Protein Profile of Human Saliva as a Predictive and Prognostic Tool for OSCC in Tamol Chewer's Population in Assam.

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential proteomic salivary biomarker in tamol chewers and comparing it to healthy and Oral squamous cell carcinoma cases. METHODS: A total of fifty unstimulated saliva samples were collected from the healthy volunteers, tamol chewers (without tobacco), and OSCC patients referred to North-East cancer Hospital, Jorabat, Assam, India. The 2-D gel analysis and western blotting were performed to analyze protein profiling. RESULTS: The identified proteins were serum albumin, HSP (Heat shock protein) 27, gamma actin, SCC (Squamous cell carcinoma) 1, and Annexin A4. All the proteins were associated with OSCC development when their values were compared with those of normal healthy subjects. HSP27 was subjected to further validation using western blotting methods. An increase of 18.39% (Serum Albumin), 15.04% (gamma actin), 14.01% (SSC 1), and 20.22% (ANX4) were observed in Tamol chewers when compared with healthy control subjects. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that the identified salivary proteins have a positive association with OSCC development. Profiling of these saliva proteomes especially HSP (Heat shock protein) 27 as a potential biomarker for OSCC detection in the high-risk population is recommended.

Effect of feed supplementation with biosynthesized silver nanoparticles using leaf extract of Morus indica L. V1 on Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae).

Herein, we report the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by a green route using the aqueous leaf extract of Morus indica L. V1. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited maximum UV-Vis absorbance at 460 nm due to surface plasmon resonance. The average diameter (~54 nm) of AgNPs was measured from HR-TEM analysis. EDX spectra also supported the formation of AgNPs, and negative zeta potential value (-14 mV) suggested its stability. Moreover, a shift in the carbonyl stretching (from 1639 cm-1 to 1630 cm-1) was noted in the FT-IR spectra of leaf extract after AgNPs synthesis which confirm the role of natural products present in leaves for the conversion of silver ions to AgNPs. The four bright circular rings (111), (200), (220) and (311) observed in the selected area electron diffraction pattern are the characteristic reflections of face centered cubic crystalline silver. LC-MS/MS study revealed the presence of phytochemicals in the leaf extract which is responsible for the reduction of silver ions. MTT assay was performed to investigate the cytotoxicity of AgNPs against two human cell lines, namely HepG2 and WRL-68. The antibacterial study revealed that MIC value of the synthesized AgNPs was 80 µg/ml against Escherichia coli K12 and Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96). Finally, the synthesized AgNPs at 10 µg/ml dosages showed beneficial effects on the survivability, body weights of the Bombyx mori L. larvae, pupae, cocoons and shells weights via enhancing the feed efficacy.

Effect of outer-membrane permeabilizers on the activity of antibiotics and plant extracts against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Several known outer membrane permeabilizers increased susceptibility of a highly resistant pathogenic strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa to different antibiotics and plant extracts. Of all the chemicals tested, EDTA, sodium citrate and sodium hexametaphosphate (HMP) were found to be potent permeabilizers as shown by enhanced lysis of the bacteria in the presence of lysozyme. In the presence of EDTA and sodium citrate susceptibility of the strain to gentamicin and rifampicin increased markedly. The strain was resistant to vancomycin but became susceptible when grown in the presence of increasing amounts of EDTA and sodium citrate. Similar results were obtained for erythromycin when treated with sodium citrate. EDTA was found to be most potent permeabilizer in enhancing the activity of the plant extracts. Though HMP was an effective permeabilizer it had a weak or no effect on the activity of the antibiotics and plant extracts.

A novel fed-batch digestion system for biomethanation of plant biomasses.

Plant biomasses, which in the absence of adequate pretreatment pose serious operational problems in biogas production using conventional domestic flow-through digesters, can be successfully digested in a novel fedbatch digestion system that produces a steady rate of biogas. Basically, the system is a batch digestion operated with a regular input of a calculated amount of feed based on first order decay kinetics in order to maintain a regular biogas production rate. For nearly three years the system was tested in a laboratory-scale fed-batch digester (10 l) using dried water hyacinth as feed providing the desired biogas production rate. A field-scale domestic digester of masonry construction with a working volume of 10 m3 was designed and tested for about 9 months by feeding a mixture of dried water hyacinth or banana stem along with sugarcane press mud, yielding an average biogas production of 90-100% of the expected rate calculated on the basis of the feed rate.

Lipid and fatty acid composition of muga silkworm, Antheraea assama, host plants in relation to silkworm growth.

The lipid and fatty acid composition of the leaves (tender, medium and mature) of muga host plants, Machilus bombycina, Litsaea monopetala (primary food plants) and L. cubeba and L. salicifolia (family: Lauraceae) (secondary food plants) was investigated by standard procedures, gas chromatography after saponification and esterification. The total lipid content of M. bombycina and L. monopetala leaves was recorded to be higher (16 and 18 g%), respectively, than that of L. cubeba (10 g%) and L. salicifolia (12 g%). GC analysis identified the presence of eight fatty acids (C14 to C22) and the concentration varied from 0.0297 to 8.1572 g% dry leaf powder. Among the fatty acids, (C14 to C22), polyunsaturated fatty acids were recorded to be highest in concentration in mature leaves of the primary host plants. The concentrations of saturated and polyunsatuated fatty acids were found to be at a minimum level in all the types of leaves of secondary muga host plants.

Stimulation of juvenile hormone biosynthesis by analogues of a Manduca sexta allatotropin: in vitro studies.

Two analogues of a Manduca sexta allatotropin (Mas-AT) were synthesized. They correspond to the active fragment, amino acids 5-13, of the natural Mas-AT with substitution of norleucine for methionine. ATANA has the structure Val-Glu-Nle-Nle-Thr-Ala-Arg-Gly-Phe-NH2, ATAA is acetylated at the N-terminus. Allatotropic potency was evaluated by measuring the in vitro rates of juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis in corpora allata (CA) of M. Sexta. At a concentration of 20 nM, ATANA and ATAA increased JH production in day 0, day 1, and day 3 adult female CA by a factor of 3-8. Larval CA were not affected. These results correspond to activities reported for the natural Mas-At. ATANA did not stimulate pharate adult female CA to produce JH. Stimulation of female CA with ATANA was reversed when the CA were transferred to fresh medium while stimulation with ATAA under the same condition persisted. Exogenous farnesoate was converted to JH-III at a rate exceeding the highest ATANA-stimulated rate. ATANA in addition to farnesoate did not increase JH-III production, but increased JH-II production in addition to the already high production rate for JH-III. It is inferred that Mas-AT stimulates a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of farnesoate and its homologues but does not affect epoxidation and methylation.