Clinical,hematological, and imaging observations in a 25-year-old woman with abetalipoproteinemia

Abetalipoproteinemia is an uncommon cause of ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Most of the neurological and ocular manifestations occur secondary to deficiency syndromes that is consequent to fat malabsorption from the small intestine. In this report, we have described the phenotype of a young adult female who manifested with recurrent diarrheal illness in her first decade, followed by anemia, RP, and neurological involvement with progressive deafness, cerebellar and sensory ataxia, and subclinical neuropathy in her second decade of life. While RP and sensory ataxia due to vitamin E deficiency are well-recognized features of abetalipoproteinemia, deafness is rarely described. In addition, we have highlighted the abnormal posterior column signal changes in the cervical cord in this patient. Early recognition avoids unnecessary investigations and has a potential to retard the disease progression by replacing some of the deficient vitamins.     

Assessment of stigma receptivity via papillar integrity in Kigelia pinnata (Bignoniaceae)

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - The stigma of Kigelia pinnata is spathulate, wet and sensitive to touch. Consisting of two flaps or folds,...     

Activation of natriuretic peptide receptor-C attenuates the enhanced oxidative stress in vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats: implication of Gialpha protein

We have recently shown that vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) exhibit enhanced expression of Giα proteins, which was attributed to the enhanced oxidative stress. Since C-ANP_4-23 that specifically interacts with natriuretic peptide C (NPR-C) receptor has been shown to decrease the expression of Giα protein in VSMC, the present study was undertaken to examine if C-ANP_4-23 can also decrease the enhanced expression of Giα protein in VSMC from SHR and whether it is attributed to its ability to attenuate the enhanced oxidative stress. Aortic VSMC from 12-week-old SHR and their age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were used for the present studies. VSMC from SHR exhibited enhanced expression of Giα-2 and Giα-3 proteins, different subunits of NADPH oxidase such as Nox⁴ and p^47phox proteins but not of p^22phox, enhanced production of superoxide anion as well as NADPH oxidase activity as compared to age-matched WKY rats. Treatment of VSMC from SHR with C-ANP_4-23 decreased towards control levels the enhanced expression of Giα proteins, enhanced superoxide anion production and enhanced NADPH oxidase activity as well as the enhanced expression of Nox⁴ and p^47phox. However, C-ANP_4-23-induced attenuation of the enhanced level of O₂⁻ and NADPH oxidase activity occurs at 4 h before the decrease in the enhanced expression of p^47phox that occurs at 16 h of C-ANP_4-23 treatment. The decreased expression of NADPH oxidase in SHR was also associated with further decrease in O₂⁻ and NADPH oxidase activity. Furthermore, treatment of VSMC from SHR with pertussis toxin (PT) decreased the enhanced levels of superoxide anion as well as NADPH oxidase activity; however, the enhanced levels of different subunits of NADPH oxidase were not attenuated by PT treatment. These results suggest that C-ANP_4-23 decreases the enhanced oxidative stress in SHR by attenuating the enhanced expression of Giα proteins and also the enhanced levels of NADPH oxidase.     

A comparison of clinical outcomes between Canadian and American patients after nonurgent coronary stenting

BACKGROUND: Practice patterns for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) may differ between Canada and the United States. Few data are available comparing PCI outcomes between the two countries in the era of coronary stenting and adjunctive glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition. METHODS: In the Enhanced Suppression of the Platelet IIb/IIIa Receptor with Integrilin Therapy (ESPRIT) trial, 2064 patients were randomly assigned to receive eptifibatide or placebo during nonurgent PCI. The 30-day and one-year rates of death, myocardial infarction (MI) and target vessel revascularization (TVR) were compared between Canadian and American patients enrolled in the ESPRIT trial. RESULTS: There were 1531 American patients and 533 Canadian patients enrolled. Americans were older and heavier, and had a higher incidence of cardiac risk factors than Canadians (P<0.05 for all variables). Canadian patients had a lower incidence of death, MI and TVR at 30 days (6.2% versus 10.4%, P=0.004) and at one year (14.8% versus 21.5%, P=0.0006). After adjusting for known baseline differences, enrollment in Canada remained a significant predictor of reduced ischemic complications at 30 days (OR=0.53, c2=9.0, P=0.003). Similar results were observed at one year. Eptifibatide was superior to placebo in both groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis is among the first to show Canadian patients to have fewer adverse events than American patients after nonurgent PCI. This effect was independent of known baseline differences between the patients in each country. The relative treatment effect of eptifibatide in Canadian patients paralleled that observed in the main ESPRIT trial and in American patients.     

Toxicological evaluation of metal oxide nanoparticles and mixed exposures at low doses using zebra fish and THP1 cell line

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are being used in different industries now‐a‐days leading to their unavoidable exposure to humans and animals. In the present study, toxicological testing was done using nanoparticles of copper oxide, cerium oxide and their mixture (1:1 ratio) on zebra fish embryos and THP‐1 cell line. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 0.01 μg/ml to 50 μg/ml concentrations of dispersed nanoparticles using a 96 well plate and their effects were studied at different hours post fertilization (hpf) i.e. 0 hpf, 24 hpf, 48 hpf, 72 hpf and 96 hpf respectively. Results showed that copper oxide nanoparticles has drastic effects on the morphology and physiology of zebra fish whereas cerium oxide nanoparticles and mixture of these nanoparticles did not show much of the effects. Comparable results were obtained from in vitro study using human monocyte cell line (THP‐1). It is concluded that these nanoparticles may cause toxicological effects to humans and environment.     

RSSDI-ESI Clinical Practice Recommendations for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus 2020

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries -     

The immune system and hypertension

Immunologic Research - A powerful interaction between the autonomic and the immune systems plays a prominent role in the initiation and maintenance of hypertension and significantly contributes to...