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To determine if preoperative leg pain and low back pain severity affected postoperative outcome.

Recent conservative estimates suggest that at the end of 2002, 4.8 million people were living with HIV/AIDS in south Asia including 4.58 million in India. (1) In the United Kingdom [...]

The influenza virus infects millions of people each year and can result in severe complications. Understanding virus recognition and host responses to influenza infection will enable future development of more effective anti-viral therapies. Previous research has revealed diverse yet important roles for the annexin family of proteins in modulating the course of influenza A virus (IAV) infection. However, the role of Annexin-A1 (ANXA1) in IAV infection has not been addressed. Here, we show that ANXA1 deficient mice exhibit a survival advantage, and lower viral titers after infection. This was accompanied with enhanced inflammatory cell infiltration during IAV infection. ANXA1 expression is increased during influenza infection clinically, in vivo and in vitro. The presence of ANXA1 enhances viral replication, influences virus binding, and enhances endosomal trafficking of the virus to the nucleus. ANXA1 colocalizes with early and late endosomes near the nucleus, and enhances nuclear accumulation of viral nucleoprotein. In addition, ANXA1 enhances IAV-mediated apoptosis. Overall, our study demonstrates that ANXA1 plays an important role in influenza virus replication and propagation through various mechanisms and that we predict that the regulation of ANXA1 expression during IAV infection may be a viral strategy to enhance its infectivity.

Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis and represents a potential bioterrorism threat. In this study, the transcriptomic responses of B. pseudomallei infection of a human macrophage cell model were investigated using whole-genome microarrays. Gene expression profiles were compared between infected THP-1 human monocytic leukemia cells with or without treatment with Daboia russelli russelli daboiatoxin (DRRDbTx) or ceftazidime (antibiotic control). Microarray analyses of infected and treated cells revealed differential upregulation of various inflammatory genes such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase (COX-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 4 (CXCL4), transcription factor p65 (NF-kB); and several genes involved in immune and stress responses, cell cycle, and lipid metabolism. Moreover, following DRR-DbTx treatment of infected cells, there was enhanced expression of the tolllike receptor 2 (TLR-2) mediated signaling pathway involved in recognition and initiation of acute inflammatory responses. Importantly, we observed that highly inflammatory cytokine gene responses were similar in infected cells exposed to DRR-DbTx or ceftazidime after 24 h. Additionally, there were increased transcripts associated with cell death by caspase activation that can promote host tissue injury. In summary, the transcriptional responses during B. pseudomallei infection of macrophages highlight a broad range of innate immune mechanisms that are activated within 24 h post-infection. These data provide insights into the transcriptomic kinetics following DRR-DbTx treatment of human macrophages infected with B. pseudomallei.

The majority of snake venom phospholipases A2 (svPLA2s) are toxic and induce a wide spectrum of biological effects. They are cysteine-rich proteins that contain 119-134 amino acids and share similar structures and functions. About 50 of the residues are incorporated into -helices, whereas only 10 are in -sheets. Fourteen conserved cysteines form a network of seven disulfide bridges that stabilize the tertiary structure. They show a high degree of sequence and structural similarity, and are believed to have a common calcium- dependent catalytic mechanism. Additionally, svPLA2s display an array of biological actions that are either dependent or independent of catalysis. The PLA2s of mammalian origin also exert potent bactericidal activity by binding to anionic surfaces and enzymatic degradation of phospholipids in the target membranes, preferentially of Gram-positive species. The bactericidal activity against Gramnegatives by svPLA2 requires a synergistic action with bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), but is equally dependent on enzymatic- based membrane degradation. Several hypotheses account for the bactericidal properties of svPLA2s, which include “fatal depolarization” of the bacterial membrane, creation of physical holes in the membrane, scrambling of normal distribution of lipids between the bilayer leaflets, and damage of critical intracellular targets after internalization of the peptide. The present review discusses several svPLA2s and derived peptides that exhibit strong bactericidal activity. The reports demonstrate that svPLA2-derived peptides have the potential to counteract microbial infections. In fact, the C-terminal cationic/hydrophobic segment (residues 115-129) of svPLA2s is bactericidal. Thus identification of the bactericidal sites in svPLA2s has potential for developing novel antimicrobials.

The relative efficiency of in vitroand in vivoscreening techniques for drought tolerance, comprising various parameters, namely germination (%), shoot length, root length, coleoptile length, root number, root/shoot ratio and seedling vigour index (SVI) under in vitroconditions and morpho-physiological and yield-contributing traits under in vivoconditions, was studied using 78 winter × spring wheat-derived doubled haploid lines of bread wheat along with 13 parental genotypes and two check varieties, HPW 155 and PBW 343. Analysis of variance for different in vitroparameters in control (0 MPa) and stress (−0.7 MPa) environments and various in vivoparameters under irrigated and rainfed environments indicated sufficient genetic variability and the differential response of the genotypes to the different stress levels for all the in vitroand in vivoparameters. Correlation studies revealed the significance of percentage germination, root number, coleoptile length and seedling vigour index under in vitroconditions and relative water content and excised leaf water loss under in vivoconditions as important selection criteria for drought tolerance, as these parameters were related with each other as well as with the drought susceptibility index (S). The significant positive rank correlation between the in vitro(−0.7 MPa) and in vivo(rainfed) stress conditions indicated that the performance of a genotype under field conditions is very similar to its performance under laboratory conditions. Hence, the selection precision for a crucial and complex trait like drought tolerance in wheat can be enhanced by exercising in vitroselection coupled with evaluation in the field. The drought susceptibility index ‘S’ should not be taken as the sole criterion to categorize genotypes as drought-tolerant or susceptible ones.

The study was planned to assess and compared immunogenicity and safety of an indigenous DTPw-Hib combination vaccine (Shan 4) with EasyFour, the available DTwP-Hib vaccine in India. Overall 210 healthy infants, six to eight weeks of age were randomized to receive three doses of either Shan 4 or EasyFour at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age. Antibodies were analyzed prior to and four to six weeks post third vaccine dose. Solicited and unsolicited local and systemic events in the follow up period after each dose were recorded. Post vaccination 100% of the infants in Shan 4 and EasyFour groups had seroprotective concentrations of Anti PRP-T IgG antibodies, IgG anti-diphtheria toxoid antibodies and IgG anti-tetanus toxoid antibodies. Following third dose of vaccination 86.99% subjects in the Shan 4 group and 73.85% subjects in the EasyFour group seroconverted for anti-pertussis antibody titres. Two Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) were reported during the course of the study, all unrelated to the respective vaccine administered. Most commonly reported adverse events in both the groups were pain at injection site, mild fever (< 103° F) and minor swelling at injection site. The study proved that Shan 4 was safe and immunogenic compared to the available licensed vaccine.

Recent studies have shown that metal powder compacts can be heated to high temperatures using microwaves. While microwave heating of ceramics is well understood and modeled, there is still uncertainty about the exact mechanism and mode of microwave heating of particulate metals. The current study describes an approach for modeling the microwave heating of metal powder compacts using an electromagnetic-thermal model. The model predicts the variation in temperature with time during sintering. The effect of powder size, emissivity, and susceptor heating on the heating rate has also been assessed. These predictions have been validated by the experimental observations of the thermal profiles of Sn-, Cu-, and W-alloy compacts, using a 2.45 GHz multimode microwave furnace.

Comparisons between androgenesis and maize-mediated haploid production efficiencies were made in six F1genotypes each of winter × spring wheat and triticale × wheat crosses. The haploid status of the plantlets obtained was confirmed through cytological examination of the root tips. Much higher embryo formation (15.2%), haploid induction (8.7%) and doubled haploid production (8.3%) were obtained in the winter × spring wheat F1s through the wheat × maize system than by androgenesis (3.1%, 3.2 and 2.7%, respectively). Three of the triticale × wheat F1genotypes failed to respond to androgenesis, while no haploids were recovered through the wheat × maize system in any of the six triticale × wheat F1s. Genotypic specificity, low callus induction and albinism reduced the efficiency of androgenesis both in winter × spring wheat and triticale × wheat hybrids. In all, the wheat × maize system proved to be better for winter × spring wheat hybrids and androgenesis for triticale × wheat hybrids.

Haploid induction response through wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) × maize (Zea maysL.) system was studied in each of six winter and spring wheat genotypes and their six winter × spring wheat Fi s by crossing them with maize in separate experiments. Data were recorded with respect to successful pollinations, % embryo formation and % regeneration. Analysis of variance revealed considerable genetic variation among the parental genotypes for embryo formation and regeneration. Although high heritability estimate was obtained for embryo formation (88.97%), it was low for regeneration (33.94%). Line × tester analysis of the data suggested the influence of wheat and maize genotypes and their interaction on embryo formation, whereas significant influence of maize genotypes and wheat × maize interaction was observed in case of regeneration. On the basis of GCA effects, ‘Pnfjoumee × HPW 93’ and ‘Sentry × RL 10-22’ of wheat and ‘Early Composite’ and ‘KH 517’ of maize were good combiners for embryo formation, while ‘Sabet Sweetcorn’ was the only good combiner for regeneration.

The underlying mechanisms in human infertility associated with hyperprolactinemia have yet to be established. Hyperprolactinemia is a known side-effect of fluphenazine, a broad spectrum, long-acting phenothiazine known to be D2 dopamine receptor antagonist. Dose-related effects of fluphenazine decanoate were ascertained on the fertility of 60-day treated, adult male rats. Significant increase in the serum levels of prolactin and decrease in the levels of LH and FSH were seen at doses of 1–3 mg/kg/day. No effect was evident on the serum testosterone (T) and estradiol. The tissue levels of Inhibins were not affected. The weights of testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, ventral prostate, adrenal and pituitary glands were not affected. Testicular histology showed sloughing indicating the sensitivity of this parameter to FSH deficiency. Mating occurred within 10 days of cohabitation in the control and 1–2 mg/kg/day treated groups but delayed in the 3 mg/kg/day treated group with a significant effect on potency. Implantation sites, litter size and fertility index were significantly reduced at 2–3 mg/kg/day doses of fluphenazine. No effects however were seen on sperm counts or motility whereas morphological changes were apparent in the acrosome. Chromatin decondensation in vitrowas enhanced and sperm chromatin structure assay revealed DNA denaturation. Hypothalamic tyrosine hydroxylase levels were increased in 1–3 mg/kg/day dose range. Hyperprolactinemic males sired fewer pups as compared to controls. Hypothalamic tyrosine hydroxylase was upregulated at all the doses. The antifertility effects of fluphenazine-induced hyperprolactinemia appeared to be unrelated to testosterone (T). In addition, FSH decrease might have affected the intrinsic sperm quality and thereby reduced litter size.

Drought stress particularly at seedling stage is a major determinant of wheat production in many parts of the world. This study was conducted with a view to assess the sensitivity of inheritance of seedling traits associated with drought tolerance in wheat. The salient features of the current study were the larger expression of dominance, over-dominance and/or epistatic gene interactions under normal conditions for all the characters except of germination percentage. But under drought stress conditions, there was considerable reduction in these interactions. Seed vigour index (SVI) and shoot length were the most sensitive to drought stress followed by root length and coleoptile length on the basis inconsistence of their degree of dominance under both environments. The germination percentage and root-shoot length ratio appeared to be comparatively stable characters over the environmental differences. Additivity with evidence of some epistatic effects influenced the inheritance of the important characters, viz., cell membrane stability, root length, coleoptile length, and germination percentage and seed vigour index under drought stress conditions.

The response of elite, true breeding triticale x wheat derivatives was studied in the non stress, P stress, irrigated and rainfed environments for grain yield and 15 other morpho-physiological traits. Sufficient genetic variability was present for almost all the characters in all the environments. Yield potential and stress tolerance were found to be independent attributes. P efficiency and water stress tolerance were also found to be unlinked traits. Some characters are described which could be useful while breeding towards P efficient and water stress tolerant genotypes.

The in vitro embryo rescue response of hybrid embryos of different ages and sizes of 16 bread wheat x hexaploid triticale crosses was studied. Response was dependent on the parental wheat genotype. However, the triticale genotype did not seem to affect the response of in vitro embryo rescue. Optimum age of the embryo for better recovery of complete plantlets coincided with onset of the drying of hybrid caryopses in the field. Embryo size was positively correlated with embryo germination and recovery of plantlets and negatively correlated with callus development. The best embryo germination (55.55%) and plantlet recovery (50%) were recorded in the hybrid ‘HD 2380’ wheat x ‘JNIT 173’ triticale.

Expression of 17 rye traits in 24 bread wheat x rye and 8 durum wheat x rye crosses was studied, using a self-compatible, homozygous, dwarf rye. Rye showed epistasis for hairiness on the peduncle in all the crosses of Triticum aestivum and T. durum wheats with rye. Dark greenness of leaves of rye was expressed in all the durum wheat x rye and in some of the bread wheat x rye crosses. Similarly, absence of auricle pubescence, a rye trait, was expressed in most of the durum wheat x rye crosses but not in the bread wheat x rye crosses, indicating the presence of inhibitors for these traits frequently on the D genome and rarely on the A and/or B genome of wheat. Most of the wide hybrids resembled rye fully or partially for intense waxy bloom on the leaf-sheath and for the absence of basal underdeveloped spikelets. Similarly, most of the amphihaploids resembled rye for the anthocyanin in the coleoptile, stem and node. The presence of some inhibitors on A and/or B genome of wheat was indicated in some of the wheat genotypes for the expression of rye traits viz. intense waxy bloom, anthocyanin in node and absence of basal underdeveloped spikelets. Enhancement in the level of expression of the intensity and length of bristles on the mid-rib of the glume of the hybrids might be due to wheat-rye interaction. Less number of florets/spikelet as in rye showed variable expression in different wheat backgrounds. Some other rye traits like absence of auricles, terminal spikelet and glume-awn were not expressed in the wheat background. The expression of some of the rye genes might have been influenced by their interaction with Triticum cytoplasm and/or the environment.

Crossability of 62 bread wheat accessions (14 landraces from Himachal Pradesh and 48 others) was examined with rye. The 3 rye cultivars did not differ in their relative crossability with 4 of the wheat accessions studied. On the other hand, the wheat cultivars differed greatly among themselves in their crossability with rye. Most of the wheat cultivars showed poor (<10%) crossability. Two of the 14 landraces from Himachal Pradesh were found to be free from the crossability inhibitors as they showed very high (>50%) crossability, whereas none of the other 48 cultivars studied was so.

Thirteen wheat-like advanced-generation triticale x wheat derivatives, having tetraploid wheat cytoplasm from triticale, were reciprocally crossed with three improved bread wheats, and the resulting F1s were evaluated for determining the comparative performance of the bread wheat and triticale cytoplasms for different traits. Significant reciprocal differences in the mean performance were observed for days to heading, days to maturity, spikes/plant, flag-leaf area, peduncle length, plant height, spike length, grains/spike, 1,000-grain weight, grain yield and grain protein content, and most of them were in favour of hexaploid wheat cytoplasm. However, this superiority of the hexaploid cytoplasm was not universal for a particular trait, implying that the differences in the performance of the evaluated reciprocal crosses depended not solely on the cytoplasmic background, but also on the interplay of the specific genotype with the cytoplasm.

Abstract: Objective: The cognitive and motivational attitudes to problem based learning (i.e., simple didactic problem stated in written form and Programmed Patient) has been compared with those to didactic lectures (DL), the traditional teaching method. The change in recall performance measured in MCQ tests was considered as a change in the cognitive domain. The first test was conducted one week after completion of the topic and second test was taken 3 months later, without prior information. The motivational change was recorded by open- ended questions about the learning method. Three groups of students at second MB  BS professional year level consisting of 55, 57 and 59 people, were assigned a simple didactic problem stated in written form (SDP), programmed patients (PP), and didactic lecture (DL), respectively. Results:The average scores obtained by the learners in problem based learning (PBL) groups were similar to the students in the DL group in both the tests. Most of the students in PBL groups appreciated the exercise and suggested including more such exercises in the curriculum. These exercises helped them to better understand patient problems and prescribing behaviour as well as in development of communication skills. However, these exercises were time consuming and were not examination oriented. Conclusion:Pharmacotherapeutic teaching through PBL could be used within a traditional curriculum to develop relevant and rational use of drugs, provided the evaluation method was also modified.

Summary The induced multinodosum with monopodial branching in barley was found to be a monogenic recessive trait. The mutant is characterized by multiplicity of nodes and monopodial branching and is also associated with pleiotropic effects leading to reduction in plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, spike length, number of florets per spike and seed fertility and increase in number of tillers per plant. The mutant character may find use in plant breeding if its pleiotropic effects can be overcome through hybridization with diverse germplasm.

A new mutant, long-peduncled dwarf, was induced by EMS in C 164 barley. The mutant was characterised by a markedly shorter stature but longer peduncle than the normal plant. The dwarfing of the mutant was due to very short internodes other than the peduncle. The mutant was fully fertile and not associated with any chromosome aberration. The mutant trait was inherited as a single recessive gene designated as lpd. The trait being new may find a significant place in genetic research and also in plant breeding.