Atypical Parkinson syndromes (APSs) often have symptoms that overlap with those of Parkinson's disease (PD), especially early in the disease, making these disorders difficult to diagnose. Previous ...studies have demonstrated an association of oligomeric α-synuclein (α-Syn), a key element in the pathogenesis of PD, with Sirtuin (SIRT)2 proteins for modulating PD. We aimed to evaluate SIRT protein expression in serum of PD patients and compare it with APSs and normal elderly control (GC) and to correlate this with α-Syn. SIRT protein expression was evaluated in sera of 68 PD; 34 APS and 68 GC without any neuro-psychiatric illness as controls by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). SIRT2 expression was correlated with α-Syn in PD and GC. Significant (
< 0.0001) differences were observed between serum SIRT2 concentration in PD and APS and GC as well as between APS and GC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed the strong cut-off value to differentiate PD from APS and GC and also APS from GC. Significant correlation was observed among SIRT2 levels in early PD patients with Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Hoehn & Yahr (H & Y) and increased duration of disease. In addition, a strong positive correlation of SIRT2 with α-Syn (
< 0.0001) was observed. However, no such difference was detected for serum SIRT1 in cases of PD and APS or for GC. The present study is the first to report elevated serum SIRT2 in PD. The study also provided a simple test to distinguish PD from APS and may have translational utility for diagnosis.
We present the first systematic study of the stellar populations of ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in the field, integrating the large area search and characterization of UDGs by the SMUDGes survey ...with the twelve-band optical photometry of the S-PLUS survey. Based on Bayesian modeling of the optical colors of UDGs, we determine the ages, metallicities, and stellar masses of 100 UDGs distributed in an area of ∼330 deg2 in the Stripe 82 region. We find that the stellar masses and metallicities of field UDGs are similar to those observed in clusters and follow the trends previously defined in studies of dwarf and giant galaxies. However, field UDGs have younger luminosity-weighted ages than do UDGs in clusters. We interpret this result to mean that field UDGs have more extended star formation histories, including some that continue to form stars at low levels to the present time. Finally, we examine stellar population scaling relations that show that UDGs are, as a population, similar to other low surface brightness galaxies.
Maintaining health and well-being of the population is a universal priority. Governments around the globe are therefore seeking greater efficiency and better outcomes from researches being held. ...Although large randomized trials or systematic review of several large trials provides the highest level of evidence, the intricate cost, time, and difficulties of conventional trials have led to questions about their sustainability commanding search for alternative approaches. Demands for improved competences in medical research have led to mounting interest in newer clinical trial designs. This article provides an insight into newer clinical trial designs, including cluster trials, adaptive designs, the master protocols along with their strengths, weaknesses, and which trials design should be opted for in different clinical scenarios.
Heat waves over India occur during the months of March-June. This study aims at the real-time monitoring and prediction of heat waves using a multi-model dynamical ensemble prediction system ...developed at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, India. For this, a criterion has been proposed based on the observed daily gridded maximum temperature (Tmax) datasets, which can be used for real-time prediction as well. A heat wave day is identified when either (1) Tmax (a)≥ its climatological 95
percentile (calculated from daily values during March-June and for 1981-2010), (b) >36 °C, and (c) its departure from normal is >3.5 °C, Or, (2) when the Tmax >44 °C. Three heat wave prone regions, namely, northwest, southeast and northwest-southeast regions are recognized and heat wave spells of minimum consecutive six days are identified objectively for each region during 1981-2018. It is noticed that the prediction system has reasonable skill in predicting the heat waves over heat wave prone regions of India. Forecast verification of heat wave spells during 2003-2018 reveals that the prediction system has great potential in providing overall indication about the onset, duration and demise of the forthcoming heat wave spell with sufficient lead time albeit with some spatio-temporal error.
Background
The aging trajectory from a state of robustness and good health proceeds from sarcopenia to frailty followed by disability and death due to decline in skeletal muscle mass and function. ...Sarcopenia is now formally recognized as a muscle disease with an ICD-10-MC diagnosis code. The autophagic response seems to be affected in the skeletal muscle during aging contributing to sarcopenia. Sestrins (Sesns) proteins play a critical role in autophagy induction under cellular stress conditions.
Aims
The study aims to identify sarcopenia in older adults using Asian Working group guidelines (AWGS) to determine clinically relevant cut-off levels for diagnosis and their association with antioxidant protein Sesns.
Methods
The study recruited 102 older adults attending Geriatric medicine OPD AIIMS, New Delhi, India. The level of serum Sesns were evaluated by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and validated by immunoblotting. Fifty older adults were diagnosed as sarcopenics according to AWGS.
Results
Sesn 1 (
p
= 0.0448) and Sesn 2 (
p
< 0.0001) levels were significantly reduced in sarcopenic compared to non-sarcopenic. ROC analysis showed a better cut-off of Sesn 2; 10.104 ng/µL with 92% sensitivity and 84% specificity. Even after adjusting the values with respect to confounding factors, Sesn levels remained significantly reduced in sarcopenics (
p
< 0.030).
Discussion
The level of Sesn 2 showed positive co-relation with the characteristics of sarcopenia. This study first time reported the concentration of serum sestrin in sarcopenic older adults.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that sarcopenia can be diagnosed at the early stage by using the serum sestrin scale as one of the potential biomarker.
AGES: THE AGN AND GALAXY EVOLUTION SURVEY Kochanek, C S; Eisenstein, D J; Cool, R J ...
The Astrophysical journal. Supplement series,
05/2012, Letnik:
200, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The AGN and Galaxy Evolution Survey (AGES) is a redshift survey covering, in its standard fields, 7.7 deg super(2) of the Bootes field of the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey. The final sample consists of ...23,745 redshifts. There are well-defined galaxy samples in 10 bands (the B sub(W), R, I, J, K, IRAC 3.6,4.5,5.8, and 8.0 mu m, and MIPS 24 mu m bands) to a limiting magnitude of I < 20 mag for spectroscopy. For these galaxies, we obtained 18,163 redshifts from a sample of 35,200 galaxies, where random sparse sampling was used to define statistically complete sub-samples in all 10 photometric bands. The median galaxy redshift is 0.31, and 90% of the redshifts are in the range 0.085 < z < 0.66. Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) were selected as radio, X-ray, IRAC mid-IR, and MIPS 24 mu m sources to fainter limiting magnitudes (I < 22.5 mag for point sources). Redshifts were obtained for 4764 quasars and galaxies with AGN signatures, with 2926, 1718, 605, 119, and 13 above redshifts of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. We detail all the AGES selection procedures and present the complete spectroscopic redshift catalogs and spectral energy distribution decompositions. Photometric redshift estimates are provided for all sources in the AGES samples.
Legionnaires' disease (LD) is an established cause of pneumonia, and the disease remains largely underdiagnosed. Even though LD has been reported from many parts of the world, only sporadic cases ...have been reported in India. During February 2015-January 2020, we enrolled 597 patients with radiographically confirmed pneumonia and tested respiratory secretions for Legionella spp. by using real-time PCR, and culture. A commercial urinary antigen test (UAT) was also used to detect the Legionella pneumophila (Lp) serogroup 1 antigen in urine. An LD case was defined as a patient with pneumonia and positive results for Legionella spp. infections determined by real-time PCR (from any respiratory specimen) or culture or UAT. Demographic data, risk factors, clinical, radiological, and outcome data of Lp-positive and Lp-negative patients were compared using logistic regression. Over the study period, 14 (2.3%) patients were positive for Legionella spp. infections by real-time PCR and UAT; eight (57%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and four (28.6%) in-hospital deaths occurred. Bivariate analysis showed that renal disease, neurological conditions, confusion, leukocytosis, and requirement of oxygen support were more common in the Lp-positive group than in the Lp-negative group. However, multivariate analysis failed to confirm most of these differences; renal disease was the only independent variable remaining significant. All test methods have intrinsic limitations in identifying Legionella; therefore, more than one testing method should be used. Application of molecular assays including real-time PCR has great value because of its high sensitivity, specificity, and rapid diagnostic potency. Increased awareness and improved diagnostic testing could facilitate early detection of cases, pathogen-directed therapy, and improved outcomes for patients.
With industrial development growing rapidly, there is a need for environmentally sustainable energy sources. Ethanol from biomass, bioethanol, is an attractive, sustainable energy fuel source for ...transportation. Based on the premise that fuel bioethanol can contribute to a cleaner environment and with the implementation of environmental protection laws in many countries, demand for this fuel is increasing. Efficient ethanol production is based on optimized processes where utilization of cheap substrates is highly demanding. Utilization of different types of lignocellulosic materials can be considered for production of ethanol. Among various types of lignocellulosic substances water hyacinth (
Eichhornia crassipes) is a potential resource available in many tropical regions of the world. It is a noxious aquatic weed which grows fast. A considerable amount of research work is in progress for its bioconversion into ethanol using two-sequential steps of hydrolysis and fermentation. This paper reviews the bioconversion of water hyacinth to ethanol.
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