SXP-RAL Family Filarial Protein, rWbL2, Prevents Development of DSS-Induced Acute Ulcerative Colitis.

Helminthic infections lead to the release of various molecules which play an important role in modulation of the host immune system. Such filarial proteins with immunomodulatory potential can be used for therapeutic purpose in inflammatory and immune mediated diseases. In the present study, we have explored the prophylactic effect of filarial SXP-RAL family protein of Wuchereria bancrofti i.e. rWbL2 protein in DSS induced inflammatory ulcerative colitis in a mouse model. Prior treatment of rWbL2, followed by induction of colitis, showed significantly reduced disease severity as indicated by the decreased disease manifestations and improved macroscopic and microscopic inflammation. This preventive effect was found to be associated with increased release of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and decreased release of proinflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17 by the splenocytes of treated mice. From this study, it can be envisaged that pretreatment with filarial protein, rWbL2, can prevent the establishment of ulcerative colitis in BALB/c mice. The underlying immunological mechanism may involve the up-regulation of Th2 immune response with down-regulation of Th1 response.

Oxidative stress and its impact on mitochondrial DNA in pulmonary tuberculosis patients- a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality all around the world. Recent studies have pointed out increased oxidative stress and also DNA damage in peripheral blood in PTB. Till date, to the best of our knowledge, no study has so far been conducted to show the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions mapping in PTB patients. Therefore we performed the present study with the aim to investigate oxidative stress parameters along with mtDNA damage in newly diagnosed untreated PTB patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a prospective study carried out in Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram,Wardha, Maharashtra during september 2017 to september 2018.Thirty newly diagnosed untreated PTB patients and thirty age matched healthy controls were enrolled in the present study. Analysis of Oxidative stress parameters such as nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were done by calorimetric methods. Assessment of mitochondrial DNA damage was carried out by mtDNA deletions mapping using primer shift long range polymerase chain reaction technique. RESULTS: There was significant increase in levels of oxidative stress parameters, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde, in PTB patients compared to controls (p < 0.01). Generally there are two common deletion sites of "13 bp direct repeats" (ACCTCCCTCACCA) in mtDNA. One at the junction sites from bp 8470 to 8482 bp and another from bp 13447 to 13460 bp which make mtDNA more prone for 4977bp deletion. Out of thirty cases of PTB, two cases showed mtDNA damage in the form of mtDNA deletion of 4977bp. There was no mtDNA deletion in any control which can be attributed to continuous generation of oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: This pilot study has been able to demonstrate that compared to controls, in newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients some mtDNA damage did occur and was probably due to continuous generation of oxidative stress in tuberculous patients. However, sample size is too small to draw any conclusions but definitely a more comprehensive study, by recruiting more number of pulmonary tuberculosis patients is warranted to establish correlation between oxidative stress and mtDNA damage in PTB.

Histomorphometric demonstration of the effect of chronic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-ibuprofen on mucosa of small intestine.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain change in structure of mucosa of small intestine, if any, in small intestine of Swiss albino mice as an effect of chronic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-Ibuprofen. Longitudinal study conducted on 46 adult Swiss albino mice, 23 as experimental and 23 as control. Ibuprofen was given at a dose of 40 µg/g body weight per day for 6 weeks by intragastric route in experimental group of mice while control group of mice received same volume of distilled water. Mice of both the groups were sacrificed and desired segments of small intestines were dissected out and tissues were subjected to histological processing. Histomorphometry was performed and relevant photomicrographs were obtained. Student's unpaired t test by GraphPad Prism 6 software. Height of villi was not significantly altered but there was significant reduction of the number of goblet and non-goblet cells (enterocytes and other columnar cells) in mucosal lining of the small intestine of experimental group of mice. Percent distribution of the goblet and non-goblet cells was not altered in villi of two groups. Chronic exposure of Ibuprofen in therapeutic dosage caused reduction of the functional cell mass in lining epithelium of villi of middle segment of small intestine. However, there was no evidence of ulcerative or hemorrhagic lesion.

Chromosomal Aberrations in Couples with Pregnancy Loss: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent pregnancy loss is a challenging reproductive problem, and chromosomal anomalies approximately affect 2%-8% of couples with recurrent pregnancy loss. The chromosomal abnormality, especially balanced translocation rearrangement in either parent, is the important cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion. AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the role and prevalence of chromosomal anomalies in recurrent miscarriages. The results will be helpful for counseling and make the decision for alternative options and precaution for the affected couples and also support to make a national database. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The present retrospective study was carried out in 172 couples (344 individuals) having the history of three or more recurrent spontaneous abortion. The cytogenetic analysis was done in all 344 individuals using G-banding and karyotyping. RESULTS: Out of 172 couples, 17 couples (9.88%) had different types of structural or numerical chromosomal abnormalities. The structural aberrations were observed in 15 (8.72%) couples, and numerical aberrations were seen in 2 (1.16%) couples. Out of 17 couples, 8 (47.05%) had balanced translocations, 2 (11.76%) had the Robertsonian translocation, 5 (29.41%) had the pericentric inversion of chromosome 8, 9, and Y, and only 2 (11.76%) women showed sex chromosome numerical aberrations. CONCLUSIONS: Cytogenetic analysis should be an important routine investigation in couples with repeated miscarriages. Cytogenetic analysis is essential and helpful for genetic counseling to take precaution and implementing proper reproductive alternatives. Studies on the genetic basis of pregnancy loss should be taken up to generate data on these issues from different regions.

Computed Tomographic Estimation of Relationship between Renal Volume and Body Weight of an Individual.

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge of normal range of size and volume of abdominal organs plays a vital role in clinical practices as various medical conditions affects the abdominal organs causing alteration in their dimensions. AIM: The present retrospective study was done to establish the normal range of renal volume in study population and to see the correlation between renal volume and body weight of an individual. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computed tomographic evaluations of kidneys were performed on 140 kidneys of 70 individuals who had undergone abdominal CT scan for indications other than renal disease. We also excluded the patients diagnosed to have renal cysts, hydronephrosis or other renal diseases on CT examination. Renal length, width and depth were measured. Renal volume of both the kidneys was calculated by formula Kidney Volume (KV) =Л/6 x Renal length (L) x Renal width (W) x Renal depth (D). Various body parameters like age, weight, sex were also recorded in the data sheet. RESULTS: Mean renal volume for the right kidney was 83.26±18.33 cm3 for females (33 females out of 70) and 103.92±23.27 cm3 for males (37 males out of 70). However, mean renal volume for the left kidney was 89.17±19.41 cm3 in females and 106±26.79 cm3 in males. Left renal volume was apparently more than right renal volume, though statistically insignificant. In males, mean kidney volume was found to be 104.96 cm3 whereas in females, it was found to be 86.21 cm3. Kidney volume was found to be significantly greater in males than females among study population (t=3.79, p=0.0001). Renal volume significantly correlated with age and body weight of an individual. CONCLUSION: This study is a sincere attempt to establish a normograms of renal volume in study population. For the clinical assessment of renal pathologies, knowledge of renal volume is a vital parameter. In study group, most significant parameter associated with renal volume is body weight which can be used as an adjunct while evaluating renal pathological conditions. Of all the radiological imaging techniques, abdominal coronal computed tomography scan provides most accurate renal measurements.

Large Scale 7436-bp Deletions in Human Sperm Mitochondrial DNA with Spermatozoa Dysfunction and Male Infertility.

INTRODUCTION: Mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA are essential to sperm motility and fertility. It controls growth, development and differentiation through oxidation energy supply. Mitochondrial (mtDNA) deletions or mutation are frequently attributed to defects of sperm motility and finally these deletions lead to sperm dysfunction and causes infertility in male. AIM: To investigate the correlation between large scale 7436-bp deletions in sperm mtDNA and non-motility of sperm in asthenozoospermia and Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) infertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present prospective study was carried out in Human Genetic Division, Department of Anatomy, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram from June 2014 to July 2016. We have studied 110 asthenozoospermia and OAT infertile men whose semen profile indicated abnormal motility and 50 normal fertile controls. Of 110 infertile men, 70 had asthenozoospermia and 40 had OAT. Fractionations of spermatozoa were done in each semen sample on the basis of their motility by percoll gradients discontinuous technique. Long-range PCR was used for detection of 7436-bp deletions in sperm mtDNA and was confirmed by primer shift technique. RESULTS: Overall eight subjects (8/110; 7.2%) of which six (6/70; 8.57%) asthenozoospermia and two (2/40; 5%) OAT had shown deletions of 7436-bp. In 40% percoll fraction had more non-motile spermatozoa than 80% percoll fraction. The non-motile spermatozoa in 40% percoll fractions showed more mtDNA deletions (7.2%) than the motile spermatozoa in 80% percoll fraction (2.7%). The sequencing of flanking regions of deleted mtDNA confirmed 7436-bp deletions. Interestingly, no deletions were found in control subjects. CONCLUSION: Though, the frequency of 7436-bp deletions in sperm mtDNA was low in infertile cases but meaningful indications were there when results were compared with controls. It is indicated that large scale deletions 7436-bp of mtDNA is associated with abnormal sperm motility. The 7436-bp deletions of mtDNA in spermatozoa may be one of the important causes of dysfunction and non-motile sperm.

Genetic Risk of Azoospermia Factor (AZF) Microdeletions in Idiopathic Cases of Azoospermia and Oligozoospermia in Central Indian Population.

BACKGROUND: Genetic factors cause about 15% of male infertility. Azoospermia factors (AZFa, AZFb, and AZFc) present on Yq are most important for spermatogenesis. We have made an attempt to evaluate the frequencies of microdeletions of AZFa, AZFb, AZFc in idiopathic cases of azoospermia and oligozoospermia from central Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have analyzed a total of 156 subjects (95 oligozoospermia and 61 azoospermia) & 50 control subjects. DNA samples were analyzed for microdeletions of Y chromosome by PCR-screening of 18 sequences-tagged-site (STS) markers from different region of the AZF on Yq and SRY on Yp. RESULTS: Out of 156 cases analyzed, 13 (8.33%) subjects (8 azoospermia and 5 oligozoospermia) showed partial deletion of AZF regions, of which deletion in AZFc region was the most common (84.6%) followed by AZFb (15.4%) and AZFa (15.4%). The sites and sizes of deletions varied among patients. Histological study of the testicular tissue of the available subjects, who showed microdeletions of Y chromosome, showed spermatogenic arrest at different stages. The frequency of Y chromosome microdeletion in our subjects was 8.33%. CONCLUSION: Some Indian studies reported low frequencies of microdeletions than that of our result. We suggest that the frequency of deletions may be affected by the involvement of different genetic factors, ethnic population and different geographical regions. PCR based Y chromosome screening for microdeletions will be useful and great help to infertility clinics for genetic counselling and assisted reproduction.

Dermatoglyphics and karyotype analysis in primary amenorrhoea.

BACKGROUND: Dermatoglyphics is the scientific study of the skin ridge patterns on the fingers, toes, palms of the hands and soles of feet. Dermatoglyphics is in use as a supportive diagnostic tool in genetic or chromosomal disorders as well as in clinical conditions with genetic etiologies. Primary amenorrhoea and Dermatoglyphics, both have the suspected multifactorial (genetic and environmental) aetiologies. OBJECTIVE: In the present study the finger dermatoglyphic patterns were studied in primary amenorrhoea cases and age matched fertile control females and also attention was given to find out whether a specific dermatoglyphic trait exists in primary amenorrhoea cases and whether it was statistically significant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To study the role of dermatoglyphics in primary amenorrhoea, a study was conducted on 30 subjects with primary amenorrhoea (as cases) and compared it with equal number of age matched fertile females (as controls). We studied fingertip patterns in all the subjects enrolled. Simultaneously we have assessed the Karyotype of primary amenorrhoea cases. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: Two subjects in experimental group have shown abnormal Karyotypes. The most significant finding in present study was increased total finger ridge count (TFRC) in primary amenorrhoea cases which was statistically significant. We also found higher frequency of loops and arches in primary amenorrhoea with abnormal karyotypes. This type of study may be quite useful as a supportive investigation, in stating the predisposition of an individual to primary amenorrhoea and referral of an individual for karyotyping.