Jawaharlal Nehru University

About: Jawaharlal Nehru University is a education organization based out in New Delhi, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Candida albicans. The organization has 6082 authors who have published 13455 publications receiving 245407 citations. The organization is also known as: JNU.

p53 mutation profile of squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus in Kashmir (India): A high‐incidence area

Abstract: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has been reported to show geographical variation in its incidence, even within areas of ethnic homogeneity. Kashmir valley, in north of India, has been described as a high-risk area for ESCC. Here, we make a preliminary attempt to study mutations in exons 5-8 (the DNA binding domain) of the tumor suppressor gene, p53, in 55 ESCC patients from Kashmir. Polymerase chain reaction followed by direct sequencing analysis revealed the presence of mutations in 36.36% (20/55) tumors, assessed for the extent of allelic instability. The 20 mutations, found in 20 patients, comprised of 17 single-base substitutions (11 transitions + 6 transversions) and 3 deletions. The 17 single-base variations represented 12 missense mutations, 2 nonsense mutations and 3 variations located in intron 6, 1 of which resulted in a splicing variant. The patients when compared for the incidence of p53 mutation with various demographic features revealed females to be at increased risk (p = 0.016; OR = 4.13; 95% CI = 1.26-13.46). Comparison of mutation profile with other high-risk areas reflected both differences and similarities indicating coexposure to a unique set of risk factors. This might be due to the special dietary and cultural practices of Kashmir that needs validation, as does the gender-based difference in the incidence of p53 mutation observed in this study.

Asymmetric distribution of phosphatidylethanolamine in C. albicans: possible mediation by CDR1, a multidrug transporter belonging to ATP binding cassette (ABC) superfamily.

Abstract: By using two molecular probes, we demonstrate that only 4% of total phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) in the plasma membrane (PM) of a human pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans, is present in its external half Evidence is presented to show that the availability of PtdEtn could be related to the expression of a multidrug transporter CDR1 of C albicans, and the process is energy-dependent A homozygous CDR1 disruptant strain of C albicans shows almost 23% reduction in the external labelling of PtdEtn This report shows that, similar to human MDRs, yeast multidrug transporter could also be involved in aminophospholipid translocation

Effect of Aegle marmelos on biotransformation enzyme systems and protection against free-radical-mediated damage in mice.

Abstract: The effect of hydroalcoholic (80% ethanol, 20% water) extract of leaves of Aegle marmelos was examined on carcinogen-metabolizing phase-I and phase-II enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, glutathione content, lactate dehydrogenase and lipid peroxidation, using two doses of dried extract (50 and 100 mg kg−1 daily for 14 days), in the liver of mice. The modulatory effect of the extract was also examined on extrahepatic organs (lung, kidney and fore-stomach) for effects on the activity of glutathione S-transferase, DT-diaphorase, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Extract treatment significantly increased the basal levels of acid-soluble sulphydryl (–SH) content, cytochrome P450, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, cytochrome b5, NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, glutathione S-transferase, DT-diaphorase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in the liver. Aegle acted as a bifunctional inducer since it induced both phase-I and phase-II enzyme systems. Both doses significantly decreased the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and formation of malondialdehyde in liver, suggesting a role in cytoprotection as well as protection against pro-oxidant-induced membrane damage. Butylated hydroxyanisole (positive control) induced almost all the antioxidative parameters measured in this study. The extract was effective in inducing glutathione S-transferase, DT-diaphorase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in lung, glutathione S-transferase, DT-diaphorase and superoxide dismutase in fore-stomach, and DT-diaphorase and superoxide dismutase in lung. These significant changes in the levels of drug-metabolizing enzymes and antioxidative profiles are strongly indicative of the chemopreventive potential of this plant, especially against chemical carcinogenesis.