31 research outputs found
Altered Expression of Heat Shock Protein-27 and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 after Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study
No full textPublished online: 2019-10-07Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to serious complications involving primary trauma and progressive loss due to inflammation, local ischemia, or infection. Despite a worldwide annual incidence of 15 to 40 cases per million, methylprednisolone is the only treatment available to alleviate neurologic dysfunction; therefore, research is currently focused on identifying novel targets by biochemical and molecular studies.
Purpose: Here, we investigated the expression of various molecular markers at the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein level at day 0 and day 30 post-SCI.
Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine the expression of CASPASE-3 and heat shock protein-27 (HSP-27) in serum samples. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to determine the level of mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1), VEGFR-2, HSP-27, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and CASPASE-3.
Results: HSP-27 expression at day 30, as compared with day 0, showed significant downregulation. In contrast, there was elevated expression of MCP-1. ELISA analysis showed no significant change in the expression of CASPASE-3 or HSP-27.
Conclusion: There may be possible opposing role of HSP-27 and MCP-1 governing SCI. Their association can be studied by designing in vitro studies.Vidyasagar Boraiah, Shweta Modgil, Kaushal Sharma, Vivek Podder, Madhava Sai Sivapuram, Gurwattan S. Miranpuri, Akshay Anand, Vijay Gon
Plant regeneration from leaf explants in apple rootstock MM111: Effect of cytokinins and auxins
No full text370-378A reproducible protocol for adventitious shoot formation has been achieved in commercially important clonal apple rootstock Malling-Merton111 (MM111). The procedure consists of inducing leaves excised from micropropagated shoots, on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplied with various concentrations and combinations of cytokinins benzyl adenine (BA), thidiazuran (TDZ) and auxins indole butyric acid (IBA), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), indole acetic acid (IAA), and 2-4, diphenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). Frequency of regeneration was influenced by the concentration and type of cytokinin and auxin, light and dark incubation and length of explant exposure to plant growth regulators. Shoots were regenerated either through callus or directly from leaves on regeneration medium incubated in light/dark. However, number of explants regenerated and number of shoots were highest in explants incubated in light. Among BA treatments, optimum shoot regeneration (34%) was obtained at 3 mg l-1 BA with 1 mg l-1 NAA, while TDZ treatments (0.6 mg l-1 TDZ with 0.5 mg l-1 NAA) resulted in higher regeneration rate (44%), and produced increased number with longer shoots. The potential of regeneration was further increased at 0.6 mg l-1 TDZ with 0.5 mg l-1 NAA by using a two stage procedure where leaves were incubated on regeneration medium for 10 days and then transferred to basal medium. Here, 49% shoots originated directly with maximum of six shoots per regenerating explant in comparatively less time period while BA supplemented medium did not promote shoot induction in this experiment. Regenerated shoots were rooted successfully and the resulting plantlets were hardened in the potting mixture
Role of early life exposure and environment on neurodegeneration: implications on brain disorders
No full textAssociation of Plasma Biomarkers for Angiogenesis and Proteinopathy in Indian Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients
No full text
Has Covid-19 accelerated opportunities for digital entrepreneurship? An Indian perspective
No full textCovid-19 has challenged many businesses to orient themselves towards digital solutions for their survival. Due to the rising digital wave during Covid-19, there has been a plethora of opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to enter the market. Hence, this study focuses on understanding emerging areas and technologies for digital entrepreneurship. This study adopted a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews through the lens of the diffusion of innovations theory. A total of 23 entrepreneurs responded and presented their views on Covid-19-induced opportunities for digital entrepreneurship. A structured process of open, axial, and selective coding was adopted for the thematic analysis. The study presents a framework based on four promising propositions. Results of the thematic analysis indicate the emergence of digital entrepreneurship opportunities in technology (EdTech, FinTech, cybersecurity), healthcare (diagnostics, virtual care, fitness), entertainment (over the top, gaming, social media), and e-commerce (contactless delivery, payment methods, augmented reality). In this study, entrepreneurs presented their views based on their experience with the platform or technology they operated. To this end, the present study offers implications both for scholars and entrepreneurs working in and aspiring to digital entrepreneurship along with future scope of research
Applying Ragin's Crisp and Fuzzy Set QCA to Large Datasets: Social Class and Educational Achievement in the National Child Development Study
No full textThe paper explores the use of Charles Ragin's Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) in both its crisp and fuzzy set versions in the study of the relations between social class origin, sex, 'ability' and subsequent educational achievement. The work reported is part of a larger ongoing project which is employing QCA to compare these relations within two birth cohorts. Here data are used from the British National Child Development Study, i.e. from children born in 1958. The paper has a methodological focus, bringing out the strengths but also the difficulties that arise when employing QCA with a large dataset of this type. In particular, the problem of calibrating membership in fuzzy sets in a context where detailed case knowledge is not available is illustrated. It is also shown how the use of gradually increasing thresholds with Ragin's fs/QCA software can bring out the relative importance of various factors in accounting for achievement. The QCA-based analysis suggests that the processes of educational attainment can, at best, only be seen as partly falling under a 'meritocratic' description. It is also hoped that this paper will serve as a useful introduction to the potential of QCA for readers not yet familiar with it.QCA, Social Class, Educational Attainment, Gender, Fuzzy Sets, Meritocracy.
Allium cepa exerts neuroprotective effect on retinal ganglion cells of pterygopalatine artery (PPA) ligated mice
No full textBackground: Repeated failure to rescue the damaged retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by various drugs has warranted the need to screen common herbal compounds available in the form of various eye formulations for their efficacy. Objective: We aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of pretreatment with aqueous extract of A. cepa in Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) induced retinal injury. Methods: Ischemia was induced for 2 h by pterygopalatine artery (PPA) ligation in C57BL/6J mice, followed by reperfusion. The neuroprotective role of oral pretreatment with aqueous extract of A. cepa (300 mg/kg) was analyzed with respect to control and injury only group at 7, 14, and 28 day after the surgery for expression of different genes in the retina by Real-Time PCR. Results: Molecular analysis at different time points showed increased expression of BCl-2, GDNF, GFAP, and Brn3b in the retina at 14 and 28 day after A. cepa treatment in comparison to the injury alone group. However, at shorter time point (7th day), the expression of these genes was pronounced in the injury only group in comparison to the injury and pretreated group. Conclusion: Pretreatment with aqueous extract of A. cepa may protect from the neuronal damage in I/R-induced retinal injury in mice by altering the expression of neurotrophic factor
