. Comparison of periods of time during scanning when the ghost arm was present against when it was not revealed a single cluster (9 voxels, t = 5.11, P < 0.012 corrected for multiple comparisons) located on the right medial wall in the supplementary motor area ('SMA proper'). Our results suggest that areas traditionally classified as part of the motor system can influence the conscious perception of the body. We propose that, as a consequence of her injury, E.P. is aware of the position of the phantom limb in this 'action space' while also continuing to be aware of the true position of her real limb on the basis of afferent somatosensory information.

Facilitation of neonatal nasotracheal intubation with premedication: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To determine if premedication reduces the time and number of attempts by junior medical staff to achieve nasotracheal intubation in neonates. The experimental design was a non-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial. The setting was a perinatal centre in a university teaching hospital.

METHODS

Twenty infants (within the ranges of 25-40 weeks gestation, 650-3660 g and 1 h to 81 days of age) requiring semi-urgent intubation were randomized to either premedication with morphine, atropine and suxamethonium, or to awake intubation.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the two groups in regard to prior intubation experience of the staff or infant weight or gestation. The intubation procedure, including intervening events, to completion was significantly faster in premedicated infants (median 60 s vs 595 s; P = 0.002) who were intubated at a younger postnatal age. It took twice as many attempts to intubate a conscious infant (median 2 vs 1; P = 0.010). There was a greater decrease in heart rate from the baseline in the unpremedicated group (mean 68 b.p.m. vs 29 b.p.m.; P = 0.017), but decreases in oxygen saturation were not different. Blood was observed in the oral and nasal passages after intubation in five of the awake infants and in one of the premedicated infants.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of premedication reduces the total time and number of attempts taken to achieve successful nasotracheal intubation of neonates by junior medical staff under supervision.

Cortical activation associated with passive movements of the human index finger: an MEG study

We recorded somatosensory evoked fields to passive extensions of the left and right index fingers in eight healthy adults. A new nonmagnetic device was designed to produce calibrated extensions of 19 degrees, with a mean angular velocity of 630 degrees/s. The responses, recorded with a 306-channel neuromagnetometer, were modeled with current dipoles. The earliest activation was in the primary somatosensory cortex, with peaks at 36-58 and 30-82 ms for left and right index finger extensions, respectively. Later signals were observed in the left second somatosensory (SII) cortex in six of eight subjects at 75-175 and 75-155 ms for left- and right-sided extensions, respectively; three subjects showed bilateral SII activation in at least one condition. Our results suggest a predominant role for the human left SII cortex in proprioceptive processing.