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Protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium cause malaria, a mosquito borne disease responsible for substantial health and economic costs throughout the developing world. During transition from human host to insect vector, the parasites undergo profound changes in morphology, host cell tropism and gene expression. Unique among eukaryotes, Plasmodium differentiation through each stage of development includes differential expression of singular, stage-specific ribosomal RNAs, permitting real-time adaptability to major environmental changes. In the mosquito vector, these Plasmodium parasites respond to changes in temperature by modulating transcriptional activities, allowing real-time responses to environmental cues. Here, we identify a novel form of long noncoding RNA: a temperature-regulated untranslated lncRNA (tru-lncRNA) that influences the Plasmodium parasite's ability to respond to changes in its local environment. Expression of this tru-lncRNA is specifically induced by shifts in temperature from 37 °C to ambient temperature that parallels the transition from mammalian host to insect vector. Interestingly, deletion of tru-lncRNA from the genome may prevent processing of S-type rRNA thereby affecting the protein synthesis machinery. Malaria prevention and mitigation strategies aimed at disrupting the Plasmodium life cycle will benefit from the characterization of ancillary biomolecules (including tru-lncRNAs) that are constitutively sensitive to micro- environmental parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the involvement of the receptor gene for advanced glycation (RAGE), its ligand EN-RAGE, and COX-2 in endometriosis.Methods: The mRNA and protein expression of the corresponding genes were determined from endometriotic cells from 28 study patients and healthy endometrial stromal cells from 20 controls by semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively, using beta-actin as an invariant control.Results: The expression of COX-2, RAGE, and EN-RAGE was significantly increased, as evidenced by the significantly greater mRNA and protein expression in the cells of the study patients (P<0.001). Previous treatment for endometriosis did not lessen mRNA and protein expression (P<0.001).Conclusion: Our findings strengthen the hypothesis of an underlying inflammation in the pathophysiology of endometriosis and suggest exploring anti-inflammatory therapies as adjunct treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This in vitro study demonstrates the comparative anti-inflammatory effects of rosiglitazone and 15d-PGJ2 in endometriosis and provides evidence for exploitation of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-γ as a therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the in vitro effects of atorvastatin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced gene expression in endometrial-endometriotic stromal cells. Design: In vitro experimental study using flow cytometry, ELISA, semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot. Setting: Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. Patient(s): Twenty-five women undergoing laparoscopy (n = 10) and laparotomy (n = 15). Intervention(s): Endometriotic cyst wall (group I) and endometrial biopsy (group II) collection. Main Outcome Measure(s): The endometrial-endometriotic stromal cells were isolated from ectopic (group I) and eutopic (group II) endometrium by established methods, cultured, and stimulated with LPS (1 μg/mL), followed by atorvastatin treatment in a time- and dose-dependent manner to investigate the effects of LPS on proliferation (Ki-67) and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), extracellular newly identified RAGE binding protein (EN-RAGE), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), and liver X receptor-α (LXR-α) genes in endometrial-endometriotic stromal cells and on levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and 17β-E2 in endometrial-endometriotic stromal cell culture supernatant. Result(s): Significant inhibition of Ki-67 and LPS-induced expression of inflammatory and angiogenic genes (COX-2, VEGF, RAGE, and EN-RAGE) was observed in atorvastatin-treated endometrial-endometriotic stromal cells. In contrast, a significant dose- and time-dependent increase in expression of anti-inflammatory genes (PPAR-γ and LXR-α) and levels of IGFBP-1 was observed after atorvastatin treatment in both the groups. However, atorvastatin treatment had no effect on 17β-E2 levels in endometrial/endometriotic stromal cell culture supernatant. Conclusion(s): The data of the present study provide new insights for the implication of atorvastatin treatment for endometriosis in humans. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: MassARRAY (Agena Bioscience™) combines competitive PCR with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) analysis that gives highly accurate, sensitive, and high-throughput methods for the quantitative analysis of variation of gene expression in multiple samples. SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) have a very high potential of discovering disease-gene relationships. SNP-genotyping through MassARRAY is not only a cost-effective genotyping method but also provides a platform to validate variants observed through a high-throughput Next-generation sequencing (NGS).Methods: In the present study, we have incorporated the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight, mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) as a tool for differentiating genotypes based on the mass of variant. We have performed multiplex PCR and genotyped 12 SNPs in 758 samples (166 cases and 592 controls). The 12 studied SNPs were chosen with a rationale for their association with multiple cancers in literature.Results: This is the first study to explore these SNPs with esophageal cancer within the J&K population. Out of 12 SNPs, two SNPs rs12190287 of TCF21 and rs10046 of CYP19A1 were significantly associated with esophageal cancer with Odds Ratio (OR) 1.412 (1.09-1.8 at 95% CI, p = 0.008) and 1.54 (1.21-2.072 at 95% CI, p = 0.0007) within the population of Jammu and Kashmir.Conclusion: We explored 12 SNPs that were found to be associated with multiple cancers in literature with esophageal cancer within the population of J&K. This is the first study to find the relation of these SNPs with ESCC within the studied population. This study explores the relation of genetic and environmental factors with the ESCC susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological data for 36 descriptors of 258 bread wheat varieties was used to identify traits actually contributing for genetic variability using SAS software program. Total 20 morphological traits were found to be significant in expression of diversity in a selected set. These identified descriptors were used to study genetic diversity expression for hierarchical cluster analysis on the standardized quantitative data, using Ward's minimum variance method with an R2 (squared multiple correlation) of 0.70 for grouping the accessions as per the PROC-CLUSTER program in SAS. The cluster tree revealed twenty seven genetically similar groups for 258 wheat genotypes. These groups will be used to develop mini core set of bread wheat varieties that will represent the morphological diversity available in Indian bread wheat and may be valuable for biochemical and molecular interpretations of diverse alleles present in Indian wheat for morphogenetic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]