Acceleration and transport of relativistic electrons in the jets of the microquasar SS 433

SS 433 is a microquasar, a stellar binary system that launches collimated relativistic jets. We observed SS 433 in gamma rays using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) and found an energy-dependent shift in the apparent position of the gamma-ray emission from the parsec-scale jets. These observations trace the energetic electron population and indicate that inverse Compton scattering is the emission mechanism of the gamma rays. Our modeling of the energy-dependent gamma-ray morphology constrains the location of particle acceleration and requires an abrupt deceleration of the jet flow. We infer the presence of shocks on either side of the binary system, at distances of 25 to 30 parsecs, and that self-collimation of the precessing jets forms the shocks, which then efficiently accelerate electrons.

Dendropanoxide Alleviates Thioacetamide-induced Hepatic Fibrosis via Inhibition of ROS Production and Inflammation in BALB/C Mice

Hepatic fibrosis results from overproduction and excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in hepatocytes. Although the beneficial effects of dendropanoxide (DPx) isolated from Dendropanax morbifera have been studied, its role as an anti-fibrotic agent remains elucidated. We investigated the protective effect of DPx in BALB/_C mice that received thioacetamide (TAA) intraperitoneally for 6 weeks. Later DPx (20 mg/kg/day) or silymarin (50 mg/kg/day) was administered daily for 6 weeks, followed by biochemical and histological analyses of each group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of the livers showed TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis, which was significantly reduced in the DPx group. DPx treatment significantly decreased TAA-induced hyperlipidemia as evidenced by the decreased AST, ALT, ALP, γ-GTP and serum TG concentrations and reduced the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. ELISA revealed reduced levels of total glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and Inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α). Immunostaining showed reduced in collagen-1, α-SMA, and TGF-β1 expression and western blotting showed reduced levels of the apoptotic proteins, TGF-β1, p-Smad2/3, and Smad4. RT-qPCR and Western blotting revealed modifications in SIRT1, SIRT3 and SIRT4. Thus, DPx exerted a protective effect against TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis in the male BALB/_C mouse model by inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis via TGF-β1/Smads signaling.

Protective effect of dendropanoxide against cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity via anti-inflammatory activities in Sprague-Dawley rats

Cadmium (Cd) accumulates in the body through contaminated foods or water and causes pathological damage to the liver via oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions. This study was conducted to explore the effects of dendropanoxide (DPx) on Cd-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were injected with CdCl2 (7 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally for 14 days for the induction of liver dysfunction. The CdCl2-exposed rats were subjected to DPx (10 mg/kg) or silymarin (50 mg/kg). The animals were euthanized after 24 h of the last CdCl2 injection and the serum biochemical parameters, lipid content, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, apoptotic cell death and histopathology of the tissues were analyzed. Additionally, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), was measured. Compared to controls, Cd-injected rats showed significantly elevated serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and a remarkable decrease in SOD and CAT activities. Importantly, Cd-induced liver damage was drastically ameliorated by treatment with DPx or silymarin. Treatment with DPx protected the Cd-induced histopathological hepatic injury, as confirmed by the evaluation of TUNEL assay. DPx treatment significantly reduced Bax and caspase-3 expression in Cd-injected rats. Additionally, HO-1 and NRF2 expressions were significantly increased after DPx administration in the liver of Cd-injected rats. Our data indicate that DPx successfully prevents Cd-induced hepatotoxicity by emphasizing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect.

Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction of Ptaquiloside in Bracken Fern

This study was conducted to determine the optimal boiling time to reduce ptaquiloside (PTA) and to carry out a risk assessment for PTA, a representative toxic substance found in bracken fern (BF; Pteridium aquilinum), which is frequently consumed as food in East Asian countries. High-performance liquid chromatography showed that the concentration of PTA in BF was reduced by up to 99% after boiling for 20 min. Risk assessment results showed that the cancer margin of exposure (MOE; ≥ 25,000 = safe) to PTA for an average daily exposure scenario after boiling BF for 20 min was considered safe. In addition, the non-cancer MOE (≥ 300 = safe) to PTA under an average daily exposure scenario after BF boiling for 20 min was considered safe. However, human exposure to PTA was considered unsafe under the non-boiled BF exposure and maximum daily exposure scenarios. Therefore, boiling BF for at least 20 min is recommended before consumption, to reduce exposure to PTA as much as possible.

Monoclonal antibody and protein therapeutic formulations for subcutaneous delivery: high-concentration, low-volume vs. low-concentration, high-volume

Biologic drugs are used to treat a variety of cancers and chronic diseases. While most of these treatments are administered intravenously by trained healthcare professionals, a noticeable trend has emerged favoring subcutaneous (SC) administration. SC administration of biologics poses several challenges. Biologic drugs often require higher doses for optimal efficacy, surpassing the low volume capacity of traditional SC delivery methods like autoinjectors. Consequently, high concentrations of active ingredients are needed, creating time-consuming formulation obstacles. Alternatives to traditional SC delivery systems are therefore needed to support higher-volume biologic formulations and to reduce development time and other risks associated with high-concentration biologic formulations. Here, we outline key considerations for SC biologic drug formulations and delivery and explore a paradigm shift: the flexibility afforded by low-to-moderate-concentration drugs in high-volume formulations as an alternative to the traditionally difficult approach of high-concentration, low-volume SC formulation delivery.

Tenovin-1 Ameliorates Renal Fibrosis in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity has been involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Tenovin-1, a potent selective SIRT1/2 inhibitor, regulates various target proteins. The present study evaluated the protective effect of Tenovin-1 against renal fibrosis in HFD-induced Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Rats were fed a normal chow diet or HFD. Tenovin-1 (45 mg/kg) administered to HFD-fed rats decreased inflammatory cytokine expression in the serum of the rats. The antioxidant status and oxidative damage to lipids or DNA were significantly restored by Tenovin-1. Additionally, Tenovin-1 reduced the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (sCr), microalbumin, and urinary protein-based biomarkers in the urine of HFD-fed rats. The abnormal architecture of the kidney and pancreas was restored by Tenovin-1 administration. Tenovin-1 also reduced apoptosis in the kidneys of the HFD-fed rats and HG-treated NRK-52E cells. It significantly lowered the levels of ECM proteins in the kidneys of HFD-fed rats and HG-treated NRK-52E cells. Additionally, Tenovin-1 markedly reduced claudin-1, SIRT1, and SIRT2, but increased SIRT3 and SIRT4 in HFD-fed rats and NRK-52E cells treated with HG. Furthermore, Tenovin-1 altered epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) levels in the kidneys of HFD-fed rats. Conclusively, this study shows that Tenovin-1 can be a potential candidate drug for the treatment of HFD-induced renal fibrosis, in vivo and in vitro models.

Molineria recurvata Ameliorates Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy through Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways

Molineria recurvata (MR) has been traditionally used to manage diabetes mellitus in India. However, the molecular mechanism of MR on the diabetic-induced nephropathy has not been clearly investigated. Thus, this study investigates the protective effects of the MR extract on nephropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was instigated by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (45 mg/kg) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Once the diabetes was successfully induced, the MR extract (200 mg/kg/day) or metformin (200 mg/kg/day) was orally administered for 14 days. Renal function, morphology changes and levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured. Blood glucose concentrations were considerably reduced in STZ-induced diabetic rats following treatment with the MR extract. The administration of the MR extract substantially restored the abnormal quantity of the oxidative DNA damage marker 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG), malondialdehyde, glutathione, oxidized glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The urinary excretion of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), selenium binding protein 1 (SBP1), and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) was significantly reduced in diabetes rats after administration of the MR extracts. In the kidneys of STZ-induced diabetic rats, the MR extracts markedly downregulated the expression of fibronectin, collagen-1, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). In particular, the MR extracts markedly increased the level of SIRT1 and SIRT3 and reduced claudin-1 in the kidney. These results suggest that the MR extracts exhibits therapeutic activity in contrast to renal injury in STZ-induced diabetic rats through repressing inflammation and oxidative stress.

Gap Statistics for Confined Particles with Power-Law Interactions

We consider the N particle classical Riesz gas confined in a one-dimensional external harmonic potential with power-law interaction of the form 1/r^{k}, where r is the separation between particles. As special limits it contains several systems such as Dyson's log-gas (k→0^{+}), the Calogero-Moser model (k=2), the 1D one-component plasma (k=-1), and the hard-rod gas (k→∞). Despite its growing importance, only large-N field theory and average density profile are known for general k. In this Letter, we study the fluctuations in the system by looking at the statistics of the gap between successive particles. This quantity is analogous to the well-known level-spacing statistics which is ubiquitous in several branches of physics. We show that the variance goes as N^{-b_{k}} and we find the k dependence of b_{k} via direct Monte Carlo simulations. We provide supporting arguments based on microscopic Hessian calculation and a quadratic field theory approach. We compute the gap distribution and study its system size scaling. Except in the range -1<k<0, we find scaling for all k>-2 with both Gaussian and non-Gaussian scaling forms.

Sensitization Effects of Repurposed Blood Pressure-regulating Drugs on Drug-resistant Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND/AIM

We investigated drugs that could sensitize KBV20C cancer cells resistant to eribulin or vincristine (VIC) treatment and assessed their associated mechanisms of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Such cancer cells were known to overexpress P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Considering that reserpine (P-gp inhibitor) plays a regulatory role in patients with high blood pressure, we investigated the effect of low doses of 27 blood pressure-regulating drugs on VIC-resistant KBV20C cells. This was done to identify drugs that could be repurposed for sensitizing antimitotic drug-resistant KBV20C cells at relatively low doses. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), annexin V analyses, rhodamine uptake tests and western-blot analysis were performed to further investigate the mechanism of action of such drugs.

RESULTS

We found that co-treatment with amiodarone, nicardipine, carvedilol, or vardenafil at low doses could highly sensitize KBV20C cells treated with eribulin or VIC. These drugs reduced cellular viability, increased G₂ arrest and up-regulated apoptosis when co-administered with eribulin or VIC. Considering that they sensitize with either co-treatment of eribulin or VIC, we assumed that they can be combined with other antimitotic drugs to sensitize the resistant cancer cells. Through detailed quantitative analysis, we found that eribulin with amiodarone had a higher sensitization effect than eribulin with nicardipine or eribulin with carvedilol. We found that reserpine had the highest P-gp-inhibitory activity, indicating that eribulin- or VIC-reserpine sensitization involves the P-gp inhibitory effects of reserpine. However, we found that amiodarone, nicardipine, carvedilol and vardenafil had very low P-gp inhibitory activity. Moreover, we found that cells co-treated with VIC-carvedilol down-regulated expression of pERK.

CONCLUSION

Highly antimitotic drug-resistant KBV20C cells can be sensitized by co-treatment with the repurposed blood pressure-regulating drugs amiodarone, nicardipine, carvedilol or vardenafil. These findings indicate that the repurposed blood pressure-regulating drugs may potentially be used in drug-resistant cancer patients without any toxic effects due to P-gp inhibition.

National prevalence and outcomes of coronary chronic total occlusion revascularization in patients with congestive heart failure

Background

There is limited data on the prevalence and outcomes of coronary artery chronic total occlusion (CTO) revascularization in patients with congestive heart failure.

Purpose

Our goal is to study the prevalence and outcomes of CTO revascularization in terms of in-hospital mortality, re-admission rate, and complications in patients stratified by their heart failure status.

Methods

Patients with CTO who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included for the years 2010 - 2018 from the national readmission database. We compared the national trends, prevalence and outcomes of CTO revascularization in patients with no heart failure, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) using one-way ANOVA and logistic regression.

Results

A total of 166,244 (69±11 years, 26% women) patients with coronary CTO who underwent PCI were identified. Of these, 131,664 (79%) patients had no clinical diagnosis of HF, while 26,612 (16%) patients had HFpEF, and 7,968 (5%) patients had HFrEF. Majority of patients with HFpEF and HFrEF had a moderate to high Elixhauser comorbidity score, while those with no HF had mostly low to moderate score (p&lt;0.001). We observed a steady decrease in annual CTO revascularization from a total of 24,708 in 2010 to 13,505 in 2018. However, the percentage of CTO revascularization in patients with HFrEF has increased during this period from 2% in 2010 to 8% in 2018. Interestingly, patients with HFpEF had higher rates of cardiac arrest (Odds Ratio (OR) 2.2; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.8–2.7, p&lt;0.001), ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (OR 3.7; 95% CI 3.4–4.0, p&lt;0.001), use of mechanical support (OR 5.5; 95% CI 4.9–6.2, p&lt;0.001), and death during admission (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.8–2.7, p&lt;0.001) than those with no HF and with HFrEF. Similarly, patients with HFpEF had higher rates of intensive care unit admission (9%), than those with HFrEF (5%), and no HF (2%) (p&lt;0.001). Readmission rates were similar across all three groups (0.5–0.7%, p=0.06). The median cost of hospitalization was significantly higher in the HFpEF group compared to the other groups ($98,366, p&lt;0.001).

Conclusion

In this cohort of patients, we observed an overall annual decline in CTO revascularization over the 8-year study period. Despite this decline, we observed an increase in CTO revascularization in patient with HFrEF. Interestingly, patients with HFpEF had elevated in hospital mortality and higher rates of cardiac arrest, ventricular arrhythmias, mechanical circulatory support, and admission to the cardiac care unit than those with no HF, or those with HFrEF. Despite their persevered ejection fraction, our findings suggest that CTO revascularization in with patients with HFpEF carry a significant risk, thus risks versus benefits in this group of patients should be weighed considerably before attempting revascularization.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Active microrheology using pulsed optical tweezers to probe viscoelasticity of lamin A

Lamins are nucleoskeletal proteins of mammalian cells that stabilize the structure and maintain the rigidity of the nucleus. These type V intermediate filament proteins which are predominantly of A and B types provide necessary tensile strength to the nucleus. Single amino acid missense mutations occurring all over the lamin A protein form a cluster of human diseases termed as laminopathies, most of which principally affect the muscle and cardiac tissues responsible for load bearing functionalities of the body. One such mutation is A350P which causes dilated cardiomyopathy in patients. It is postulated that a change from alanine to proline in the α-helical coiled-coil forming 2B rod domain of the protein might severely disrupt the propensity of the filaments to polymerise into functional higher order structures required to form a fully functional lamina with its characteristic elasticity. In this study, we have elucidated for the very first time, the application of active microrheology employing oscillating optical tweezers to investigate any alterations in the viscoelastic parameters of the mutant protein meshwork in vitro, which might translate into possible changes in nuclear plasticity. We confirmed our findings from this robust yet fast method by imaging both the wild type and mutant lamin A networks using a super resolution microscope, and observed changes in the mesh size which corroborate our measured changes in the viscoelastic parameters of the lamins. This method could thus be extended to conduct microrheological measurements on any intermediate filament protein thus bearing significant implications in laminopathies and other diseases associated with intermediate filaments.

Specific Pyruvate Kinase M2 Inhibitor, Compound 3K, Induces Autophagic Cell Death through Disruption of the Glycolysis Pathway in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Ovarian cancer is a common cause of death among gynecological cancers. Although ovarian cancer initially responds to chemotherapy, frequent recurrence in patients remains a therapeutic challenge. Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) plays a pivotal role in regulating cancer cell survival. However, its therapeutic role remains unclear. Here, we investigated the anticancer effects of compound 3K, a specific PKM2 inhibitor, on the regulation of autophagic and apoptotic pathways in SK-OV-3 (PKM2-overexpressing human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line). The anticancer effect of compound 3K was examined using MTT and colony formation assays in SK-OV-3 cells. PKM2 expression was positively correlated with the severity of the tumor, and expression of pro-apoptotic proteins increased in SK-OV-3 cells following compound 3K treatment. Compound 3K induced AMPK activation, which was accompanied by mTOR inhibition. Additionally, this compound inhibited glycolysis, resulting in reduced proliferation of SK-OV-3 cells. Compound 3K treatment suppressed tumor progression in an in vivo xenograft model. Our findings suggest that the inhibition of PKM2 by compound 3K affected the Warburg effect and induced autophagic cell death. Therefore, use of specific PKM2 inhibitors to block the glycolytic pathway and target cancer cell metabolism represents a promising therapeutic approach for treating PKM2-overexpressing ovarian cancer.

Phytopharmaceuticals mediated Furin and TMPRSS2 receptor blocking: can it be a potential therapeutic option for Covid-19?

BACKGROUND

Currently, novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak creates global panic across the continents, as people from almost all countries and territories have been affected by this highly contagious viral disease. The scenario is deteriorating due to lack of proper & specific target-oriented pharmacologically safe prophylactic agents or drugs, and or any effective vaccine. drug development is urgently required to back in the normalcy in the community and to combat this pandemic.

PURPOSE

Thus, we have proposed two novel drug targets, Furin and TMPRSS2, as Covid-19 treatment strategy. We have highlighted this target-oriented novel drug delivery strategy, based on their pathophysiological implication on SARS-CoV-2 infection, as evident from earlier SARS-CoV-1, MERS, and influenza virus infection via host cell entry, priming, fusion, and endocytosis. STUDY DESIGN &  METHODS: An earlier study suggested that Furin and TMPRSS2 knockout mice had reduced level of viral load and a lower degree of organ damage such as the lung. The present study thus highlights the promise of some selected novel and potential anti-viral Phytopharmaceutical that bind to Furin and TMPRSS2 as target.

RESULT

Few of them had shown promising anti-viral response in both preclinical and clinical study with acceptable therapeutic safety-index.

CONCLUSION

Hence, this strategy may limit life-threatening Covid-19 infection and its mortality rate through nano-suspension based intra-nasal or oral nebulizer spray, to treat mild to moderate SARS-COV-2 infection when Furin and TMPRSS2 receptor may initiate to express and activate for processing the virus to cause cellular infection by replication within the host cell and blocking of host-viral interaction.

Origin, genetic diversity and evolution of Andaman local duck, a native duck germplasm of an insular region of India

Domestic ducks are of paramount importance as a cheap source of protein in rural India. Andaman local duck (ALD) is an indigenous avian genetic resource of Andaman and Nicobar islands (ANI) and is mainly distributed in Middle and Northern parts of these islands. Negligence has brought this breed on the edge of extinction necessitating immediate conservation efforts. Here, we report the genetic diversity, population structure and matrilineal genetic root of ALD. Partial mtDNA D-loop sequences were analyzed in 71 ALD samples and analysis revealed 19 polymorphic sites and 13 haplotypes. Estimated haplotype (Hd ± SD) and nucleotide diversity (π ± SD) were 0.881 ± 0.017 and 0.00897 ± 0.00078 respectively. The high genetic diversity of ALD indicates introgression of genetic material from other local duck breeds. In addition, it can be postulated that ALD bearing high genetic diversity has strong ability to adapt to environmental changes and can withstand impending climate change. Phylogenetic and network analysis indicate that ALD falls under Eurasian clade of mallard and ALD forms three clusters; one cluster is phylogenetically close to Southeast Asian countries, one close to Southern part of mainland India and the third one forms an independent cluster. Therefore, ALD might have migrated either from Southeast Asian countries which enjoy a close cultural bondage with ANI from time immemorial or from Southern part of India. The independent cluster may have evolved locally in these islands and natural selection pressure imposed by environmental conditions might be the driving force for evaluation of these duck haplotypes; which mimics Darwin’s theory of natural selection. The results of the study will be beneficial for formulating future breeding programme and conservation strategy towards sustainable development of the duck breed.

Role of seminal MDA, ROS, and antioxidants in cryopreservation and their kinetics under the influence of ejaculatory abstinence in bovine semen

Despite many cryopreservation techniques in bovine semen, various stressors' detrimental effects remain a significant issue. The present study targeted to assess the role of semen quality parameters, sperm function tests, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and different antioxidants in the cryopreservation of bovine semen. Further, the kinetics of lipid peroxidation, ROS, and antioxidants on repeated semen collection under short ejaculatory abstinence were studied. We designed a comparative study where bulls were grouped into good and low freezable semen groups (Freeze-groups) based on their post-thaw motility. All the bulls included had similar initial motility and qualified minimum standards for initial semen parameters viz. semen volume and sperm concentration. The present study detected a higher lipid peroxidation and ROS viz. superoxide anions (•O2-) and a lower total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the low freeze-group compared to the good freeze-group. The ROS and antioxidants showed unique kinetics on repeated semen collection at short intervals, and no significant change was detected in semen volume, sperm motility, and sperm concentration. This study detected higher head abnormalities and poor acrosome integrity in the low freeze-groups. The present study results indicated that the sperm head might be the most vulnerable part of the sperm to cryopreservation stress. The present study finds significantly higher lipid peroxidation and ROS levels and reduced antioxidant capacity as the primary reasons for low cryopreservability. Further, repeated semen collection with a shorter or lack of abstinence does not impose any significant change in the semen volume and sperm concentration; moreover, it could be beneficial for higher antioxidant levels and lower lipid peroxidation levels. As seminal plasma has both inhibitory and stimulatory roles in sperm function and cryopreservation, identifying the critical role players of seminal plasma and identifying sperm related changes in cryopreservation could predict the cryopreservability potential of semen.

Development of a position-sensitive fast scintillator (LaBr3(Ce)) detector setup for gamma-ray imaging application

We have characterized a Cerium doped Lanthanum Bromide (LaBr3(Ce) ) crystal coupled with the position-sensitive photo-multiplier system for the gamma-ray imaging application. One can use this detector set-up for the scanning of high purity germanium detectors for pulse shape analysis in gamma-ray spectroscopy experiments and the image formation of an object by Compton back-scattering . The sensor has been tested for energy, timing and position information of the gamma-rays interacting within the detector crystal. The GEANT4 simulation results are consistent with the experimental results. We have reconstructed the image of irradiation spots in different positions throughout the detector crystal. Position resolution is found to be around 3.5 mm with the 2 mm collimated gamma-rays. The 2-d image of hexagonal Bismuth Germanate (BGO) crystal and a cylindrical LaBr3(Ce) crystal have been reconstructed in coincidence technique. The performance of the detector for imaging application has been investigated by coincidence technique in GEANT4 simulation and compared with the experimental data. We have reconstructed the 2-d images of objects with various geometrical shapes by Compton back-scattered events of the gamma-rays. This position-sensitive detector can be used as an absorber of a Compton camera for the image reconstruction of an extended radioactive source. One can also use this kind of set-up as in radiation imaging and many other applications where the energy and source position of the gamma-ray is the main interest.

Adverse health risk from prolonged consumption of formaldehyde-preserved carps in eastern region of Indian population

Presence of formaldehyde as a preservative in commonly available fishes (Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Anabas testudineus and Clarias gariepinus) has become a serious health concern in the public health of eastern region of India. Formaldehyde content was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed high formaldehyde content in frozen carp (19.66 and 23.3 mg/kg in Labeo rohita and Catla catla, respectively); however, the amount of formaldehyde was significantly reduced in boiled and fried fish (80 °C and 100 °C for 5 min) in mustard, coconut, and sesame oils. However, formaldehyde contents in non-carp fishes (Anabas testudineus and Clarias gariepinus) were almost negligible, compared to those in L. rohita and C. catla. In vivo toxicity studies showed a time-dependent increase in blood formaldehyde levels in rats after they were fed formaldehyde-contaminated fish (23.3 mg/kg) for 7 days. Histopathological analysis of the stomach of rats fed contaminated fish showed destruction and granulation of the protective mucus layer and detachment from the secretory layer. Taken together, our results indicated that continuous consumption of formaldehyde-contaminated carps commonly available in the eastern region of India may be associated with adverse health effects.

Protective effect of EX-527 against high-fat diet-induced diabetic nephropathy in Zucker rats

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity is implicated in diabetic nephropathy (DN). EX-527, a selective Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor, has multiple biological functions; however, its protective effect against DN is yet to be properly understood. This study was aimed to explore the protective effect of EX-527 against DN in HFD-induced diabetic Zucker (ZDF) rats. After 21 weeks of continually feeding HFD to the rats, the apparent characteristics of progressive DN were observed, which included an increase in kidney weight (~160%), hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines, and subsequent renal cell damage. However, the administration of EX-527 for 10 weeks significantly reduced the blood glucose concentration and kidney weight (~59%). Furthermore, EX-527 significantly reduced the serum concentration of transforming growth factor-β1 (49%), interleukin (IL)-1β (52%), and IL-6 in the HFD-fed rats. Overall, the antioxidant activities significantly increased, and oxidative damage to lipids or DNA was suppressed. Particularly, EX-527 significantly reduced blood urea nitrogen (81%), serum creatinine (71%), microalbumin (43%), and urinary excretion of protein-based biomarkers. Histopathological examination revealed expansion of the extracellular mesangial matrix and suppression of glomerulosclerosis following EX-527 administration. EX-527 downregulated the expression of α-SMA (~64%), TGF-β (25%), vimentin, α-tubulin, fibronectin, and collagen-1 in the kidneys of the HFD-fed rats. Additionally, EX-527 substantially reduced claudin-1 and SIRT1 expression, but increased the expression of SIRT3 in the kidneys of the HFD-fed rats. EX-527 also inhibited the growth factor receptors, including EGFR, PDGFR-β, and STAT3, which are responsible for the anti-fibrotic effect of SIRT-1. Therefore, the administration of EX-527 protects against HFD-induced DN.

Tracing the genetic root of Trinket cattle: an endangered cattle population of a small isolated island of Nicobar group of islands

Trinket cattle are the inhabitant of a small island called Trinket, which is one of the picturesque islands of Andaman. This herd is thought to be of Danish leftover during their dynasty in Nicobar archipelago. When the island was abandoned by foreign invaders, indigenes utilized the animals for the purpose of meat. As a result, the cattle became semi-feral in nature. After the Great Sumatra earthquake and tsunami of Indian Ocean in 2004, Trinket island was left abandoned by indigenes and the cattle became totally feral in nature. To trace the genetic root of the cattle, this study has been undertaken based on the sequence information of the mitochondrial D-loop and cytochrome b gene. The genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples of the Trinket cattle and was used for amplification of mitochondrial markers, and the sequence information was generated by Sanger sequencing. The analysis of sequence information revealed that the Trinket cattle belongs to Bos indicus (I) haplotype, sub-haplotype I2. The presence of I2 sub-haplotype in Trinket cattle may be due to the expansion of this I2 haplotype towards Southeast Asian countries. This is a novel input for the formulation of breeding strategy towards conservation of eco-friendly sustainable livestock in the isolated island ecosystem.

Linkage between business sustainability and tacit knowledge management in MSMEs

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to report the apparent linkage between knowledge management (KM) practices in a semi-structured sector and business sustainability. Micro, small and medium scale enterprises in developing economies are constrained by accessibility to resources and have not been able to reap the benefits of structured KM practices to fine-tune their business processes. Insights derived from business operations of such enterprises can be formalized into relevant knowledge creation. An effective KM can help in revival strategies for many traditional organizations like handloom that operate as a co-operative. Such business has come under immense challenges from new-age organizations in that particular sector. This study reports the brand revival and business sustainability journey of a handloom co-operative through effective knowledge assimilation and dissemination.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors have assessed the governance of small co-operative units in handloom and their supervision, which pose serious challenges for business sustainability. Their business data pertaining to productivity, sales and income for the period from 1997-1998 to 2015-2016 have been analyzed for business sustainability. A time-series analysis has been done on the above data set to track business sustainability of the handloom co-operative. The findings have been analyzed through a case-based study approach.

Findings

Over a period of one and half-decade, the handloom co-operative has been able to improve its product offering, which, in turn, led to the revival of the brand. Such transformation has resulted in revival of decades old brand through effective knowledge sharing, which is mainly tacit in nature. This case study based paper showcases that despite their inherent constraints, micro, small and medium enterprise organizations (many of which are semi-structured or unstructured in nature) can reap huge benefits by making efforts to put in place an effective KM mechanism.

Originality/value

There are very few reported studies, which have explored the linkage between tacit KM practices and business sustainability. Studies in context to a semi-structured small- and medium-scale enterprises are not available in published literature.

Knockdown of Pyruvate Kinase M2 Inhibits Cell Proliferation, Metabolism, and Migration in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Emerging evidence indicates that the activity of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) isoform is crucial for the survival of tumor cells. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the function of PKM2 in renal cancer is undetermined. Here, we reveal the overexpression of PKM2 in the proximal tubule of renal tumor tissues from 70 cases of patients with renal carcinoma. The functional role of PKM2 in human renal cancer cells following small-interfering RNA-mediated PKM2 knockdown, which retarded 786-O cell growth was examined. Targeting PKM2 affected the protein kinase B (AKT)/mechanistic target of the rapamycin 1 (mTOR) pathway, and downregulated the expression of glycolytic enzymes, including lactate dehydrogenase A and glucose transporter-1, and other downstream signaling key proteins. PKM2 knockdown changed glycolytic metabolism, mitochondrial function, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, and intracellular metabolite formation and significantly reduced 786-O cell migration and invasion. Acridine orange and monodansylcadaverine staining, immunocytochemistry, and immunoblotting analyses revealed the induction of autophagy in renal cancer cells following PKM2 knockdown. This is the first study to indicate PKM2/AKT/mTOR as an important regulatory axis mediating the changes in the metabolism of renal cancer cells.

Complete mitogenome sequencing of Andaman buffalo: an endangered germplasm of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Andaman buffalo is an indigenous buffalo of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Over the last decade, it has witnessed a rapid decline in population, necessitating its immediate characterization and conservation. The present study reports the complete mitogenome profile of Andaman buffalo which is 16,359 bp in length and comprised of 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs and two ribosomal RNAs. In addition, one A + T rich region (D-loop) was also present. A biasness towards A and T base was observed in all the genes. All the PCGs except ND6 were present on heavy strand. Start codons for all the 13 PCGs were ATN codon and abbreviated/truncated stop codons were observed in ND1, ND2, COX3, ND3 and ND4. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Andaman buffalo is closely related to buffalo from India and China. The results from this study will help in sketching the conservation plan of the threatened breed.

Harmonically Confined Particles with Long-Range Repulsive Interactions

We study an interacting system of N classical particles on a line at thermal equilibrium. The particles are confined by a harmonic trap and repel each other via pairwise interaction potential that behaves as a power law ∝∑[under i≠j][over N]|x_{i}-x_{j}|^{-k} (with k>-2) of their mutual distance. This is a generalization of the well-known cases of the one-component plasma (k=-1), Dyson's log gas (k→0^{+}), and the Calogero-Moser model (k=2). Because of the competition between harmonic confinement and pairwise repulsion, the particles spread over a finite region of space for all k>-2. We compute exactly the average density profile for large N for all k>-2 and show that while it is independent of temperature for sufficiently low temperature, it has a rich and nontrivial dependence on k with distinct behavior for -2<k<1, k>1 and k=1.

Mitochondrial landscape of indigenous pig germplasm of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Nicobari pig and Andaman Desi pig are indigenous pig germplasm of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India. Over the last two decades, the pig breeds witnessed a rapid decline in population, necessitating immediate characterization and conservation. The present study depicts the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Nicobari pig and Andaman Desi pig. The mitogenomes of both the breeds encode 37 genes including 13 protein coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and two ribosomal RNA genes. In addition, a control region (D-loop) was also present. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Nicobari is phylogenetically close to Banna mini and Breed I pig, whereas Andaman Desi pig is close to Mong cai and Jinhua pig breeds. The results of the study will be helpful for formulating of conservation strategy of the native swine breeds.

Abstract 4370: Knockdown of PKM2 induces autophagic cell death via Akt/mTOR pathway in human prostate cancer cells

Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is crucial for aerobic glycolysis that is highly expressed in the various cancer tissues. Although high expression of PKM2 is observed in prostate tumor tissues, its functional role against affecting cancer metabolism is not clearly understood. Herein, we investigate its role in regulating autophagy and its associated pathways. In the current study, various PKM2-siRNA constructs were used to knockdown the PKM2 expression and observed its cellular pathways on autophagy. Cell viability was significantly reduced in PKM2-siRNA transfected prostate cancer cells, DU145. Acridine orange staining and immunoblotting analysis showed that downregulation of PKM2 markedly increased autophagy cell death. In addition, immunoblotting analysis exhibited the blocking the protein kinase B (Akt) and mTOR1 pathways, which subsequently down-regulated the expression of glycolytic enzymes lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that inhibition of PKM2 changes in cancer cell metabolism and induces autophagy, thus, providing new perspectives into the mechanism of its anticancer activity against prostate cancer, DU145.

Citation Format: Prasanta Dey, Amit Kundu, Byung Mu Lee, Hyung Sik Kim. Knockdown of PKM2 induces autophagic cell death via Akt/mTOR pathway in human prostate cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4370.

PKM2 Knockdown Induces Autophagic Cell Death via AKT/mTOR Pathway in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is essential for aerobic glycolysis. Although high PKM2 expression is observed in various cancer tissues, its functional role in cancer metabolism is unclear. Here, we investigated the role of PKM2 in regulating autophagy and its associated pathways in prostate cancer cells.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry was performed to compare the expression level of PKM2 in prostate cancer patients and normal human, whereas expression of PKM2 in several cell lines was also examined by using western blot. PKM2 expression was silenced using various small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Cell viability was examined using IncuCyte ZOOM™ live cell imaging system. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to investigate the PKM2 knockdown on other cellular signaling molecules. Acridine orange and Monodansylcadaverine staining was performed to check effect of PKM2 knockdown on autophagy induction. High performance thin layer chromatography was carried out to quantify the level of different cellular metabolites (pyruvate and lactate). Colony formation assay was performed to determine the ability of a cells to form large colonies.

RESULTS

PKM2 was highly expressed in prostate cancer patients as compared to normal human. PKM2 siRNA-transfected prostate cancer cells showed significantly reduced viability. Acridine orange, Monodansylcadaverine staining and western blotting analysis showed that PKM2 downregulation markedly increased autophagic cell death. Results of western blotting analysis showed that PKM2 knockdown affected protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin 1 pathway, which consequently downregulated the expression of glycolytic enzymes lactate dehydrogenase A and glucose transporter 1. Knockdown of PKM2 also reduced the colony formation ability of human prostate cancer cell DU145.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that PKM2 inhibition alters prostate cancer cell metabolism and induces autophagy, thus providing new perspectives for developing PKM2-targeting anticancer therapies for treating prostate cancer.

Chlorogenic acid-mediated chemical defence of plants against insect herbivores

Chlorogenic acid is one of the most abundant beneficial polyphenols in plants and is well known as a nutritional antioxidant in plant-based foods. Apart from its dietary antioxidant activity, it has been proved to be an efficient defence molecule against a broad range of insect herbivores. In the last two decades, several reports have shown the effectiveness of chlorogenic acid in insect growth deterrence. The pathway for chlorogenic acid biosynthesis in plants was previously elucidated, and metabolic engineering of the principal pathway showed high chlorogenic acid production in tomato plants. Herbivore-mediated induction of chlorogenic acid biosynthesis was also demonstrated both at metabolite and transcript level, although herbivore-mediated molecular regulation of chlorogenic acid biosynthesis is not yet fully elucidated. In this communication, we present our views on the efficacy of chlorogenic acid as an anti-herbivore defence molecule in plants and also discuss its future outlook.

Therapeutic value of steroidal alkaloids in cancer: Current trends and future perspectives

Discovery and development of new potentially selective anticancer agents are necessary to prevent a global cancer health crisis. Currently, alternative medicinal agents derived from plants have been extensively investigated to develop anticancer drugs with fewer adverse effects. Among them, steroidal alkaloids are conventional secondary metabolites that comprise an important class of natural products found in plants, marine organisms and invertebrates, and constitute a judicious choice as potential anti-cancer leads. Traditional medicine and modern science have shown that representatives from this compound group possess potential antimicrobial, analgesic, anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, systematic and recapitulated information about the bioactivity of these compounds, with special emphasis on the molecular or cellular mechanisms, is of high interest. In this review, we methodically discuss the in vitro and in vivo potential of the anticancer activity of natural steroidal alkaloids and their synthetic and semi-synthetic derivatives. This review focuses on cumulative and comprehensive molecular mechanisms, which will help researchers understand the molecular pathways involving steroid alkaloids to generate a selective and safe new lead compound with improved therapeutic applications for cancer prevention and therapy. In vitro and in vivo studies provide evidence about the promising therapeutic potential of steroidal alkaloids in various cancer cell lines, but advanced pharmacokinetic and clinical experiments are required to develop more selective and safe drugs for cancer treatment.

GhSTOP1, a C2H2 type zinc finger transcription factor is essential for aluminum and proton stress tolerance and lateral root initiation in cotton

Aluminum (Al) and proton (H⁺ ) ions are major acid soil stress factors deleteriously affecting plant root growth and crop yield. In our preliminary studies, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings displayed very sensitive phenotypes to Al and H⁺ rhizotoxicities. Based on previous Arabidopsis results, we aimed to characterise the Al stress responsive Sensitive to Proton rhizotoxicity 1 (GhSTOP1) transcription system in cotton using RNAi-mediated down-regulation. With the help of seed embryo apex explants, we developed transgenic cotton plants overexpressing a GhSTOP1-RNAi cassette with NPTII selection. Kanamycin-tolerant T1 seedlings were further considered for Al and H⁺ stress tolerance studies. Down-regulation of the GhSTOP1 increased sensitivity to Al and proton rhizotoxicities, and root growth was significantly reduced in RNAi lines. The expression profile of GhALMT1 (Aluminum-activated Malate Transporter 1), GhMATE (Multidrug and Toxic Compound Extrusion), GhALS3 (Aluminium Sensitive 3) and key genes involved in the GABA shunt were down-regulated in the transgenic RNAi lines. Additionally, the lateral root initiation process was delayed and expression of GhNAC1, which is involved in lateral roots, was also suppressed in transgenic lines. Besides, overexpression of GhSTOP1 in Arabidopsis accelerated root growth and AtMATE and AtALMT1 expression under Al stress conditions. These analyses indicate that GhSTOP1 is essential for the expression of several genes which are necessary for acid soil tolerance mechanisms and lateral root initiation.

Afrocyclamin A, a triterpene saponin, induces apoptosis and autophagic cell death via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in human prostate cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Afrocyclamin A, an oleanane-type triterpene saponin, was isolated from Androsace umbellata which used as a traditional herbal medicine.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore the anticancer activity of afrocyclamin A on human prostate cancer cells in vitro as well as in vivo.

METHODS

Cytotoxicity, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and autophagic cell death were measured following exposure to afrocyclamin A. In vivo antitumor activity of afrocyclamin A was assessed in a xenograft model. The protein levels of p-Akt, p-mTOR, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, and caspase-9 were quantified using western blot analysis.

RESULTS

In DU145 cells, afrocyclamin A increased cytotoxicity, caused changes in cell morphology, and induced sub-G0/G1 phase indicating increased apoptosis. Afrocyclamin A robustly induced autophagic cell death as demonstrated by the conversion of LC3B-I to LC3B-II, and the formation of autophagic vacuoles as revealed by western blot analysis and fluorescence staining, respectively. Afrocyclamin A also inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR, suggesting their role in afrocyclamin A induced cell death. In addition, afrocyclamin A inhibited cell migration and invasion in concentration and time-dependent manners. In an in vivo xenograft model, afrocyclamin A inhibited the growth of DU145 cells.

CONCLUSION

Afrocyclamin A has anticancer activity via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, which leads to cell death.

Design and assessment of stimulation parameters for a novel peripheral nerve interface

Bi-directional interfaces for peripheral nerve stimulation and recording aim to improve control and acceptance of sensorized prosthetic limbs. The implantable multimodal peripheral recording and stimulation system (IMPRESS) is an intraneural interface technology supporting a high-density transverse intrafascicular multichannel electrode (hd-TIME). Herein we report on in vivo selectivity studies using a passive hd-TIME, and computational modeling towards optimal stimulation parameters for fiber recruitment.

Lipid-drug conjugates: a potential nanocarrier system for oral drug delivery applications

Hydrophilic drugs are preferred candidates for most routes of drug administration, because of their enhanced solubility and dissolution under aqueous in vivo conditions. However, their hydrophilic nature also leads to decreased permeability across hydrophobic barriers. This is a severe limitation in situations where membrane permeability is the primary factor affecting bioavailability and efficacy of the drug. Highly impermeable cellular membranes or the tight endothelial junctions governing the blood-brain barrier are prime examples of this limitation. In other cases, decreased permeability across mucosal or epithelial membranes may require increased doses, which is an inefficient and potentially dangerous workaround. Covalent conjugation of hydrophilic drugs to hydrophobic moieties like short-chain lipids is a promising strategy for maintaining the critical balance between drug solubility and permeability. This article practically focuses on the production procedure of Lipid drug conjugates (LDCs), various formulation methodologies for preparing LDC nanoparticles with detailed about their in vitro physicochemical characterization at laboratory scale. Moreover, brief overviews on the role of LDCs in novel drug delivery applications as a substrate to various disease therapies are provided.

Graphical Abstract

Effect of Asymmetric, Charge Balanced Stimuli on Elicited Compound Neural Action Potentials

Whether via cuff or intrafascicular electrode, peripheral neural stimulations often rely on symmetric, charge balanced paradigms. To date, few investigations have been carried out which systematically decompose the features of a stimulus waveform. Factors such as pulse-width, amplitude, and the timing with which they are presented may have significant effects on the quality of the stimuli. This work seeks to fill this gap in knowledge and share insight into how selection of electrical stimuli may affect the resultant neural activation in peripheral nerves. In particular, we found that, although there is some variance, over the parameter range tested there was not a significant effect on neural fiber recruitment percent due to waveform selection.

Synthesis of TMPA Derivatives through Sequential Ir(III)-Catalyzed C-H Alkylation and Their Antidiabetic Evaluation

The synthesis and antidiabetic evaluation of ethyl 2-[2,3,4-trimethoxy-6-(1-octanoyl)phenyl]acetate (TMPA) and its structural analogs are described. The construction of TMPA derivatives has been successfully achieved in only two steps, which involve the iridium(III)-catalyzed α-alkylation of acetophenones with alcohols and the ketone-directed iridium(III)- or rhodium(III)-catalyzed redox-neutral C-H alkylation of α-alkylated acetophenones using Meldrum's diazo compounds. This synthetic protocol efficiently provides a range of TMPA derivatives with site selectivity and functional group compatibility. In addition, the site-selective demethylation of TMPA derivative affords the naturally occurring phomopsin C in good yield. Moreover, all synthetic compounds were screened for in vitro adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation using HepG2 cells. Furthermore, TMPA (5ac) and 5cd showing the most potent AMPK activation were treated for the in vivo antidiabetic experiment. Notably, our synthetic compound 5cd was found to display the powerful antidiabetic effect, stronger than that of metformin and TMPA (5ac).

Generation and application of LET calibration curve for neutron dosimetry using CR-39 detector and microwave induced chemical etching

Microwave induced chemical etching (MICE) has been established as a faster and improved technique compared to other contemporary etching techniques for the development of tracks in a CR-39 detector. However, the methodology could not be applied for LET (linear energy transfer) spectrometry due to lack of a calibration curve using this method. For this purpose, a new LET calibration curve in the range of 12 keV/μm-799 keV/μm was generated considering different ions such as H, Li, C, O, and F on CR-39 having different LETs in water. An empirical relation was established from the obtained calibration curve for determining the value of LET (in water) from the value of V, the ratio of track etch rate to bulk etch rate. For application of this calibration curve in neutron dosimetry, CR-39 detectors were irradiated to neutrons generated from 120 and 142 MeV ¹⁶O+²⁷Al systems followed by a similar MICE procedure. The absorbed dose (D_LET) and the dose equivalent (H_LET) were obtained from the LET spectra and were found to be 13% and 10% higher for 142 MeV ¹⁶O+²⁷Al system than those for 120 MeV ¹⁶O+²⁷Al system, respectively. The outcome of the study demonstrates the possibility of using the MICE technique for neutron dose estimation by CR-39 via LET spectrometry.

In vitro antioxidant activities of root extract of Asparagus racemosus Linn

Objective

The purpose of the study is to investigate potential of antioxidant property of ethanolic root extract of Asparagus racemosus Linn (EEAR).

Methods

In vitro evaluation antioxidant property of EEAR was done using various methods like DPPH scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and nitric oxide scavenging activity. HPTLC fingerprint analysis was performed for qualitative determination of possible number of components from the ethanolic extract. Acute toxicity study was performed in Wistar rat and an OECD guideline 423 was followed.

Results

The yield value was found 0.96% from EEAR. A concentration of 468.57 ± 3.002 μg/ml of probable antioxidant material from EEAR was required to scavenge 50% of DPPH. The IC₅₀ value of EEAR were found to be 508.17 ± 7.37 μg and 416.57 ± 5.08 μg when determined by hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide scavenging assay respectively. The reducing powers of EEAR was 0.295 ± 0.0037 at 125 μg/ml and increased to 0.934 ± 0.0005 at 500 μg/ml. HPTLC fingerprint data supports several basic informations like isolation, purification, quality evaluation and standardization. No sign of toxicity was observed after treated with 2000 mg/kg of EEAR.

Conclusion

The obtained data highlight the potential role of EEAR as a source of natural antioxidants.