In this study, we examined the efficacy of liposomal oleic acid-based antibiotic formulations on 32 strains of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRPa). The average size of liposomes were 93.12 ± 2.3 nm holding a negative zeta potential at -57.3 ± 0.89. Liposomal antibiotic formulations were tested against 32 MDRPa strains isolated from burn wounds and urine samples, which exhibited an MIC of ≤8 μg/mL, whereas MIC of free antibiotics ranged from 32 to >1024 μg/mL. The results clearly indicate that the liposomes composed of naturally occurring oleic acid, could be used therapeutically either alone or in combination with antibiotics to effectively treat P. aeruginosa infections.

Here, we study the expression of NURR1 and FOXA1 mRNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes and its haplotypes in coding region in a small Chennai population of India. Thirty cases of Parkinson's patients (PD) with anti-PD medications (20 males aged 65.85 ± 1.19 and 10 females aged 65.7 ± 1.202) and 30 age matched healthy people (20 males aged 68.45 ± 1.282 and 10 females aged 65.8 ± 1.133) were included. The expression of NURR1 and FOXA1 in PBL was detected by Q-PCR and haplotypes were identified by PCR-SSCP. In the 30 PD cases examined, NURR1 and FOXA1 expression was significantly reduced in both male and female PD patients. However, NURR1 (57.631% reduced in males; 28.93% in females) and FOXA1 (64.42% in males; 55.76% in females) mRNA expression did differ greatly between male and female PD patients. Polymorphisms were identified at exon 4 of the NURR1 and at exon 3 of the FOXA1, respectively, in both male and female patients. A near significant difference in SSCP patterns between genders of control and PD population was analyzed suggesting that further investigations of more patients, more molecular markers, and coding regions should be performed. Such studies could potentially reveal peripheral molecular marker of early PD and different significance to the respective genders.

No abstract

No abstract

Introduction: Prenatal diagnosis of fetal chromosomal aneuploidies has traditionally relied on cytogenetics. In recent times QF-PCR, to detect the common aneuploidies has been reported. In view of the paucity of Indian experience regarding QF-PCR, we present prospective data from our centre. Materials and Methods: 572 AF samples were collected from Indian women with singleton pregnancy between 16-20 weeks gestation after counselling. The samples were collected over one year and followed up till delivery. AF was sent for QF-PCR for chromosomes 13, 18, 21 and 23. Results: There was no procedure related miscarriage, or IUFD. There were seventeen trisomy 21, two 47XXX and one 47XXY. All pregnancies with fetal aneuploidies underwent termination. All 552/572 women with normal report were followed up and none had IUFD or clinical features of trisomy 21 after term or preterm births. Discussion: The current study stresses the clinical importance of shorter TAT advantage and the slight cost advantage of QF-PCR over FISH. The current study shows QF-PCR is a satisfactory method for diagnosing chromosomal aneuploidy from amniotic fluid in screen positive population, has advantages and might be preferred more in near future in place of FISH, especially in the scenario of increasing awareness of biochemical screening for chromosomal aneuploidies in India. However, more such studies with increased numbers and in multiple pregnancies are required. The current study is ongoing and hopefully we will be able to present such data soon.