Physical exertion exacerbates decline in the musculature of an animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder caused by loss of the protein dystrophin. In humans, DMD has early onset, causes developmental delays, muscle necrosis, loss of ambulation, and death. Current animal models have been challenged by their inability to model the early onset and severity of the disease. It remains unresolved whether increased sarcoplasmic calcium observed in dystrophic muscles follows or leads the mechanical insults caused by the muscle's disrupted contractile machinery. This knowledge has important implications for patients, as potential physiotherapeutic treatments may either help or exacerbate symptoms, depending on how dystrophic muscles differ from healthy ones. Recently we showed how burrowing dystrophic (dys-1) C. elegans recapitulate many salient phenotypes of DMD, including loss of mobility and muscle necrosis. Here, we report that dys-1 worms display early pathogenesis, including dysregulated sarcoplasmic calcium and increased lethality. Sarcoplasmic calcium dysregulation in dys-1 worms precedes overt structural phenotypes (e.g., mitochondrial, and contractile machinery damage) and can be mitigated by reducing calmodulin expression. To learn how dystrophic musculature responds to altered physical activity, we cultivated dys-1 animals in environments requiring high intensity or high frequency of muscle exertion during locomotion. We find that several muscular parameters (e.g., size) improve with increased activity. However, longevity in dystrophic animals was negatively associated with muscular exertion, regardless of effort duration. The high degree of phenotypic conservation between dystrophic worms and humans provides a unique opportunity to gain insight into the pathology of the disease as well as the initial assessment of potential treatment strategies.

Mesoporous BN and BCN nanocages with high surface area and spherical morphology.

Novel mesoporous BN and BCN materials with cage type porous structure and spherical morphology have been synthesized using carbon nanocages with 3D porous structure as a template via an elemental substitution method at a low synthesis temperature. The obtained materials exhibit a large specific pore volume with uniform pore size distribution and the specific surface area ranging from 945 to 1023 m(2) g(-1).

Highly basic CaO nanoparticles in mesoporous carbon materials and their excellent catalytic activity.

Highly basic CaO nanoparticles immobilized mesoporous carbon materials (CaO-CMK-3) with different pore diameters have been successfully prepared by using wet-impregnation method. The prepared materials were subjected to extensive characterization studies using sophisticated techniques such as XRD, nitrogen adsorption, HRSEM-EDX, HRTEM and temperature programmed desorption of CO2 (TPD of CO2). The physico-chemical characterization results revealed that these materials possess highly dispersed CaO nanoparticles, excellent nanopores with well-ordered structure, high specific surface area, large specific pore volume, pore diameter and very high basicity. We have also demonstrated that the basicity of the CaO-CMK-3 samples can be controlled by simply varying the amount of CaO loading and pore diameter of the carbon support. The basic catalytic performance of the samples was investigated in the base-catalyzed transesterification of ethylacetoacetate by aryl, aliphatic and cyclic primary alcohols. CMK-3 catalyst with higher CaO loading and larger pore diameter was found to be highly active with higher conversion within a very short reaction time. The activity of 30% CaO-CMK3-150 catalyst for transesterification of ethylacetoacetate using different alcohols increases in the following order: octanol > butanol > cyclohexanol > benzyl alcohol > furfuryl alcohol.

Prevalence and risk factors for prehypertension and hypertension in five Indian cities.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies detailing the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension in India. METHODS: Men and women, over 25 years of age were included. After completion of a dietitian-administered questionnaire followed evaluation by a physician, physical examination and blood pressure measurement. Cross-sectional survey screened 6940 subjects, (3507 men (M), 3433 women (W): 1993-96) from cities located in five corners of India (Kolkata, n = 900; Nagpur, n = 894; Mumbai, n = 1542; Thiruanantpuram, n = 1602; Moradabad, n = 2002). Prehypertension (BP 130-139/85-89 mm Hg) and hypertension (BP > or = 140/90 mm Hg) were diagnosed according to the European Society of Cardiology criteria. RESULTS: Prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension, respectively, was significantly greater in South India (Trivandrum:W 31.5; 31.9%; M 35.1; 35.5%) and West India (Mumbai: W 30.0; 29.1%; M 34.7; 35.6%) compared to North India (Moradabad: W 24.6; 24.5%; M 26.7; 27.0%) and East India (Kolkata: W 20.9; 22.4%; M 23.5; 24.0%). Subjects with prehypertension and hypertension were older, had a higher BMI, central obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. They had a higher salt and alcohol intake, with greater oral contraceptive usage (W). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed strong positive associations of hypertension with age, central obesity, BMI, sedentary lifestyle, salt and alcohol intake and oral contraceptive usage (W). Fruit, vegetable and legume intake showed inverse associations, tobacco intake showed none. One in four with hypertension was aware of their diagnosis and of those receiving treatment, one in three had well-controlled hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: There is little awareness that prehypertension and hypertension are public health issues in India. Ageing population, central obesity, sedentary lifestyle, excessive salt and alcohol, lower fruit, vegetable and legumes intake increase risk for blood pressure elevation.

Highly crystalline and conductive nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon with graphitic walls and its electrochemical performance.

We present a rational and simple methodology to fabricate highly conductive nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous carbon with a graphitic wall structure by the simple adjustment of the carbonization temperature of mesoporous carbon nitride without the addition of any external nitrogen sources. By simply controlling the heat-treatment temperature, the structural order and intrinsic properties such as surface area, conductivity, and pore volume, and the nitrogen content of ordered graphitic mesoporous carbon can be controlled. Among the materials studied, the sample heat-treated at 1000 °C shows the highest conductivity, which is 32 times higher than that for the samples treated at 800 °C and retains the well-ordered mesoporous structure of the parent mesoporous carbon nitride and a reasonable amount of nitrogen in the graphitic framework. Since these materials exhibit high conductivity with the nitrogen atoms in the graphitic framework, we further demonstrate their use as a support for nanoparticle fabrication without the addition of any external stabilizing or size-controlling agent, as well as the anode electrode catalysts. Highly dispersed platinum nanoparticles with a size similar to that of the pore diameter of the support can be fabricated since the nitrogen atoms and the well-ordered porous structure in the mesoporous graphitic carbon framework act as a stabilizing and size-controlling agent, respectively. Furthermore the Pt-loaded, nitrogen-doped mesoporous graphitic carbon sample with a high conductivity shows much higher anodic electrocatalytic activity than the other materials used in the study.

Three-dimensional ultralarge-pore ia3d mesoporous silica with various pore diameters and their application in biomolecule immobilization.

Highly ordered mesoporous three-dimensional Ia3d silica (KIT-6) with different pore diameters has been synthesized by using pluronic P123 as surfactant template and n-butanol as cosolvent at different synthesis temperatures in a highly acidic medium. The materials were characterized by XRD and N(2) adsorption. The synthesis temperature plays a significant role in controlling the pore diameter, surface area, and pore volume of the materials. The material prepared at 150 degrees C, KIT-6-150, has a large pore diameter (11.3 nm) and a high specific pore volume (1.53 cm(3) g(-1)). We also demonstrate immobilization of lysozyme, which is a stable and hard protein, on KIT-6 materials with different pore diameters. The amount of lysozyme adsorbed on large-pore KIT-6 is extremely large (57.2 micromol g(-1)) and is much higher than that observed for mesoporous silicas MCM-41, SBA-15, and KIT-5, mesoporous carbons, and carbon nanocages. The effect of various parameters such as buffer concentration, adsorption temperature, concentration of the lysozyme, and the textural parameter of the adsorbent on the lysozyme adsorption capacity of KIT-6 was studied. The amount adsorbed mainly depends on solution pH, ionic strength, adsorption temperature, and pore volume and pore diameter of the adsorbent. The mechanism of adsorption on KIT-6 under different adsorption conditions is discussed. In addition, the structural stability of lysozyme molecules and the KIT-6 adsorbent before and after adsorption were investigated by XRD, nitrogen adsorption, and FTIR spectroscopy.

Heteropoly acid encapsulated SBA-15/TiO2 nanocomposites and their unusual performance in acid-catalysed organic transformations.

The preparation of SBA-15/TiO(2) nanocomposites with different loadings of Keggin-type 12-tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) nanocrystals in their mesochannels through a simple and effective vacuum impregnation method is reported for the first time. The catalysts have been characterised by various sophisticated techniques, including XRD, HRSEM, and TEM. It has been found that the acidity and the textural parameters of the nanocomposites can be controlled by simply changing the loadings of TPA and TiO(2) or the calcination temperature. TPA and TiO(2) loadings of 15 and 22.4 wt %, respectively, and a calcination temperature of 1123 K have proved to be optimal for obtaining mesoporous nanocomposite materials with the highest acidity. Moreover, the activities of these catalysts in promoting hydroamination as well as Mannich and Claisen rearrangement reactions have been extensively investigated. The results show that the amount of TPA has a great influence on the activity of the nanocomposites in all of the reactions studied. The effects of other reaction parameters, such as temperature and reaction time, on the conversion and product selectivity have also been studied in detail. A kinetic analysis of the formation of the products under various reaction conditions is presented. It has been found that the activity of the nanocomposite composed of 15 wt % TPA deposited on 22.4 wt of TiO(2) on SBA-15 in promoting the studied reaction is remarkably higher than the catalytic activities shown by pure TPA, TiO(2)-loaded SBA-15, or TPA-loaded SBA-15. The results obtained have indicated that the acidity and the structural control of the nanocomposite materials are highly critical for obtaining excellent catalytic activity, and the presented highly acidic nanocomposites are considered to show great potential for use as catalysts in promoting many acid-catalysed organic transformations.