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Detection of uric acid (UA) is inevitable today, as very less amount of uric acid in human leads to Fanconi Syndrome, Wilson’s disease and cardiovascular disorders. Here, we report an eco-friendly synthesis of a nitrogen-doped carbon dot/Chromium (VI) [N–C dot/Cr (VI)] fluorescent nanoprobe for nanomolar detection of uric acid. N–C dot/Cr (VI) nanoprobe is synthesized using solvent free, fast, easy, green, pyrolysis method, which is characterized using UV–VIS, FTIR, XRD, SEM- EDX and PL technique. Addition of Cr (VI) to fluorescent N–C dot leads to immediate turn OFF in fluorescence with the formation of N–C dot/Cr (VI) nanocomposite. The lowest detection limit of Cr (VI) by N–C dot is 1.42 × 10–9 M. For the first time, we are reporting uric acid, a reducing agent to reduce Cr (VI) to lower valent Cr (III)/Cr (0). The addition of uric acid turns ON the fluorescence with the elimination of inner filter effect (IFE) thus N–C dot/Cr (VI) nanoprobe functioning as a Turn Off–On fluorescent nanosensor for the detection of UA. The efficiency of the sensor is based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer between N-Carbon dots and chromium (VI). A linear response was noted with every nanomolar addition of uric acid. The lowest detection limit toward sensing of UA is found to be 12.5 × 10–9 M. Thus, the novelty of this method is nanomolar amount of redox species is enough to form a stable nanocomposite and the N-CDs/Cr (VI) nanocomposite is able to sense nanomolar to millimolar concentration of uric acid within a few seconds. The nanoprobe is found to be stable, simple and cost effective which can be extended for detection of uric acid in vegetables, fruits and also in clinical studies.

From patients with a poor prognosis of pregnancy, 1620 embryos generated in vitro and chromosomal analysis was performed on these embryos. The result was yielded in 1596 embryos, out of them 536(34%) were euploid and 1060(66%) carried chromosomal abnormalities. In addition, 92% of embryos with multinucleated cells were diagnosed mosaics whereas the 86% of chromosomal abnormalities were associated to the presence of cytoplasmic concentration. For the derivation of the normal embryonic stem cell (ESC)lines and developmental modelling aneuploid embryos have been used. Genetic diagnosis at the cleavage or blastocyst stage could be partly abnormal because during the preimplantation diploid- aneuploid mosaic embryos was most frequently observed. From a single cell of a particular embryo the chromosomal status of that embryo can be determined, thus the prevalence of mosaicism. Detection of aneuploidy in single cells have been developed recently. After conducting research methods, it was confirmed that aneuploidy is a common feature of human oocytes and preimplantation embryos. The detection of segmental aneuploidy is currently considered problematic for embryo diagnosis and patient counselling, so the data are of great relevance for preimplantation genetic testing. The first major milestone in early mammalian embryogenesis was the formation of a totipotence blastocyst which is capable of implantation. The whole chromosomal abnormalities, or aneuploidy, determines whether the human embryos will arrest or reach the blastocyst stage. Certain embryos can still form blastocyst depending on the type of chromosomal abnormalities and that can be morphologically indistinguishable from chromosomally normal embryos.

Artificial walking aids compensate the physical limitations experienced by handicapped persons in their routine activities and help them to reduce their dependence on others. The characteristics of healthy gait in terms of angular velocity, angular acceleration, linear velocity and linear acceleration needs to be examined for designing a walking aid. The human locomotion was analyzed using high resolution video camera for normal level walking. The angular displacement of knee and hip were recorded and an artificial neural network model was developed for estimating the human locomotion parameters. The average value based approach was employed in the developed model for linearization. The output response of the model can be used for activating joint angles in the walking aid and helped in estimating linear displacement. Also, the complexity involved in the dynamics of human gait can be reduced to a greater extent with the help of this modeling technique.

In the last few decades, prosthetics has gained a noteworthy advancement within the therapeutic and bio-mechanics field. Prosthesis is originally a part of the bio-mechanics field, the science of combining electro-mechanical devices with human muscles, skeleton, nervous systems, etc. The prosthetic limbs are fantastically valuable to amputees in delivering their daily work, thereby providing a great support in the patient rehabilitation. This article focuses on the background of upper and lower limb prosthetics, the signal processing techniques, classification algorithms used and its applications for patient rehabilitation. Surface EMG (sEMG) based prostheses has been picking up in the rehabilitation field as technology progresses. The limb with EMG sensors measures and decode the electrical impulses in the muscles of the residual limb and then translate it into movement. Thus, the user is able to activate the bionic limb on his own thinking. Such developing novel technologies has revolutionized the field of prosthetics. It could be a milestone in bridging the gap between disability and ability, between human limitation and human potential.

The use of aptamers as targeting molecules has revolutionized nanomedicine. Aptamers are short oligonucleotides or peptides that can be used as targeting ligands against numerous targets. Aptamers are versatile moieties that can be used both in therapeutic and targeting applications. Aptamers bind to the target in a process that is similar to the lock and key mechanism. There are numerous reports on the use of aptamers as targeting moieties for imaging and drug delivery applications. In this review, we would like to give a comprehensive report on aptamers, its properties and the developments in aptamer mediated drug delivery in the recent years.

The aim of this study was to check effectiveness of drug-eluting stents for prevention of restenosis resulting from neointimal hyperplasia. Twenty-one sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) and bare metal stents (BMSs; control) were compared by implantation into left and right balloon-injured external iliac arteries of New Zealand White rabbits, respectively. Under general anesthesia and angiography, using 3-mm coronary balloon catheters, stents were successfully deployed. Anticoagulant therapy was not given to any animal. Rabbits were allotted into three groups at 7, 14, and 21 days (7 rabbits in each group). Each stented vessel of sacrificed rabbits was subjected to a resin-embedding technique and methyl methacrylate sections were obtained using a tungsten carbide knife for staining. In histological examination, SESs showed marked reductions in almost all parameters. Morphometric results showed that arteries with SESs had a larger luminal area (P < 0.0001), lower intimal (P < 0.001) and medial (P < 0.001) thickness, and lower intimal index (P < 0.003) as opposed to arteries stented with BMSs. Luminal narrowing in SESs was 0% and reendothelialization was similar in both stented groups (90.48%). SESs showed marked reduction in nonocclusive peristrut fibrin deposition versus BMSs. Thus, the SES was more effective for prevention of restenosis than the BMS in rabbit.

Nutraceuticals and functional food provide nutritional benefits along with preventive and therapeutic effects against various diseases, including aging-related conditions. Most nutraceuticals are bioactive compounds isolated from plants and are highly sensitive. Developments in nanotechnology have helped in overcoming various issues associated with the use of bioactive compounds in nutraceuticals and functional food. Depending on the physicochemical properties of the bioactive compound, a number of nanoencapsulation/delivery methods are available that enable protection and stabilize the bioactive compound providing better bioavailability. In this chapter, the developments in nanoformulations used for encapsulating bioactive compounds and their potential in anti-aging medicine are discussed. The most common method is by creating nanoemulsions, which can be used in both food and beverage applications. Nanosafety issues associated with the use of nanomaterials in food, related regulatory policies and consumer attitude are also outlined.

Aim: The conventional practice of using trial and error mode to select antipsychotic drugs in treatment of schizophrenia can result in symptom exacerbations, relapse and severe side effects, resulting in higher costs of treatment. P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) is known to regulate the concentration of antipsychotic drugs in the brain. Variable expressivity based on polymorphism in the gene ABCB1 may reflect on the drug response and its relationship to dosage. Materials & methods: All antipsychotic dosages administered to patients were converted to common chlorpromazine equivalents. Response to antipsychotics was based on 50% cutoff in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ratings after 1-year of follow-up. Using a case–control study design, ABCB1 polymorphisms were screened in 192 individuals grouped into responders and nonresponders. Results: A strong allelic, genotypic and haplotypic association, was observed, which was predictive of good response to antipsychotics. Individuals carrying the favorable homozygous genotypes of rs1045642 and rs2032582 displayed better response with increased dosage while those carrying risk genotype manifested refractoriness on increased dosage. Conclusion: The study suggests that a priori knowledge of ABCB1 genotypes can provide a significant input into evaluating the patient’s response to medication, and minimizing redundant dosing and refractoriness. Original submitted 14 February 2012; Revision submitted 14 May 2012

Alzheimer’s disease is becoming a serious concern in the medical field due to its severity and prevalence. This multifactorial disease manifested by various genetic and nongenetic factors makes its treatment very difficult. Due to the inefficacy of the currently available drugs, newer therapeutic strategies are increasingly in demand. Most of the current drug discovery initiatives are pivoted around amyloid pathology which is considered to be central to the disease progression. In this work, we propose the use of amyloid-binding aptamer conjugated to poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-coated curcumin nanoparticles to bind to the amyloid plaques. Curcumin is a plant-derived compound with reported anti-amyloid activity. Recent reports reveal the importance of plasma amyloid in Alzheimer development. We propose that the amyloid-binding aptamer attached curcumin–PLGA nanoparticles can be used as a potential tool in targeting the plasma amyloid and thus helps in Alzheimer therapy.

Background: Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is the most common medically refractory epilepsy syndrome in adults, and hippocampal sclerosis (HS) is the most frequently encountered lesion in patients with MTLE. Premature accumulation of corpora amylacea (CoA), which plays an important role in the sequestration of toxic cellular metabolites, is found in the hippocampus of 50-60% of the patients who undergo surgery for medically refractory MTLE-HS. However, the etiopathogenesis and clinical importance of this phenomenon are still uncertain. The ABCB1 gene product P-glycoprotein (P-gp) plays a prominent role as an antiapoptotic factor in addition to its efflux transporter function. ABCB1 polymorphism has been found to be associated with downregulation of P-gp expression. We hypothesized that a similar polymorphism will be found in patients with CoA deposition, as the polymorphism predisposes the hippocampal neuronal and glial cells to seizure-induced excitotoxic damage and CoA formation ensues as a buffer response. Materials and Methods: We compared five single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ABCB1 gene Ex06+139C/T (rs1202168), Ex 12 C1236T (rs1128503), Ex 17-76T/A (rs1922242), Ex 21 G2677T/A (rs2032582), Ex26 C3435T (rs1045642) among 46 MTLE-HS patients of south Indian ancestry with and without CoA accumulation. Results: We found that subjects carrying the Ex-76T/A polymorphism (TA genotype) had a five-times higher risk of developing CoA accumulation than subjects without this genotype (Odds ratio 5.0, 95% confidence intervals 1.34-18.55; P = 0.016). Conclusion: We speculate that rs1922242 polymorphism results in the downregulation of P-gp function, which predisposes the hippocampal cells to seizure-induced apoptosis, and CoA gets accumulated as a buffer response.

Gangliosides isolated from biological sources are usually detected as sodium/potassium adduct ions and these ions are easily fragmented by dissociation of labile glycosidic bonds in the positive ion mode Mass Spectrometry (MS). A large number of conditions for fragment suppression of these acidic glycolipids by using non-acidic matrices or changing metal additions have been demonstrated. Compared to sodium/potassium adduct ions, the cesium adduct ions suppress the fragmentation of these acidic glycolipids. On the contrary, lithium adduct ions induce the fragmentation, but generate more informative fragment ions of glycolipids than other alkali metal adduct ions in post-source decay, MS/MS as well as MS spectra. To suppress the fragmentation of labile glycosidic bond and generate more informative fragmentation, we have examined and established the optimal condition for the detection of [M+Li]+ of gangliosides (GM3 and GM2) using the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS by adjusting matrix and alkali metal salt combinations and concentrations.

Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound which has been used since ages to treat various ailments. Research in the past few decades has demonstrated its potential therapeutic or preventive effects due to its anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-amyloid, anti-arthritic, anti-ischemic to list a few. In our work, we have successfully synthesized curcumin nanoparticles encapsulated in poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) which are water soluble. We would like to harness the anti-amyloid, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities of curcumin to alleviate the amyloid beta level and other associated changes in Alzheimer disease (AD).

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease manifested by cognitive and memory deterioration, culminating in a spectrum of neuropsychiatric disturbances and the impairment of daily activities. AD is a multifactorial disease with a range of contributing factors which includes genes and diet. The magnitude of AD is reflected in the loss of individuality of the affected person and in the terminal course through which the disease develops. In this review, we aim to provide a background on AD and the contribution of cholesterol in the etiology of Alzheimer's. Cholesterol seems to be intimately linked with the generation of amyloid plaques, which is central to the pathogenesis of AD. Although there are conflicting reports on the role of cholesterol in AD, majority of the studies point out the positive association of cholesterol with AD.

The transmembrane P-glycoprotein that functions as a drug-efflux transporter coded by ATP-binding cassette, subfamily B, member 1/Multidrug Resistance 1 (ABCB1/MDR1) gene is considered relevant to drug absorption and elimination, with access to the central nervous system. Effects of three ABCB1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genotypic and haplotypic combination have been evaluated in a south Indian population for risk of pediatric medically refractory epilepsy. The study included age and sex matched medically refractory (N=113) cases and drug responsive epilepsy patients (N=129) as controls, belonging to the same ethnic population recruited from a tertiary referral centre, of Karnataka, Southern India. The genotype frequencies of SNPs c.1236C>T, c.2677G>T/A, and c.3435C>T were determined from genomic DNA of the cases and controls by PCR- RFLP and confirmatory DNA sequencing. 256 normal population samples of the same ethnicity were genotyped for the three loci to check for population stratification. Results indicate that there was no statistically significant difference between allele and genotype frequencies of refractory and drug responsive epilepsy patients. The predicted haplotype frequencies of the three polymorphisms did not show significant difference between cases and controls. The results confirm earlier observations on absence of association of ABCB1 polymorphisms with medically refractory epilepsy.

Developing countries are facing severe bottlenecks in the technological advancement in biotechnology, due to restrictions imposed by patent protected products and protocols. This calls for designing of simple and cost-effective alternatives for the indispensable products like DNA molecular weight markers. We demonstrate a novel, rapid and cost-effective method of making in-house 100bp ladder for routine use. In our method we use a single forward primer and five reverse primers designed on the backbone sequence of a commonly used vector template. These primers are used at a universal annealing temperature to amplify ten DNA fragments of accurate size ranging from 100bp to 1000bp. Our PCR-based method can provide size standards for an endless usage.

BACKGROUND: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is comprised of a highly polymorphic set of genes which determines the histocompatibility of organ transplantation. The present study was undertaken to identify HLA class I and class II allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies in renal transplant recipients and donors from West Central India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HLA typing was carried out using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Sequence Specific Primer in 552 live related and unrelated renal transplant recipients and donors. RESULTS: The most frequent HLA class I and class II alleles and their frequencies in recipients were HLA-AFNx0101 (0.1685) and AFNx0102 (0.1649), HLA-BFNx0135 (0.1322), and HLA-DR beta 1 (DRB 1)FNx0115 (0.2192), whereas in donors, these were HLA-AFNx0102 (0.1848) and AFNx0101 (0.1667), HLA-BFNx0135 (0.1359), and HLA-DRB1FNx0115 (0.2409). The two-locus haplotype statistical analysis revealed HLA-AFNx0102-B61 as the most common haplotype with the frequency of 0.0487 and 0.0510 in recipients and donors, respectively. Further, among the three locus haplotypes HLA-AFNx0133-BFNx0144-DRB1FNx0107 and HLA-AFNx0102-BFNx0161-DRB1FNx0115 were the most common haplotypes with frequencies 0.0362 and 0.0326, respectively in recipients and 0.0236 and 0.0323, respectively in donors. Genotype frequency revealed a high prevalence of genotype HLA-AFNx0102/AFNx0124 in recipients (0.058) compared to donors (0.0109) whereas low prevalence of HLA-AFNx0101/AFNx0102 in recipients (0.0435) than in donors (0.0797). The phylogenetic and principal component analysis of HLA allele and haplotype frequency distribution revealed genetic similarities of various ethnic groups. Further, case control analysis provides preliminary evidence of association of HLA-A genotype (P < 0.05) with renal failure. CONCLUSION: This study will be helpful in suitable donor search besides providing valuable information for population genetics and HLA disease association analysis.

Nanomedicine utilizes engineered nanodevices and nanostructures for monitoring, repair, construction and control of human biological systems at the molecular level. In this study, we investigated the feasibility and potential of zein nanofiber as a delivery vehicle for curcumin in biomedical applications. By optimizing the electrospinning parameters, ultrafine zein fluorescence nanofibers containing curcumin were developed with interconnected fibrous networks. We found that these nanofibers show an increase in fluorescence due to the incorporation of curcumin. The morphology and material properties of the resulting multifunctional nanofiber including the surface area were examined by a field emission-scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and confocal microscopy. The surface area and pore size were characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm. SEM and fluorescence images showed that the uniform fibers with smooth surface had an average diameter of about 310 nm. An in vitro degradation study showed significant morphological changes. The in vitro evaluations suggested that the curcumin incorporated zein nanofibers showed sustained release of curcumin and maintained its free radical scavenging ability. It provides an attractive structure for the attachment and growth of fibroblast as cell culture surfaces. The results demonstrate that the curcumin loaded zein nanofiber could be a good candidate for soft tissue engineering scaffolds and has the potential for further applications in drug delivery system. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Sir, We read the article “Prevalence of lower urinary tract infection in South Indian type 2 diabetic subjects” by Janifer et al. with great interest. Diabetic patients with urinary tract infection is a common scenario in the nephrourology outpatient department. Treating them is a real challenge.[1] Here, we would like to highlight few important points. Firstly, fungal urinary tract infection in diabetic patients might be asymptomatic and should be sought in every diabetic patient with urinary tract infection.[2] Secondly, we feel that ultrasound-guided suprapubic aspiration of urine is useful in those patients with repeated contamination in urine culture report.[3] Thirdly, we believe that a minimum of 2 weeks of antibiotic therapy is necessary as eradication of the organism in diabetic patients is difficult. Improper duration of antibiotic will encourage resistance.[4] Fourthly, circumcision might be beneficial, especially in those patients who cannot maintain personal hygiene. We would like to know the author’s views regarding these points.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in most parts of the world and is a very serious cause of concern particularly in developing countries. In this work, we prepared and evaluated the aptamer-labeled paclitaxel-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (Apt-PTX-PLGA NPs) which can ameliorate drug bioavailability and enable accurate drug targeting to cancer cells with controlled drug release for cancer therapy. Paclitaxel-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (PTX-PLGA NPs) were formulated by a single-emulsion/solvent evaporation method and were further surface-functionalized with a chemical cross-linker bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate (BS3) to enable binding of aptamer on to the surface of the nanoparticles. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cytotoxicity studies were carried out using normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC cells) and human glial cancer cells (GI-1 cells) by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay and Alamar blue assay, which confirmed that PTX-PLGA NPs with aptamer conjugation (Apt-PTX-PLGA NPs) were comparatively non-toxic to HMEC cells while toxic to GI-1 cancer cells. Cellular uptake of PTX-PLGA NPs with and without aptamer conjugation was studied using GI-1 cells and monitored by confocal microscopy and phase contrast microscopy. Our studies demonstrated significant internalization and retention of nanoparticles inside the cells, inducing apoptosis. The preferential accumulation of PTX-PLGA NPs within the cancer cells were also confirmed by flow cytometry-based uptake studies. The results indicated that Apt-PTX-PLGA NPs could be a promising targeted therapeutic delivery vehicle for cancer treatment.