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 & Politics. The organization has 6082 authors who have published 13455 publications receiving 245407 citations. The organization is also known as: JNU.

Small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth in cirrhosis is related to the severity of liver disease.

Abstract: SUMMARY Background Small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is known to be present in patients with cirrhosis, predisposing to various complications. Aim To determine the frequency of SIBO in cirrhotics and correlate with severity of cirrhosis. Methods Small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth was determined by glucose‐ hydrogen breath test (GHBT). A basal breath-hydrogen >20 ppm or a rise by ‡12 ppm above baseline following glucose administration was taken as positive test. Prevalence of SIBO in cirrhotics was compared with healthy controls and correlated with severity of cirrhosis. Results Of the 53 cirrhotics, 26 (49%) had SIBO, compared to one (8%) control (P = 0.010). The prevalence of SIBO increased with severity of cirrhosis (Child‐Pugh A 20%, B 52% and C 73%; P = 0.013). On multivariate analysis, SIBO was independently associated with serum bilirubin and ascites. The best cut-off of serum bilirubin was ‡ 2m g⁄dL [AUROC 0.77 (95% CI 0.64‐0.90)] predicting SIBO with sensitivity 65%, specificity 81%, positive predictive value 77%, negative predictive value 71% and accuracy 74%. Patients having combination of ascites and serum bilirubin ‡ 2m g⁄dL had 82% chance, while patients having neither had only 10% chance of having SIBO.

Neuroprotective role of Bacopa monniera extract against aluminium-induced oxidative stress in the hippocampus of rat brain.

Abstract: Bacopa monniera is a nerve tonic used extensively in traditional Indian medicinal system “Ayurveda”. Reports regarding its various antioxidative, adaptogenic and memory enhancing roles have already appeared in the last few decades. In the present study, aluminium chloride (AlCl3) was used to generate neurotoxicity. We have investigated the neuroprotective effect of Bacopa extract against aluminium-induced changes in peroxidative products, such as thio-barbituric acid-reactive substance (TBA-RS) and protein carbonyl contents and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Effect on lipofuscin (age pigments) accumulation and ultrastructural changes were also studied. Bacopa effects were compared with those of l-deprenyl. Co-administration of Bacopa extract during aluminium treatment significantly prevented the aluminium-induced decrease in SOD activity as well as the increased oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. Protective effect was also observed at microscopic level. Fluorescence and electron microscopic studies revealed considerable inhibition of intraneuronal lipofuscin accumulation and necrotic alteration in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Observations showed that Bacopa's neuroprotective effects were comparable to those of l-deprenyl at both biochemical and microscopic levels.

Antifungals: Mechanism of Action and Drug Resistance

Abstract: There are currently few antifungals in use which show efficacy against fungal diseases. These antifungals mostly target specific components of fungal plasma membrane or its biosynthetic pathways. However, more recent class of antifungals in use is echinocandins which target the fungal cell wall components. The availability of mostly fungistatic antifungals in clinical use, often led to the development of tolerance to these very drugs by the pathogenic fungal species. Thus, the development of clinical multidrug resistance (MDR) leads to higher tolerance to drugs and its emergence is helped by multiple mechanisms. MDR is indeed a multifactorial phenomenon wherein a resistant organism possesses several mechanisms which contribute to display reduced susceptibility to not only single drug in use but also show collateral resistance to several drugs. Considering the limited availability of antifungals in use and the emergence of MDR in fungal infections, there is a continuous need for the development of novel broad spectrum antifungal drugs with better efficacy. Here, we briefly present an overview of the current understanding of the antifungal drugs in use, their mechanism of action and the emerging possible novel antifungal drugs with great promise.

Impact of structural stability of cold adapted Candida antarctica lipase B (CaLB): in relation to pH, chemical and thermal denaturation

Abstract: The effect of pH on the conformational behavior of Candida antartica lipase B (CaLB) has been monitored by spectroscopic and calorimetric studies. The results obtained from far and near-UV CD, intrinsic fluorescence and ANS binding studies indicate that CaLB exhibits the characteristic properties of a molten globule in acidic (protonated) conditions at pH 1.4. The molten globule state retained about 67% of its secondary structure with a substantial loss of tertiary structure at pH 1.4. Moreover, equilibrium unfolding studies indicated that the ‘molten-globule-like’ state unfolds in a non-cooperative manner and is thermodynamically less stable than that of the native state. The molten globule possessed a slightly higher Rh than its native state. The DSC thermogram shows a high heat signal at pH 7.4, and a low heat signal at pH 2.6, and suggests that CaLB is likely to have undergone structural changes during the thermal unfolding. However partially unfolded CaLB at pH 1.4 does not produce a DSC peak which proves the existence of the molten globule state at pH 1.4 as supported by spectroscopic data. The Stokes radius of the MG state obtained by SEC experiments is found to be 33% larger than the native state, but essentially smaller than the denatured state.