Cerebrospinal fluid profile of amyloid β42 (Aβ42), hTau and ubiquitin in North Indian Alzheimer's disease patients

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and is characterized by the degeneration of neurons and their synapses, and a higher number of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) compared with that found in non-demented individuals. Amyloid-β-peptides (Aβ) are major components of amyloid plaques in AD brain whereas NFTs are composed of Tau and associated with ubiquitin. The aim of the present study was to analyze the levels of Aβ42, hTau (total Tau) and ubiquitin in CSF of North Indian population. CSF Aβ42, Tau and ubiquitin were measured in CSF of AD patients as well as controls using ELISA assays. Here we report low Aβ42 levels in AD patients (324.24 ± 76.38 pg/ml) as compared to those in non-AD (NAD) (668.34 ± 43.13 pg/ml), neurological controls (NCs) (727.28 ± 46.49 pg/ml) and healthy controls (HCs) (976.47 ± 124.46 pg/ml). In contrast, hTau and ubiquitin levels were significantly high (568.65 ± 48.89 pg/ml and 36.82 ± 4.34 ng/ml, respectively) in AD patients compared to those in NAD, NC and HC. The hTau levels were 267.37 ± 36.64 pg/ml, 167.34 ± 44.27 pg/ml and 107.62 ± 24.27 pg/ml in NAD, NC and HC, respectively. Similarly, ubiquitin levels were 23.57 ± 2.32 ng/ml, 19.76 ± 3.64 ng/ml and 13.24 ± 4.56 ng/ml in NAD, NC and HC, respectively. In conclusion, low Aβ42 and high Tau–ubiquitin levels were found in North Indian AD patients.     

Risk factors of type 2 diabetes in population of Jammu and Kashmir,India

We sought to identify risk factors for type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Jammu and Kashmir populations, India. A total of 424 diabetic and 226 non-diabetic subjects from Jammu, and 161 diabetic and 100 non-diabetic subjects from Kashmir were screened for various parameters including fasting blood glucose level, 2 hour glucose level, urea, creatinine, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-C), uric acid, systolic and diastolic blood pressure level. We found that subjects aged 40-49 years had the highest rate of diabetes, with family income playing not much of a role. Kashmiri migrants or populations with rapid cultural, environmental, social or lifestyle change along with reduced physical activity, obesity and unhealthy lifestyle (smoking and alcohol consumption) were found to have higher rates of diabetes. High blood glucose, triglycerides and low HDL-C levels were found to be contributing to disease outcome. High blood pressure also contributed to a higher risk of developing T2D. Our study supports earlier reports confirming the contribution of comfortable life style, Western dietary habits and rapid life style change along with many other factors to the prevalence of diabetes. This may contribute to the epidemic proportion of diabetes in Jammu and Kashmir. Early diagnosis and routine screening for undiagnosed diabetes in obese subjects and subjects with parental diabetes history is expected to decrease the burden of chronic diabetic complications worldwide.     

IL-4–BATF signaling directly modulates IL-9 producing mucosal mast cell (MMC9) function in experimental food allergy

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Chromatin interactions in differentiating keratinocytes reveal novel atopic dermatitis– and psoriasis-associated genes

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Two-Dimensional Echocardiographic Findings of Pulmonary Valve Cyst Secondary to Pulmonary Valvuloplasty

Real time two-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a mobile echolucent mass attached to the pulmonary valve in a 25-year-old adult, 20 years following balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty. The mass was surgically excised and pathology showed it to be a cyst.     

Prospective feasibility study of outpatient stereotactic brain lesion biopsy

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and feasibility of performing computed tomography-guided stereotactic brain lesion biopsy as an outpatient day-surgery procedure. METHODS: In late 1996, a prospective trial of outpatient stereotactic biopsies was initiated. The protocol consists of preadmission education of the patient, computed tomography-guided biopsy with local anesthesia (using a Brown-Roberts-Wells or Cosman-Roberts-Wells frame), postoperative observation in the postanesthetic care unit for 2 hours and in the day surgery unit for 2 hours, and then discharge home 4 hours after the procedure. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients constituted the intent-to-treat group, of whom two were not discharged on the same day (97.4% success rate). The two patients underwent inpatient admission because one required intravenous antibiotic treatment of a brain abscess and the other had a hard lesion in the brainstem that precluded biopsy needle penetration; admission for further investigation of the lesion was elected. Two patients experienced complications (2.6%), i.e., one small area of intraventricular hemorrhage that produced only a mild headache and one case of mild worsening of preexisting leg weakness, with negative computed tomographic results. CONCLUSION: Discharging patients home after 4 hours of observation after stereotactic biopsies seems to be a safe, well-tolerated practice. In this series, there was no major morbidity and no patient was disadvantaged by participating in this protocol. This approach would be expected to result in health care resource and cost savings, with a potential increase in patient satisfaction because of shorter hospital stays.     

Simple physical treatment as an effective tool to improve the functional properties or rapeseed (Brassica campestris var. toria) and sesame seed (Sesamum indicum) meals

Dry and 24 h imbibed rapeseeds and sesame seeds were defatted with hexane and the resulting freeze-dried powder was analysed for the functional properties of the meals. Water absorption capacity (WAC) of imbibed rapeseed meal and fat absorption capacity (FAC) of both the imbeded meals were higher than those for dry meals. Protein solubility of rapeseed meals was improved by imbibition and both the imbibed meals exhibited maximum protein solubility at pH 12. Rapeseed meal possessed better foaming properties and viscosity than sesame seed meal. Imbibition considerably enhanced the foaming properties of rapeseed meal while the emulsification properties and viscosity did not change appreciably. Emulsification properties of sesame meal were higher than rapeseed meal.     

Opioid regulation of gonadotropin release: role of signal transduction cascade

The present investigation elucidates the opioidergic modulation of gonadotropin releasing hormone release mechanism by signal transduction cascade in discrete brain regions from estrogen-progesterone primed ovariectomized rats. The effects of mu-opioid agonist morphine and its antagonist naloxone followed by morphine were studied (in two different groups of rats) on protein kinase A, adenosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate, protein kinase C and calcium/calmodulin protein kinase-II as well as phospholipase C, phospholipase A(2), diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4, 5-triphosphate. Significant decline in phosphoinositide metabolism was observed after morphine treatment as depicted by decrease in phospholipase C and phospholipase A2 activities as well as inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate and diacylglycerol contents from discrete brain regions. Protein kinase A activity showed translocation from membrane bound to cytosolic form along with a decrease in its activator adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate levels in morphine-treated group. Calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II activity also declined, whereas, protein kinase C activity increased in the cytosolic fraction after 45 min of morphine administration. Naloxone was seen to counteract the changes induced by morphine in most of the brain regions studied.Morphine also suppressed luteinizing hormone levels, whereas, follicle stimulating hormone level did not change. The present investigation provides evidence for opioidergic mediated suppression of gonadotropin release through the downregulation of signal transduction cascade.