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The Hall effect has been used as a probe of the normal state of cuprates, when superconductivity is supressed by a magnetic field. Here, the authors report the vanishing of the Hall coefficient at high magnetic field in cuprates with stripe order and interpret it as a signature of the stripe-ordered phase.

T cells in chronic viral infections are featured by premature aging with accelerated telomere erosion, but the mechanisms underlying telomere attrition remain unclear. Here, we employed human CD4 T cells treated with KML001 (a telomere-targeting drug) as a model to investigate the role of telomere integrity in remodeling T cell senescence. We demonstrated that KML001 could inhibit cell proliferation, cytokine production, and promote apoptosis via disrupting telomere integrity and DNA repair machineries. Specifically, KML001-treated T cells increased dysfunctional telomere-induced foci (TIF), DNA damage marker γH2AX, and topoisomerase cleavage complex (TOPcc) accumulation, leading to telomere attrition. Mechanistically, KML001 compromised telomere integrity by inhibiting telomeric repeat binding factor 2 (TRF2), telomerase, topoisomerase I and II alpha (Top1/2a), and ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase activities. Importantly, these KML001-induced telomeric DNA damage and T cell senescent phenotype and machineries recapitulated our findings in patients with clinical HCV or HIV infection in that their T cells were also senescent with short telomeres and thus more vulnerable to KML001-induced apoptosis. These results shed new insights on the T cell aging network that is critical and essential in protecting chromosomal telomeres from unwanted DNA damage and securing T cell survival during cell crisis upon genomic insult.

Lumbar disc surgery is performed exclusively for disc herniation. Either low back pain, or sciatica or both are common presentations depending upon the levels of compressed nerve roots. Indications for surgery and MRI needs to be carefully judged upon keeping the economic status of our patients into consideration. Open lumbar (micro) discectomy is safe and successful method for lumbar disc herniations at periphery. Results in these hundred thirteen initial cases with minimum follow up of 5 years indicate that this is not only feasible but safe in these 57 males and 56 female patients aged between 12 and 93. Redo surgeries were not that difficult in this series and were safe. There were 18 cases with Multiple and 95 single levels. Of the single levels it gradually increased as the level gradually decreased in terms of the vertebral counts. L3/4: 3 cases, L4/5: 28 cases and L5/S1 : 64 cases . There were 18 cases of more than one level discs. There were 96 (Micro) discectomies, 11 Laminotomies and 6 Laminectomies.

Marker assisted selection (MAS) has not been initiated in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) for septoria leaf spot (SLS) resistance caused by Septoria lycopersici Speg due to lack of molecular markers. We studied the inheritance of SLS resistance and identified molecular markers linked to SLS resistance using bulked segregant analysis (BSA) in a segregating F2 population. Tomato inbred lines, NC 85L-1W (2007), susceptible to SLS and NC 839-2(2007)-1, resistant to SLS were used to develop the segregating population. A total of 250 F2 plants, and 10 plants each of P1, P2 and F1 were grown at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center (MHCREC), Mills River NC in the summer of 2009. Disease severity was scored using a scale of 0 to 5, where 0 = no disease and 5 = complete development of disease. DNA was extracted from 2-3 week old plants and parental lines were screened with a total of 197 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers, of which 34 were polymorphic. Two DNA bulks, called resistant bulk (RB) and susceptible bulk (SB) were prepared from the F2 individuals. The RB and SB consisted of 8 individuals each with disease scores of 0, and 4.0 or 4.5, respectively. The segregation ratio of resistant and susceptible plants in F2 generation fit the expected Mendelian ratio of 3:1 for a single dominant gene. Five RAPD markers were linked to the SLS disease reaction, of which two were linked to susceptibility and three to the resistance. Subject to verification in independent populations, these markers may be useful for MAS of SLS resistance in tomato.

We experienced a case in which multiple spinal cord dissemination was found 6 years after resection of the fourth ventricle ependymoma. A 17-year-old boy had undergone a subtotal resection of the fourth ventricle ependymoma and radiation therapy to the posterior fossa when he was 12 years old. Follow up CT head detected no residual tumor until he complained of back pain and pain in right thigh 6 years after surgery. MRI revealed multiple mass at D10-12 and L2-3. He underwent laminectomy and excision of tumor. This case reminds us to the necessity for long term radiological follow up including the spinal cord even in benign ependymoma, although it is still not clear for how long and how often we should do it.

Background and Aim: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are the most aggressive class of cancer of central nervous system with hallmark characteristics that include rampant proliferation, necrosis, and endothelial proliferation. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been implicated as the primary contributor to glioblastoma initiation and succession. The present study was designed to evaluate EGFR protein expression in GBM as predictor of response to therapy and survival. Materials and Methods: Epidermal growth factor receptor was assessed by immunohistochemistry as a percentage of positive tumor cells in hot spots (10 high-power fields). The study group comprised of 35 cases of GBM. All cases underwent surgical resection and subsequently underwent radiotherapy (n = 17) or radiotherapy with adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy (n = 18). Immediate response to therapy was assessed at 3 months using World Health Organization response evaluation criteria in solid tumors criteria and cases followed up for survival. Results: Twenty-four cases (68.6%) expressed EGFR while 11/35 (31.4%) cases were negative. Response to therapy was evident in 21/35 cases (60.0%) and 14/35 were (40.0%) nonresponders. Mean EGFR protein expression in responders was 37.23 ± 33.70 and in nonresponders was 59.5 ± 39.46 (P = 0.542). The percentage of responders which were EGFR negative was 72.7% and while response in EGFR positive cases was observed in 54.2%. Mean survival in EGFR positive and negative GBM was 394.37 ± 189.11 and 420.54 ± 191.23 days, respectively. Conclusion: The EGFR negative cases appear to respond better to therapy, however, the difference is not statistically significant (P = 0.298). Further, EGFR protein expression does not play a definitive role in predicting survival. This is an original study evaluating EGFR in terms of therapeutic response.

Using two-dimensional foraging arenas, laboratory tests were conducted to investigate the effect of soil type, soil moisture level and ambient temperature on the exploratory tunneling by Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. In choice arenas consisting of two substrate types having two moisture levels each, and conducted at a constant temperature of 22 °C, a significantly greater proportion of termites aggregated in sand than in sandy loam. Similarly, the length of excavated tunnels was also increased in sand. In a given substrate, termite aggregation or tunnel length did not differ between 5% and 15% moisture levels. In no-choice tests, where three different substrates (sand, sandy loam and silt loam) were tested at two temperatures (22 °C and 28 °C), excavations were significantly greater in sand than either sandy loam or silt loam at 22 °C. Fewer primary tunnels were constructed in sandy loam than in sand and fewer branched tunnels than either in sand or silt loam. No significant difference in either tunnel length or number of primary or branched tunnels was found between these two temperatures.

Genetic information of any genotype is necessary to manage and utilize them in conservation and breeding program. A total of 28 RAPD markers were used to relate the genetic structure among 50 Nepalese rice genotypes consisting of 29 landraces, 12 breeding lines and 9 released cultivars. Some of them are aromatic and blast resistance. Only four primers (P41, P60, P109 and P141) amplified the DNA of these genotypes with scorable bands. Primer 60 produced the highest number of bands (8). The highest number of present bands (6) was shown by primer 41 in 10 rice genotypes. Grouping of these genotypes based on the adaptation to agro-climatic zone was not observed, probably due to low percentage coverage of genome by four primers. Most of the genotypes grouped in two clusters. Kali Marsi and IR-24 formed separate individual cluster. Mansara and Jarneli were the most similar landraces (0.96). Churenodhan and Pranpyuri were the most closely related with Masuli. Only one genotype NR-285-18 has fallen in the first quadrant by principal component (PC) analysis and the fourth quadrant was empty. The highest contribution in PC1 was from the second band of primer 41. This RAPD information can be used for selecting lines and for blast resistance breeding.

DNA-based molecular markers have been extensively utilized for mapping of genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL) of interest based on linkage analysis in mapping populations. This is in contrast to human genetics that use of linkage disequilibrium (LD)-based mapping for fine mapping of QTLs using single nucleotide polymorphisms. LD based association mapping (AM) has promise to be used in plants. Possible use of such approach may be for fine mapping of genes / QTLs, identifying favorable alleles for marker aided selection and cross validation of results from linkage mapping for precise location of genes / QTLs of interest. In the present review, we discuss different mapping populations, approaches, prospects and limitations of using association mapping in plant breeding populations. This is expected to create awareness in plant breeders in use of AM in crop improvement activities.

DNA and amino acid sequences are alphabetic symbols having no underlying metric. Use of information theory is one of the solutions for sequence metric problems. The reflection of DNA sequence complexity in phenotype stability might be useful for crop improvement. Shannon-Weaver index (Shannon Entropy, H') and mutual information (MI) index were estimated from DNA sequences of 22 genes, consisted of two gene families of tomato, namely disease resistance and fruit quality. Main objective was use of information theory and multivariate techniques to understand diversity among genes and relate the sequence complexity with phenotypes. The normalized H' value ranged from 0.429 to 0.461. The highest diversity was observed in the gene Crtr-B (beta carotene hydroxylase). Two principal components which accounted for 36.65% variation placed these genes into four groups. Groupings of these genes by both principal component and cluster analyses showed clearly the similarity at phenotypes levels within cluster. Sequences similarity among genes was observed within a family. Diversity assessment of genes applying information theory should link to understand the sequences complexity with respect to gene stability for example stability of resistance gene.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the case-fatality ratio (CFR) for measles in Nepal, determine the role of risk factors, such as political instability, for measles mortality, and compare the use of a nationally representative sample of outbreaks versus routine surveillance or a localized study to establish the national CFR (nCFR). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of measles cases and deaths in Nepal. Through two-stage random sampling, we selected 37 districts with selection probability proportional to the number of districts in each region, and then randomly selected within each district one outbreak among all those that had occurred between 1 March and 1 September 2004. Cases were identified by interviewing a member of each and every household and tracing contacts. Bivariate analyses were performed to assess the risk factors for a high CFR and determine the time from rash onset until death. Each factor's contribution to the CFR was determined through multivariate logistic regression. From the number of measles cases and deaths found in the study we calculated the total number of measles cases and deaths for all of Nepal during the study period and in 2004. FINDINGS: We identified 4657 measles cases and 64 deaths in the study period and area. This yielded a total of about 82 000 cases and 900 deaths for all outbreaks in 2004 and a national CFR of 1.1% (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.5-2.3). CFR ranged from 0.1% in the eastern region to 3.4% in the mid-western region and was highest in politically insecure areas, in the Ganges plains and among cases < 5 years of age. Vitamin A treatment and measles immunization were protective. Most deaths occurred during the first week of illness. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first CFR study based on a nationally representative sample of measles outbreaks. Routine surveillance and studies of a single outbreak may not yield an accurate nCFR. Increased fatalities associated with political insecurity are a challenge for health-care service delivery. The short period from disease onset to death and reduced mortality from treatment with vitamin A suggest the need for rapid, field-based treatment early in the outbreak.

We conducted a laboratory study to determine the impact of ground-applied termiticides on the above-ground foraging behavior of Coptotermes formosanus. Two concentrations (1 and 10 ppm) each of three termiticides, viz. fipronil, imidacloprid and chlorantraniliprole, were tested. After one month post-treatment (fipronil 10 ppm was run for 12 days only and all other treatments were run for one month), fipronil had the lowest percentage of survival (3%–4%) at both concentrations. Termite survival ranged from 31% to 40% in the case of imidacloprid treatments and 10 ppm chlorantraniliprole. However, 1 ppm chlorantraniliprole did not cause significant mortality compared to the controls. Foraging on the bottom substrate was evident in all replicates for all chemicals initially. However, a portion of the foraging population avoided the ground treatment toxicants after several days of bottom foraging. Only the slower-acting non-repellents created this repellent barrier, causing avoidance behavior that was most likely due to dead termites and fungus buildup on the treated bottom substrate. Fipronil appeared more toxic and faster acting at the concentrations tested, thus limiting this repellent effect. Suggestions by the pest control industry in Louisiana that some non-repellents can create a repellent barrier stranding live termites above ground are supported by this laboratory study.

Objectives: To assess the felt needs, level of knowledge and the impact of health education sessions over the period of one year regarding reproductive health among ninth standard school students of a slum area in Mumbai. Material and Methods: The study is school based interventional follow up study.Health education sessions on reproductive health were conducted. Pre test, immediate post test, along with a follow up post test at six months and one year after intervention were administered. SPSS Version 17 and Excel software were used for analysis. Paired‘t’ test and Chi-square test were applied. Results: Base line knowledge in all aspects of reproductive health was observed to be very low as compared to the post tests. Knowledge was retained over the period of one year in questions pertaining to physical changes in boys and girls, female anatomy and role of female in sex determination.However significant loss (p

Blood vessels are continually exposed to circulating lipids, and elevation of ApoB-containing lipoproteins causes atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein metabolism is highly regulated by lipolysis, largely at the level of the capillary endothelium lining metabolically active tissues. How large blood vessels, the site of atherosclerotic vascular disease, regulate the flux of fatty acids (FAs) into triglyceride-rich (TG-rich) lipid droplets (LDs) is not known. In this study, we showed that deletion of the enzyme adipose TG lipase (ATGL) in the endothelium led to neutral lipid accumulation in vessels and impaired endothelialdependent vascular tone and nitric oxide synthesis to promote endothelial dysfunction. Mechanistically, the loss of ATGL led to endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced inflammation in the endothelium. Consistent with this mechanism, deletion of endothelial ATGL markedly increased lesion size in a model of atherosclerosis. Together, these data demonstrate that the dynamics of FA flux through LD affects endothelial cell homeostasis and consequently large vessel function during normal physiology and in a chronic disease state., Introduction The vascular endothelium is essential in lipid partitioning (1). Specifically, in metabolically active tissues (e.g., heart, skeletal muscle, adipose), triglyceride-rich (TG-rich) lipoproteins (chylomicrons, VLDL) are metabolized by lipoprotein lipase [...]

Posttransplant thrombotic microangiopathy (PT-TMA) can be caused by calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), ischemic injury, infections, or antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR). Delayed recognition can result in allograft loss. We describe the first reported case of successful reversal of refractory PT-TMA with eculizumab in India. It highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and benefit from an early initiation of eculizumab therapy in refractory cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Central nervous system tumors are the 10th most prevalent cause of mortality worldwide. The 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of high grade gliomas (HGG) has identified Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH 1) mutation as one of the primary molecular markers. Tumor protein 53 (p53) mutation is also closely associated with HGG. Aims and Objectives: The current study intended to ascertain the expression of IDH1 and P53 in patients with HGG and correlate that expression with clinical prognosis. Materials and Methods: The study included 34 patients with histopathological proven HGG. Relevant clinical information was recorded. The immunostaining results with anti-mouse monoclonal antibody for IDH 1 (R132H) and rabbit polyclonal antibody for p53 (RP 106-05) were statistically analyzed. Patients were followed up through telephone for a period of 1 year. Mortality within 1 year was regarded as a poor outcome. Results: About 85.29% (29/34) of the patients had Grade IV glioma, while only 14.71% (5/34) had Grade III glioma. Most patients with Grade III (3/5) (60.00%) and Grade IV (21/29) (72.41%) gliomas had p53 positivity. The majority of the patients with grade-III glioma (3/5) (60.00%) had IDH1 positivity, while most of the patients (23/29) (79.31%) with Grade IV gliomas had IDH1 negativity (P=0.0658). Age, gender, WHO grade, and adjuvant therapy did not show significant association with the outcome except for the p53 expression (P=0.0011*) and IDH1 expression (P=0.0025*). Correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between p53 makers with poor outcome (r=0.4781) and glioma grade (r=0.4028). Further, a negative yet insignificant correlation was recorded between IDH1 with age (r=−0.2285), p53 expression (r=−0.2568), and grade (r=−0.2988), although it showed a significant correlation with poor outcome (P=0.0001). Conclusion: p53-positive and IDH1-negative HGG had a significant correlation with the poor outcome. Thus, IDH1 and p53 are reliable markers for prognostication of HGG.

Objective Medulloblastoma is the most common central nervous system embryonal tumor and the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. This study aims to find out the incidence of the ABO-Rh blood group in medulloblastoma patients of northern India to assess the utility of the blood group as a preclinical non-modifiable risk factor.