<p>AIMTo estimate the frequency of microdeletions in the long arm of Y-chromosome of 20 infertile males from South India.p><p>METHODSPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using Y-specific STS of azoospermia factor (AZF) regions i.e., SY 84 for AZFa, SY 127 for AZFb and SY 254 for AZFc.p><p>RESULTSOf the 20 infertile subjects 3 (15 %), one azoospermic and two oligozoospermic, showed microdeletions in the AZF region of Y-chromosome.p><p>CONCLUSIONThe frequency of deletions involving AZF region of the Y-chromosome is 15 % in azoospermic and severely oligozoospermic infertile men. PCR amplification of AZF locus is useful for the diagnosis of microdeletions in the Y-chromosome.p>
Base Sequence ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Loci ; Humans ; India ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Reference Values ; Seminal Plasma Proteins ; genetics

AIM:To determine tear function tests values,Schirmer Ⅰ test(S Ⅰt),tear film break-up time(TBUT)in patients with pterygium.METHODS:A total of 100 eyes(50 with primary pterygium and 50 without pterygium)of 50 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were evaluated for S Ⅰt and TBUT.RESULTS:The mean S Ⅰ t value in eyes with pterygium was 19.6±11.6(range 1-40)mm and in control eyes without pterygium was 17.2±10.6(range 1-35)mm.S Ⅰ tresults were abnormal in 20 eyes(40%)with pterygium and in 21 eyes(42%)without pterygium(control);the difference was not statistically significant(P= 0.75).The difference between the groups was not statistically significant(f= 1.453,P=0.15).The TBUT in eyes with pterygium was 7.4±5.1(range 2-20)seconds and in control eyes without pterygium was 13.4±6.1(range 2-25)seconds.The difference between the groups was statistically significant(f = 8.029,P＜0.01).The TBUT was abnormal in 39 eyes(78%)with pterygium and in 16 control eyes(32%);the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:There was no significant difference in S Ⅰ t in eyes with pterygium compared to eyes without pterygium.There is reduction of TBUT in eyes with pterygium.

AIM: To evaluate the antifertility activity of Artemisia vulgaris leaves on female Wistar rats. METHOD: The plant extract was tested for its effect on implant formation at two dose levels, 300 and 600 mg·kg⁻¹, respectively. The effective methanolic plant extract was further studied for estrogenic potency on ovariectomised immature female Wistar rats. RESULTS: The data presented in this study demonstrate the antifertility potential of Artemisia vulgaris methanolic leaf extract, which shows a strong and significant decrease in implant formation (100%), and a strong estrogenic effect resulting in a significant increase in uterine weight in immature ovariectomised rats. These observations suggest that the methanolic extract of Artemisia vulgaris leaves has strong anti-implantation activity and estrogenic activity. CONCLUSION The methanolic plant extract of A. vulgaris has antifertility activity.
Animals ; Artemisia ; Contraceptive Agents ; pharmacology ; Embryo Implantation ; drug effects ; Female ; Fertility ; drug effects ; Organ Size ; Ovariectomy ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; Rats, Wistar ; Uterus ; drug effects

Cervical cancer is the most common malignancy in Indian women. Cervical cancer usually spread by local extension and through the lymphatics to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Direct invasion of muscles by primary growth is more common than by metastatic involvement. We present a case of carcinoma of the cervix post radiotherapy to pelvis who on follow up presented with biceps muscle metastases as the initial sign of disseminated disease.
Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Introduction: One of the greatest risk factors for cardiovascular diseases is hypercholesterolemia. Moringa oleifera is a good source of phytochemicals and is well explored for its antioxidant properties. Methods: The main aim of the present study was to assess the potential cholesterol lowering effect of Moringa oleifera leaf polyphenols (MOP) in an animal model. Five groups of male Wister rats were fed for 45 days as follows: a standard diet (GI); high fat-cholesterol diet (GII); high fat-cholesterol with MOP (100 and 200mg/kg body wt GIII & GIV respectively); and high fat-cholesterol with statins (Atorvastatin) (G-V). Results: Administration of MOP rich extract (GII and GIV) significantly (p=0.05) lowered the serum cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. A significant (p=0.05) decrease in the activity of the HMG CoA reductase enzyme was observed in GIII, GIV and GV but not in GI & GII. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the polyphenol extract of Moringa oleifera leaves has a significant cholesterol lowering effect through inhibiting HMG CoA reductase activity and faecal bile acid binding.

Drought, flood, salinity, or a combination of these limits rice production. Several rice varieties are well known for their tolerance to specific abiotic stresses. We determined genetic relationship among 12 rice varieties including 9 tolerant to drought, flood, or salinity using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Based on all markers, the nine tolerant varieties formed one cluster distinct from the cluster of three control varieties. The salt-tolerant varieties were closest to two flood-tolerant varieties, and together they were distinct from the drought-tolerant varieties. (GA)(8)YG was the most informative primer, showing the highest polymorphic information content (PIC) and resolving power (Rp). The drought-, flood-, and salt-tolerant varieties grouped in three distinct clusters within the group of tolerant varieties, when (GA)(8)YG was used. Sabita was the only exception. The two aus varieties, Nagina22 and FR13A, were separated and grouped with the drought- and flood-tolerant varieties, respectively, but they were together in dendrograms based on other primers. The results show that ISSR markers associated with (GA)(8)YG delineated the three groups of stress-tolerant varieties from each other and can be used to identify genes/new alleles associated with the three abiotic stresses in rice germplasm.
Droughts ; Floods ; Genotype ; Oryza ; classification ; genetics ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Salinity

<p>INTRODUCTIONRecently, there has been increasing evidence that genetic variation in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays an important role in myocardial infarction. Therefore, the present study was carried out with the aim of investigating the association of the ACE gene insertion/deletion (I /D) polymorphism and its levels in myocardial infarction patients and their first-degree relatives (FDRs).p><p>METHODS206 patients with myocardial infarction, 168 FDRs and 210 control subjects were enrolled in the study. ACE I /D polymorphism was determined using the polymerase chain reaction method. Serum ACE levels were measured using the photometric method.p><p>RESULTSThe DD genotype and ACE activity were significantly higher in patients (p-value is 0.00006 and 0.0001, respectively) and FDRs (p-value is 0.003 and 0.04, respectively) compared with the controls.p><p>CONCLUSIONACE DD genotype and ACE levels are important risk factors for myocardial infarction. This study indicates that the higher frequency of the DD genotype and ACE levels observed in FDRs may increase susceptibility to developing myocardial infarction.p>
Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Confidence Intervals ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; epidemiology ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Incidence ; India ; epidemiology ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; epidemiology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Odds Ratio ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; analysis ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Reference Values

Background: s/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is generally diagnosed at an advanced stage, which limits curative treatment options for these patients. Locoregional therapy (LRT) is the standard approach to bridge and downstage unresectable HCC for liver transplantation (LT). Atezolizumab-bevacizumab (atezo-bev) can induce objective responses in nearly one-third of patients; however, the role and outcomes of downstaging using atezo-bev remains unknown. Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, we included consecutive patients between November 2020 and August 2023, who received atezo-bev with or without LRT and were subsequently considered for resection/LT after downstaging. Results: Of the 115 patients who received atezo-bev, 12 patients (10.4%) achieved complete or partial response and were willing to undergo LT; they (age, 58.5 years; women, 17%; Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage system B/C, 5/7) had received 3-12 cycles of atezo- bev, and four of them had received prior LRT. Three patients died before LT, while three were awaiting LT. Six patients underwent curative therapies: four underwent living donor LT after a median of 79.5 days (range, 54-114) following the last atezo-bev dose, one underwent deceased donor LT 38 days after the last dose, and one underwent resection. All but one patient had complete pathologic response with no viable HCC. Three patients experienced wound healing complications, and one required re-exploration and succumbed to sepsis. After a median follow-up of 10 months (range, 4-30), none of the alive patients developed HCC recurrence or graft rejection. Conclusions Surgical therapy, including LT, is possible after atezo-bev therapy in well-selected patients after downstaging.

Background: s/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is generally diagnosed at an advanced stage, which limits curative treatment options for these patients. Locoregional therapy (LRT) is the standard approach to bridge and downstage unresectable HCC for liver transplantation (LT). Atezolizumab-bevacizumab (atezo-bev) can induce objective responses in nearly one-third of patients; however, the role and outcomes of downstaging using atezo-bev remains unknown. Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, we included consecutive patients between November 2020 and August 2023, who received atezo-bev with or without LRT and were subsequently considered for resection/LT after downstaging. Results: Of the 115 patients who received atezo-bev, 12 patients (10.4%) achieved complete or partial response and were willing to undergo LT; they (age, 58.5 years; women, 17%; Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage system B/C, 5/7) had received 3-12 cycles of atezo- bev, and four of them had received prior LRT. Three patients died before LT, while three were awaiting LT. Six patients underwent curative therapies: four underwent living donor LT after a median of 79.5 days (range, 54-114) following the last atezo-bev dose, one underwent deceased donor LT 38 days after the last dose, and one underwent resection. All but one patient had complete pathologic response with no viable HCC. Three patients experienced wound healing complications, and one required re-exploration and succumbed to sepsis. After a median follow-up of 10 months (range, 4-30), none of the alive patients developed HCC recurrence or graft rejection. Conclusions Surgical therapy, including LT, is possible after atezo-bev therapy in well-selected patients after downstaging.

Background: s/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is generally diagnosed at an advanced stage, which limits curative treatment options for these patients. Locoregional therapy (LRT) is the standard approach to bridge and downstage unresectable HCC for liver transplantation (LT). Atezolizumab-bevacizumab (atezo-bev) can induce objective responses in nearly one-third of patients; however, the role and outcomes of downstaging using atezo-bev remains unknown. Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, we included consecutive patients between November 2020 and August 2023, who received atezo-bev with or without LRT and were subsequently considered for resection/LT after downstaging. Results: Of the 115 patients who received atezo-bev, 12 patients (10.4%) achieved complete or partial response and were willing to undergo LT; they (age, 58.5 years; women, 17%; Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage system B/C, 5/7) had received 3-12 cycles of atezo- bev, and four of them had received prior LRT. Three patients died before LT, while three were awaiting LT. Six patients underwent curative therapies: four underwent living donor LT after a median of 79.5 days (range, 54-114) following the last atezo-bev dose, one underwent deceased donor LT 38 days after the last dose, and one underwent resection. All but one patient had complete pathologic response with no viable HCC. Three patients experienced wound healing complications, and one required re-exploration and succumbed to sepsis. After a median follow-up of 10 months (range, 4-30), none of the alive patients developed HCC recurrence or graft rejection. Conclusions Surgical therapy, including LT, is possible after atezo-bev therapy in well-selected patients after downstaging.