bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DEMİR-ÇELİK SEKTÖRÜNDE ÇALIŞAN İŞÇİLERİN SOSYO-EKONOMİK DURUMLARI, İŞ TATMİNLERİ VE SEKTÖR VİZYONLARI: KARABÜK ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: Yılmaz Sinan , Fidan Yahya , Yücer Hür Mahmut
Published: March 2017

Demir-çelik sektörünün Türkiye’deki önemli merkezlerinden birisi olan Karabük ili ve bu ilde gelişen demir-çelik sektörü ile ilgili pek çok araştırma bulunmaktadır. Ancak özellikle KARDEMİR fabrikalarının özelleştirilmesi ve Karabük Üniversitesinin kurulması gibi etkenler hızlı zihinsel dönüşümlerin yaşanmasına neden olmakta ve bu hızlı zihinsel dönüşümler demir-çelik sektöründeki dönüşümleri de tetiklemektedir. Özellikle Karabük Üniversitesi bünyesinde demir-çelik sektöründe çalışan işçilere yönelik eğitim programlarının uygulanması ve Üniversite bünyesinde Demir-Çelik Enstitüsünün kurulması gibi etkenler bu dönüşümlerin hızlı ve olumlu bir şekilde devam edeceğini göstermektedir. İşte bu nedenle demir-çelik sektörünün Karabük’teki durumu ile ilgili yapılan araştırmaların belli periyotlarla yenilenmesi gerekmektedir. Bu makalede Karabük ilinde demir-çelik sektöründe çalışan işçilerin sosyo-ekonomik durumları, iş tatminleri ve sektör vizyonları gibi bazı değişkenler ampirik olarak incelenmiştir.
KAMPÜS İÇİ ULAŞIMDA ALTERNATİF SEÇİMLER: KARABÜK ÜNİVERSİTESİ ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: Tekin Rukiye , Kılıç Metin
Published: March 2017

The contribution of universities to economic structure, social and physical insfrastructure, the quality of life and city, and the level of education cannot be regarded. Therefore, it should be provided that university campuses should be areas which reflect city image with their physical structures. In this regard, the effective administration, usage, and development of universities, and the coordination between the units of universities should also be provided. One of the most significant elements of this coordination and cooperation is on campus transportation. One of the main purposes of the thesis is to evaluate inner campus transportation which is the sub-unit of city transportation. Other purposes are to determine the reasons of the perception of the users in reference to their demographic features on campus transportation and the reasons of their preferences of a particular transportation option. A survey study has been conducted in order to measure inner campus transportation perceptions. In this regard, 1112 questionnaire forms have been analysed by the software programme of SPSS. Expression analysis of the reliability, frequency distribution and factors are obtained, and differences were identified by ANOVA and T-TEST analysis.
30 YEARS OF THE MINERALOCORTICOID RECEPTOR: Mineralocorticoid receptor and NaCl transport mechanisms in the renal distal nephron
Authors: Shibata Shigeru
Published: March 2017

A key role of aldosterone and mineralocorticoid receptor is to regulate fluid volume and K+homeostasis in the body by acting on the renal distal nephron. Global responses of the kidney to elevated aldosterone levels are determined by the coordinate action of different constituent tubule cells, including principal cells, intercalated cells and distal convoluted tubule cells. Recent studies on genetic mutations causing aldosterone overproduction have identified the molecules involved in aldosterone biosynthesis in the adrenal gland, and there is also increasing evidence for mechanisms and signaling pathways regulating the balance between renal NaCl reabsorption and K+secretion, the two major effects of aldosterone. In particular, recent studies have demonstrated that mineralocorticoid receptor in intercalated cells is selectively regulated by phosphorylation, which prevents ligand binding and activation. Moreover, the ubiquitin ligase complex composed of Kelch-like 3 and Cullin 3 acts downstream of angiotensin II and plasma K+alterations, regulating Na–Cl cotransporter independently of aldosterone in distal convoluted tubule cells. These and other effects are integrated to produce appropriate kidney responses in a high-aldosterone state, and are implicated in fluid and electrolyte disorders in humans. This review summarizes the current knowledge on mechanisms modulating mineralocorticoid receptor and its downstream effectors in the distal nephron.
asymptoticMK: A Web-Based Tool for the Asymptotic McDonald–Kreitman Test
Authors: Haller Benjamin C , Messer Philipp W
Published: March 2017

The McDonald–Kreitman (MK) test is a widely used method for quantifying the role of positive selection in molecular evolution. One key shortcoming of this test lies in its sensitivity to the presence of slightly deleterious mutations, which can severely bias its estimates. An asymptotic version of the MK test was recently introduced that addresses this problem by evaluating polymorphism levels for different mutation frequencies separately, and then extrapolating a function fitted to that data. Here, we present asymptoticMK, a web-based implementation of this asymptotic MK test. Our web service provides a simple R-based interface into which the user can upload the required data (polymorphism and divergence data for the genomic test region and a neutrally evolving reference region). The web service then analyzes the data and provides plots of the test results. This service is free to use, open-source, and available at http://benhaller.com/messerlab/asymptoticMK.html. We provide results from simulations to illustrate the performance and robustness of the asymptoticMK test under a wide range of model parameters.
From Pine Cones to Read Clouds: Rescaffolding the Megagenome of Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana)
Authors: Crepeau Marc W , Langley Charles H , Stevens Kristian A
Published: March 2017

We investigate the utility and scalability of new read cloud technologies to improve the draft genome assemblies of the colossal, and largely repetitive, genomes of conifers. Synthetic long read technologies have existed in various forms as a means of reducing complexity and resolving repeats since the outset of genome assembly. Recently, technologies that combine subhaploid pools of high molecular weight DNA with barcoding on a massive scale have brought new efficiencies to sample preparation and data generation. When combined with inexpensive light shotgun sequencing, the resulting data can be used to scaffold large genomes. The protocol is efficient enough to consider routinely for even the largest genomes. Conifers represent the largest reference genome projects executed to date. The largest of these is that of the conifer Pinus lambertiana (sugar pine), with a genome size of 31 billion bp. In this paper, we report on the molecular and computational protocols for scaffolding the P. lambertiana genome using the library technology from 10× Genomics. At 247,000 bp, the NG50 of the existing reference sequence is the highest scaffold contiguity among the currently published conifer assemblies; this new assembly’s NG50 is 1.94 million bp, an eightfold increase.
Schizosaccharomyces pombeMutSα and MutLα Maintain Stability of Tetra-Nucleotide Repeats and Msh3 of Hepta-Nucleotide Repeats
Authors: Villahermosa Desirée , Christensen Olaf , Knapp Karen , Fleck Oliver
Published: March 2017

Defective mismatch repair (MMR) in humans is associated with colon cancer and instability of microsatellites, that is, DNA sequences with one or several nucleotides repeated. Key factors of eukaryotic MMR are the heterodimers MutSα (Msh2-Msh6), which recognizes base-base mismatches and unpaired nucleotides in DNA, and MutLα (Mlh1-Pms1), which facilitates downstream steps. In addition, MutSβ (Msh2-Msh3) recognizes DNA loops of various sizes, although our previous data and the data presented here suggest that Msh3 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe does not play a role in MMR. To test microsatellite stability in S. pombe and hence DNA loop repair, we have inserted tetra-, penta-, and hepta-nucleotide repeats in the ade6 gene and determined their Ade+ reversion rates and spectra in wild type and various mutants. Our data indicate that loops with four unpaired nucleotides in the nascent and the template strand are the upper limit of MutSα- and MutLα-mediated MMR in S. pombe. Stability of hepta-nucleotide repeats requires Msh3 and Exo1 in MMR-independent processes as well as the DNA repair proteins Rad50, Rad51, and Rad2FEN1. Most strikingly, mutation rates in the double mutants msh3 exo1 and msh3 rad51 were decreased when compared to respective single mutants, indicating that Msh3 prevents error prone processes carried out by Exo1 and Rad51. We conclude that Msh3 has no obvious function in MMR in S. pombe, but contributes to DNA repeat stability in MMR-independent processes.
Accuracy of Demographic Inferences from the Site Frequency Spectrum: The Case of the Yoruba Population
Authors: Lapierre Marguerite , Lambert Amaury , Achaz Guillaume
Published: March 2017

Some methods for demographic inference based on the observed genetic diversity of current populations rely on the use of summary statistics such as the Site Frequency Spectrum (SFS). Demographic models can be either model-constrained with numerous parameters, such as growth rates, timing of demographic events, and migration rates, or model-flexible, with an unbounded collection of piecewise constant sizes. It is still debated whether demographic histories can be accurately inferred based on the SFS. Here, we illustrate this theoretical issue on an example of demographic inference for an African population. The SFS of the Yoruba population (data from the 1000 Genomes Project) is fit to a simple model of population growth described with a single parameter (e.g., founding time). We infer a time to the most recent common ancestor of 1.7 million years (MY) for this population. However, we show that the Yoruba SFS is not informative enough to discriminate between several different models of growth. We also show that for such simple demographies, the fit of one-parameter models outperforms the stairway plot, a recently developed model-flexible method. The use of this method on simulated data suggests that it is biased by the noise intrinsically present in the data.
Locomotion Behavior Is Affected by the GαS Pathway and the Two-Pore-Domain K+ Channel TWK-7 Interacting in GABAergic Motor Neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Gottschling Dieter-Christian , Döring Frank , Lüersen Kai
Published: March 2017

Adjusting the efficiency of movement in response to environmental cues is an essential integrative characteristic of adaptive locomotion behavior across species. However, the modulatory molecules and the pathways involved are largely unknown. Recently, we demonstrated that in Caenorhabditis elegans, a loss-of-function of the two-pore-domain potassium (K2P) channel TWK-7 causes a fast, coordinated, and persistent forward crawling behavior in which five central aspects of stimulated locomotion—velocity, direction, wave parameters, duration, and straightness—are affected. Here, we isolated the reduction-of-function allele cau1 of the C. elegans gene kin-2 in a forward genetic screen and showed that it phenocopies the locomotor activity and locomotion behavior of twk-7(null) animals. Kin-2 encodes the negative regulatory subunit of protein kinase A (KIN-1/PKA). Consistently, we found that other gain-of-function mutants of the GαS-KIN-1/PKA pathway resemble kin-2(cau1) and twk-7(null) in locomotion phenotype. Using the powerful genetics of the C. elegans system in combination with cell type-specific approaches and detailed locomotion analyses, we identified TWK-7 as a putative downstream target of the GαS-KIN-1/PKA pathway at the level of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic D-type motor neurons. Due to this epistatic interaction, we suggest that KIN-1/PKA and TWK-7 may share a common pathway that is probably involved in the modulation of both locomotor activity and locomotion behavior during forward crawling.
DNA Damage Tolerance Pathway Choice Through Uls1 Modulation of Srs2 SUMOylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Kramarz Karol , Mucha Seweryn , Litwin Ireneusz , Barg-Wojas Anna , Wysocki Robert , Dziadkowiec Dorota
Published: March 2017

DNA damage tolerance and homologous recombination pathways function to bypass replication-blocking lesions and ensure completion of DNA replication. However, inappropriate activation of these pathways may lead to increased mutagenesis or formation of deleterious recombination intermediates, often leading to cell death or cancer formation in higher organisms. Post-translational modifications of PCNA regulate the choice of repair pathways at replication forks. Its monoubiquitination favors translesion synthesis, while polyubiquitination stimulates template switching. Srs2 helicase binds to small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO)-modified PCNA to suppress a subset of Rad51-dependent homologous recombination. Conversely, SUMOylation of Srs2 attenuates its interaction with PCNA. Sgs1 helicase and Mus81 endonuclease are crucial for disentanglement of repair intermediates at the replication fork. Deletion of both genes is lethal and can be rescued by inactivation of Rad51-dependent homologous recombination. Here we show that Saccharomyces cerevisiae  Uls1, a member of the Swi2/Snf2 family of ATPases and a SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase, physically interacts with both PCNA and Srs2, and promotes Srs2 binding to PCNA by downregulating Srs2-SUMO levels at replication forks. We also identify deletion of ULS1 as a suppressor of mus81Δ sgs1Δ synthetic lethality and hypothesize that uls1Δ mutation results in a partial inactivation of the homologous recombination pathway, detrimental in cells devoid of both Sgs1 and Mus81. We thus propose that Uls1 contributes to the pathway where intermediates generated at replication forks are dismantled by Srs2 bound to SUMO-PCNA. Upon ULS1 deletion, accumulating Srs2-SUMO—unable to bind PCNA—takes part in an alternative PCNA-independent recombination repair salvage pathway(s).
Bivariate Analysis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Progression Using Genetic Risk Scores
Authors: Ding Ying , Liu Yi , Yan Qi , Fritsche Lars G , Cook Richard J , Clemons Traci , Ratnapriya Rinki , Klein Michael L , Abecasis Gonçalo R , Swaroop Anand , Chew Emily Y , Weeks Daniel E , Chen Wei ,   the AREDS2 Research Group
Published: March 2017

Ding et al. used data from large clinical trials to evaluate the effects of known age-related macular generation (AMD) risk variants on disease progression...

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in the developed world. While many AMD susceptibility variants have been identified, their influence on AMD progression has not been elucidated. Using data from two large clinical trials, Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and AREDS2, we evaluated the effects of 34 known risk variants on disease progression. In doing so, we calculated the eye-level time-to-late AMD and modeled them using a bivariate survival analysis approach, appropriately accounting for between-eye correlation. We then derived a genetic risk score (GRS) based on these 34 risk variants, and analyzed its effect on AMD progression. Finally, we used the AREDS data to fit prediction models of progression based on demographic and environmental factors, eye-level AMD severity scores and the GRS and tested the models using the AREDS2 cohort. We observed that GRS was significantly associated with AMD progression in both cohorts, with a stronger effect in AREDS than in AREDS2 (AREDS: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.34, P = 1.6 × 10−22; AREDS2: HR = 1.11, P = 2.1 × 10−4). For prediction of AMD progression, addition of GRS to the demographic/environmental risk factors considerably improved the prediction performance. However, when the baseline eye-level severity scores were included as the predictors, any other risk factors including the GRS only provided small additional predictive power. Our model for predicting the disease progression risk demonstrated satisfactory performance in both cohorts, and we recommend its use with baseline AMD severity scores plus baseline age, education level, and smoking status, either with or without GRS.
Penentuan Kadar Minyak Atsiri Kulit Jeruk Sunkist (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) sebagai Alternatif Peluruh Sterofoam Alami
Authors: Fitrianti Annisa Eka , Dheafithraza Yockie , Handayani Nadhira , Afifah Nadiya N , Mariyam Siti
Published: March 2017

Sterofoam banyak digunakan di segala bidang namun sifatnya yang sulit untuk diurai menjadikannya

sebagai salah satu limbah abadi. Beberapa penelitian membuktikan bahwa kandungan limonene dari

kulit jeruk sunkist (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) terbukti mampu meluruhkan sterofoam dengan hasil yang

cukup banyak, namun belum ditetapkan kadar yang efektif. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui

kadar minyak atsiri kulit jeruk sunkist terkecil yang masih efektif untuk meluruhkan sterofoam. Minyak

atsiri diisolasi dengan metode distilasi dan dekantasi, kemudian dilakukan penentuan kadar. Hasil

pengamatan menunjukkan setiap 300 gram kulit jeruk sunkist menghasilkan destilat rata-rata sebanyak

5 mL (1,67% (v/b)). Kadar minyak atsiri kulit jeruk sunkist yang efektif untuk meluruhkan sterofoam

adalah 25% dengan perbandingan minyak atsiri kulit jeruk sunkist : etanol : air adalah 1 : 1 : 2. Massa

sterofoam maksimum yang dapat diluruhkan oleh 1 mL minyak atsiri tersebut berbeda-beda tergantung

pada jenis sterofoam yang digunakan. Sterofoam yang paling banyak diluruhkan oleh kulit jeruk sunkist

25% adalah sterofoam papan pengumuman yaitu sebanyak 200 mg/mL. Minyak atsiri kulit jeruk sunkist

dapat digunakan sebagai peluruh sterofoam alami.
Uji Aktivitas Antibakteri Pigmen Karotenoid Dari Bakteri Simbion Karang Lunak Sarcophyton sp. Terhadap Pertumbuhan Bakteri Patogen Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923
Authors: Wiguna Awang Surya , Kusmita Lia , Radjasa Ocky Karna
Published: March 2017

Mikroba penghasil antibiotik dapat berupa fungi maupun bakteri yang bersimbiosis pada organisme lain. Pigmen karotenoid dari bakteri simbion karang lunak merupakan mikroorganisme yang berpotensi sebagai antibakteri. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui aktivitas antibakteri ekstrak pigmen karotenoid dari bakteri simbion karang lunak Sarcophyton sp. terhadap pertumbuhan bakteri patogen Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 serta mengetahui perbedaan aktivitas antibakteri ekstrak pigmen karotenoid pada konsentrasi 0,5 %, 0,75 %, dan 1 % dengan metode sumuran. Bakteri yang menghasilkan pigmen karotenoid dibiakkan dan diidentifikasi dengan mengisolasi DNA untuk dilakukan PCR dan mensequen hasilnya. Hasil penelitian aktivitas antibakteri dengan rata – rata diameter zona hambat pada konsentrasi 0,5 % sebesar 0,678 cm, konsentrasi 0,75 % sebesar 0,978 cm, konsentrasi 1 % sebesar 1,416 cm serta diameter zona hambat kontrol positif amoksisilin trihidrat sebesar 1,875 cm.
Pemanfaatan Selulosa Dari Limbah Jerami Padi (Oryza sativa) Sebagai Bahan Bioplastik
Authors: Pratiwi Rimadani , Rahayu Driyanti , Barliana Melisa Intan
Published: March 2017

Jerami padi (Oryza sativa) memiliki kandungan selulosa yang cukup tinggi. Selulosa merupakan biopolimer alami yang dapat digunakan sebagai bahan bioplastik. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui apakah selulosa dari limbah jerami padi dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan bioplastik dan bagaimana karakterisasi bioplastik yang dihasilkan dari limbah jerami padi tersebut. Penelitian ini dilakukan dalam beberapa tahapan, yaitu preparasi bahan, pembuatan pulp, pembuatan bioplastik dengan metode inversi fasa dengan variasi jumlah kitosan dan pulp selulosa  3:10, 4:10, dan 5:10, serta karakterisasi bioplastik. Bioplastik yang dihasilkan dari berbagai perbandingan pulp selulosa dan kitosan memiliki karakterisitik yang berbeda-beda. Analisis morfologi menunjukkan bahwa bioplastik yang terbentuk belum homogen dan pada analisis gugus fungsi, tidak ditemukan adanya gugus fungsi baru dalam bioplastik dibandingkan terhadap gugus fungsi yang ada pada bahan pembentuknya. Nilai penyerapan air  pada bioplastik dengan perbandingan kitosan dengan pulp selulosa 3:10, 4:10 dan 5:10 adalah 154.65%, 119. 21%, dan 93.873 % . Hasil pengujian sifat mekanik yaitu kuat tarik secara berturut-turut adalah 4.2 MPa, 13.8 MPa, dan  4,1 MPa. Dari hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan bahwa selulosa dari limbah jerami padi dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan bioplastik.
Pengaruh Jenis Penyalut Terhadap Stabilitas Likopen Dalam Bentuk Sediaan Mikrokapsul
Authors: Amila Amila , Hadiansyah Cepy , Fazriah Yukeu , Darusman Fitrianti , Topik Indra
Published: March 2017

Berbagai penelitian membuktikan bahwa likopen dapat menurunkan resiko berbagai penyakit seperti gangguan kardiovaskular, diabetes,  hiperkolesterolemia dan kanker. Akan tetapi, likopen sangat mudah mengalami reaksi isomerisasi dan oksidasi selama proses pengolahan maupun penyimpanan karena memiliki banyak ikatan tak jenuh, sehingga aktivitasnya jadi menurun. Oleh sebab itu, untuk meningkatkan stabilitas likopen dilakukan teknik mikroenkapsulasi. Tujuan dari penelitan ini adalah mengetahui pengaruh jenis penyalut terhadap stabilitas likopen hasil mikroenkapsulsi dengan metode spray dry. Jenis penyalut yang digunakan adalah Hidroksi propil β-siklodekstrin (M1) dan kombinasi Whey protein-Maltodekstrin (M2). Mikrokapsul yang diperoleh dievaluasi meliputi Efisiensi Enkapsulasi (EE), kandungan lembab dan sifat organolpetis, lalu dilanjutkan dengan pengujian stabilitas pada suhu kamar dengan dua kondisi yang berbeda yaitu  terpapar cahaya dan tidak terpapar cahaya. Hasil evaluasi menunjukan nilai EE untuk M1 dan M2 adalah 7,6 % dan 8,2 %, Kandungan lembab 5,4 % (M1) dan 5,09% (M2), dan semua formula menunjukan sifat organolpetis yang hampir sama yaitu berbentuk serbuk berwarna jingga dengan bau khas. Hasil uji stablitas menunjukan bahwa baik M1 maupun M2 tidak mengalami penurunan kadar selama 4 minggu penyimpanan pada tempat tidak terpapar cahaya, sedangkan pembanding dalam bentuk serbuk likopen bebas mengalami penurunan kadar sebesar 40,9%. Pada penyimpanan terpapar cahaya M1 dan M2 mengalami penurunan kadar masing masing sebesar 48,7% dan 43,37%, sedangkan pembanding 96,75%. Kesimpulan yang didapat adalah bahwa kedua jenis penyalut tidak mempengaruhi stabilitas likopen dalam bentuk mikrokapsul.
Karakterisasi Carboxymethyl Cellulose Sodium (Na-CMC) dari Selulosa Eceng Gondok (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms.) yang Tumbuh di Daerah Jatinangor dan Lembang
Authors: Indriyati Wiwiek , Kusmawati Rembulan , Sriwidodo Sriwidodo , Hasanah Aliya Nur , Musfiroh Ida
Published: March 2017

Eceng gondok (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms.) berpotensi sebagai sumber bahan baku pembuatan carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (Na-CMC) karena memiliki kandungan selulosa yang tinggi. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui karakteristik Na-CMC serta mengetahui signifikansi perbedaan parameter WHC (Water Holding Capacity) dan OHC (Oil Holding Capacity) dari Na CMC yang disintesis dari selulosa eceng gondok yang tumbuh di Jatinangor dan Lembang. Dilakukan isolasi α-selulosa menggunakan natrium hidroksida 30%,  sintesis Na-CMC melalui tahap alkalinasi menggunakan natrium hidroksida 40% dan karboksimetilasi dengan natrium monokloroasetat; penambahan crosslinker epiklorohidrin; dan karakterisasi Na-CMC berdasarkan Farmakope Indonesia, dan JECFA. Diperoleh rendemen α-selulosa hasil isolasi dari eceng gondok Jatinangor sebesar 20,80% dan Lembang sebesar 18,60% dengan kadar α-selulosa masing-masing 76,53% dan 71,35%; hasil sintesis diperoleh rendemen Na-CMC sebesar 96,87% dan 85,03%; penambahan crosslinker menghasilkan rendemen Na-CMC sebesar 439,14% dan 221,81%. Hasil karakterisasi menunjukkan bahwa Na-CMC telah memenuhi persyaratan organoleptis, kelarutan, foam test, pembentukan endapan, viskositas dan kandungan logam berat. Beberapa parameter lain seperti susut pengeringan, kandungan natrium dan derajat substitusi belum memenuhi persyaratan, namun mempunyai nilai yang lebih baik dibandingkan dengan Na-CMC baku. Uji statistika komparatif menunjukkan adanya perbedaan yang signifikan pada nilai WHC namun tidak terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan pada nilai OHC dari Na-CMC hasil sintesis dari tanaman eceng gondok yang tumbuh di Jatinangor dan Lembang.
Intratumoral Heterogeneity in Breast Cancer: A Comparison of Primary and Metastatic Breast Cancers
Authors: Shi Yu-Jie , Tsang Julia Y. S. , Ni Yun-Bi , Tse Gary M.
Published: March 2017

Intratumoral heterogeneity presents challenges in the management of cancer. To gain deeper insight in intratumoral heterogeneity at different levels and tumor sites for common biomarkers in breast cancers, this report examines seven cases of invasive breast cancer with multiple axillary nodal metastases and/or recurrences for immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, human epidermal growth receptor 2, and Ki67 on all tissue blocks in both primary and metastatic tumors.
Mission and Purpose
Authors: Bass Jordan
Published: March 2017

Mission and Purpose for Volume Three, Issue One (2017)
Acquisition of prescribing skill by medical students in a problem-based learning curriculum: preclerkship to clerkship phase transition
Authors: Al Khaja Khalid A.J. , James Henry , Sequeira Reginald P.
Published: March 2017

Background: Medical school training for students in pharmacotherapy is sub-optimal and junior doctors are not confident to prescribe drugs. This study was conducted to assess the prescribing competency of students in preclerkship and clerkship phases at a medical school that implements problem-based learning curriculum.Methods: Objective structured practical examination was used to assess prescribing competency of students in both phases. The prescribing performance was empirically categorized into poor, moderate and good competency.Results: The prescription writing skills achieved by the clerkship students did not significantly differ from that attained by students in preclerkship phase. Good prescribing competency was attained by approximately 20% of the students at the end of both phases. Preclerkship students performed better on therapeutic reasoning than those in clerkship phase. Cognitive skill that involves choosing the superior drug(s) among several alternatives as achieved less satisfactorily by majority of students from both phases of the program.Conclusions: Acquisition and further development of the prescribing competency during the clerkship phase was sub-optimal. The continuation of pharmacotherapeutic context-learning program during clerkship phase is recommended.
Prevalence of biofilm controlling ica genes of Staphylococcus epidermidis detected in healthy skin, blood samples from septicaemia patients and chronic wounds
Authors: Hussain Malik Asif , Rathnayake Irani Udeshika , Huygens Flavia
Published: March 2017

Background: The role of microbes in the persistence of chronic wounds is very important. Biofilm mode of bacterial growth has been found to be clinically very important in various types of infections. Bacterial growth in the form of biofilm is now being considered as a strong and effective mechanism of bacterial survival and growth in chronic wounds. Therefore it is clinically important to further investigate and determine the bacterial groups involved in the formation of biofilm in wounds and their mechanism of interference with the normal healing process.Methods: This study focussed on determining the presence of S. epidermidis ica genes, which are responsible for biofilm production by this species. We investigated the presence of these genes in skin, blood and wound samples. In total, 296 samples were tested for the presence of the ica genes. RT-PCR and conventional PCR testing was performed on these samples from different sources.Results: Our results show that there is presence of a significant number of ica positive samples both in skin and blood specimens while only a very small percentage of ica positive samples present in chronic non-healing wound samples.Conclusions: Presence of ica genes in blood samples indicate involvement of ica positive S. epidermidis in the case of blood infection. In chronic wound samples, there is a small percentage of samples positive for these genes thus biofilm producing bacteria other than S. epidermidis are likely to be more important in the case of chronic wounds.
Effect of Moringa oleifera aqueous leaf extract on hepato-renal changes of albino rats induced with Salmonella typhimurium
Authors: Suleiman Nasiru , Ibrahim Bulama , Ahmed Bagudo Ibrahim , Zayyanu Attahiru
Published: March 2017

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Moringa oleifera against Salmonella typhimurium infected changes in liver and kidney function parameters in albino rats.Methods: Twenty acclimatized albino rats were divided into four groups of five rats each (groups A-D). Groups B, C and D were exposed to 0.1ml (3.0x104 CFU) of Salmonella typhimurium. Six hours post- infection, Groups B and C were treated with 50 and 100mg/kg of Moringa oleifera aqueous leaf extract respectively and continued for 21 days. Group D was not treated while group A was neither infected nor treated. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), bilirubin, albumin, total protein, urea and creatinine were estimated using standard methods. All data were collected and analyzed in October 2015.Results: S. typhimurium infection significantly (p<0.05) increased the levels of ALP, ALT, AST, bilirubin, urea and creatinine when compared with control levels (Group A). Total protein and albumin concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) reduced following the infection. However, Moringa oleifera supplementation was associated with significant (p<0.05) decrease in the levels of ALP, ALT, AST, bilirubin, urea and creatinine. It is also associated with decrease in concentrations of total protein and albumin.Conclusions: This study showed S. typhimurium infection induced changes in liver and kidney function parameters and also revealed possible amelioratory effects to these changes after Moringa oleifera supplementation.
The effect of acetylation phenotype on the dynamic changes of indices of calcium metabolism and iron levels in liver detoxification on the background of experimental hypothyroidism
Authors: Saidov Saidamir , Ahmadjonuv Asilbek , Mavlonov Anvar
Published: March 2017

Background: Some studies of the characteristics of the calcium-phosphorus metabolism changes in experimental hypothyroidism given the phenotype of acetylation will allow to more effectively diagnose, predict the course and to carry out prevention and treatment of hypothyroidism and the accompanying pathological changes.The aim is to trace the dynamics of phosphorus-calcium metabolism and the level of serum iron in experimental hypothyroidism and to determine the severity of it changes depending on the type of acetylation.Methods: In experiments were used rats weighing 180-220g, who were divided into 2 main groups depending on the type of acetylation on α - slow and β - fast metabolizer (acetylators). Each group was modelled experimental hypothyroidism by the introduction of mercazolil at a dose of 5 mg, for 14 days. Each group was divided into 5 subgroups depending on the time of the study. Group of α-slow metabolizers (acetylators) were divided into the following subgroups: Iα - intact IIα - at the 4th hour of the study, IIIα - on the 1st week of the study, IVα - 2-week studies, Vα - on the 3rd week of the study.Results: In the study of the calcium concentration at the 4th hour of the study in subgroups with α - and β - acetylation phenotypes were observed the decrease by 12.0% and 10.5% respectively, and its level in the IIβ - subgroup was 5.3% lower than the IIα- subgroup. The concentration of calcium ions in Vα subgroup was lower than in the Iα sub-group was 12.0%, and the level of calcium in the blood serum of animals Vβ was lower compared to Iβ IIβ IIIβ Ivβ-90.9%, 72.7%, 80.0%, 80.9% respectively. Also relatively, Vα Vβ subgroups in the subgroup calcium concentration were lower at 81.8 percent.Conclusions: Belonging to a particular phenotype of acetylation affects the degree of severity of the changes of indices of calcium-phosphorus metabolism and serum iron in experimental hypothyroidism, the most significant differences between the values of their indicators were detected early and deadlines of the study.
Comparison of computer simulation and graphical illustration for teaching experimental pharmacology to undergraduate students
Authors: Kaur Gurleen , Garg Preeti , Sharma Vidushi , Singh Jaspreet , Matreja Prithpal Singh , Khanna P. M. L.
Published: March 2017

Background: Nowadays, medical schools all over the world are incorporating newer methods of teaching experimental pharmacology like computer simulation, besides using graphs, charts, didactic lectures. The present study compared the effectiveness and acceptance of two commonly used methods, namely, computer simulation and graphical illustration in teaching experimental pharmacology to undergraduate medical students.Methods: 90 students of 2nd Prof MBBS were divided into 2 groups and were given either computer simulation or graphical illustration via a cross-over design at two settings, which was followed by a post-test for that particular session. Feedback was taken from the students and the faculty. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: The average marks scored by the students in sessions using CAL (67.8%) was significantly high (p=0.008) as compared to teaching by graphical illustrations (60.4%). 71% of students found CAL improved their learning skills better than graphical illustrations. 85% students and 80% faculty agreed that there should be a judicious mixture of CAL and graphical illustrations for a better understanding of drugs.Conclusions: CAL is a beneficial and effective learning tool in teaching experimental pharmacology. For better understanding, graphical illustrations should be used as an adjuvant to CAL.
Pharmacokinetic interaction between alcohol and two of the commonly prescribed anti-hypertensive drugs-amlodipine and nebivolol
Authors: Gunasekaran Geethalakshmi , A. Ruckmani , Olaganathan Arjun Arumugam , R. Arun Kumar
Published: March 2017

Background: Alcoholism is one of the leading causes of secondary hypertension. Many a times in clinical setting, many hypertensive patients also happen to be alcoholics, either social/moderate drinkers or suffer from alcohol dependence. For these patients, cessation of alcohol consumption is advocated and counselled as part of diet and lifestyle modifications. However, compliance rates have been found to be variable. Therefore, these patients consume alcohol and also take anti-hypertensive medications on a day-to-day basis. This study was initiated to explore influence of alcohol on the pharmacokinetics of anti-hypertensive drugs – Amlodipine and Nebivolol.Methods: 24 human volunteers were recruited for the study after obtaining informed consent. 12 volunteers each for Amlodipine, Nebivolol and alcohol’s effect on the drugs respectively were evaluated. Two standard drinks of alcohol were administered in respective period as per randomization. Clinical confinement and blood sampling was carried out as per ethics committee approved protocol in accordance with good clinical practice principles.Plasma samples were analyzed using validated LC-MS/MS bio-analytical method, for quantification of Nebivolol and Amlodipine in lines with good laboratory practice principles. Pharmacokinetic and statistical analysis of results was evaluated using WinNonlin Version 5.3.Results: The pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated statistically and ANOVA results suggest that despite changes in individual parameters, the bioavailability was comparable, as both Cmax and AUC0-inf were well within the range of 80-125%.Conclusions: It is clearly observed that there are variations in all pharmacokinetic parameters when the drug is administered with alcohol. However, the same are well within acceptable limits and bioavailability of the drugs is comparable when administered with alcohol. Hence, two standard drinks of alcohol have limited effect on the pharmacokinetics of Amlodipine and Nebivolol. Further studies are required to evaluate influence of higher and frequent doses of alcohol on pharmacokinetics of Amlodipine and Nebivolol.
Beneficial effects of diacerein on adipokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in rats
Authors: Abd Allah Omaima M.
Published: March 2017

Background: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is considered as a progressive liver disease, so effective therapies are needed to ameliorate hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis, and to prevent the progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Diacerein is an anti-inflammatory drug that inhibits the synthesis and activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of diacerein on pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as adipokines involved in diet-induced NASH rat model.Methods: Thirty-two adult male rats were divided into four groups: control, diacerein-treated, NASH-untreated and NASH+diacerein-treated groups. NASH was induced by feeding rats with high-fat and high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks. Body weight, liver weight, fasting blood glucose and insulin levels for estimation of insulin resistance, blood lipids, alanine transaminase, and aspartate aminotransferase were evaluated. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), adiponectin, visfatin and leptin were also detected. Histopathological examination of liver sections was performed.Results: Diacerein significantly reduced liver weight, fasting blood glucose, insulin level, transaminases and ameliorates insulin resistance with favourable effects on blood lipids. These results were accompanied with a significant reduction in serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and visfatin, while, adiponectin was significantly increased and leptin was insignificantly affected. Liver sections revealed that diacerein reduced steatosis and lobular inflammatory grades.Conclusions: These data suggest that diacerein administration may have a potential usefulness in the prevention of NASH as a possible result of inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the beneficial effects on adipokines especially adiponectin and visfatin.
Analysis of self medication practice among medical undergraduates: a study in tertiary care teaching hospital, Bareilly
Authors: Bhardwaj Richa , Sayedda Kauser , Ahmed Quazi Shahir
Published: March 2017

Background: Self medication is becoming a most prevalent practice among educated people across the world. In today’s era, internet and media is one of the most important sources for promoting self medication practice. Medical students are highly influenced with this practice. Many drugs can have significant unwanted effects. This may result in serious clinical effects with potential life-threatening complications. Objective of the study was to find out the self medication practice and its details among medical undergraduates of SRMSIMS, a tertiary care teaching hospital, Bareilly.Methods: During the study period 1st, 2nd and 3rd prof. of MBBS students were included in the study. Sample size was 348. They were asked to fill printed semi structured validated questionnaire which consist of straight forward multiple type questions. The duration of study was March 22nd 2015 to 29th March 2015.Results: Out of 300 students, 60% (n=180) students were male and 40% (n=120) were females. Among them 94% (n=282) gave positive response and 6% (n=18) gave negative response to self-medication. Antibiotics were the most common class of drug self medicated by the majority of participants (80%) while the most common illness was fever (70%).Conclusions: It was concluded that more than half of strength of students are likely to take self-medication for various illnesses; the reason might be the awareness of drugs due to easy accessibility of information through books, internet pharmacy and through media too. So, essential measure should be taken to reduce the practice of self medication among students to avoid development of drug dependence, resistance and drug interactions.
Drug utilization pattern of analgesics as a teaching tool for rational therapy to MBBS students in a medical college at Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Beg Mirza Atif , Dutta Shakti B. , Bawa Shalu , Kaur Amanjot , Vishal Subhash , Kumar Upender
Published: March 2017

Background: As a need to introduce Clinical Pharmacology at the undergraduate level the drug utilization studies (DUS) offer useful methods for teaching and training in drug therapy. The indiscriminate use of medicines results in unwanted side effects, drug interactions. Thus keeping this view in mind, this drug utilization research was set to evaluate the prescribing pattern of analgesics to impart certain basic skills to MBBS students which will form an integral component of practicing rational therapeutics.Methods: The retrospective study was conducted by Pharmacology department in SGRRIM and HS. A total of 726 prescriptions were collected by 2nd professional MBBS students entering 5th semester and randomly evaluated for prescribing pattern using WHO drug use indicators.Results: A total of 726 prescriptions were analyzed. Male:Female ratio was 470:256(1.8:1). Age wise distribution of patients 0-15years 122(16.80%), 16-30 years 139(19.41%), 31-45years 242 (33.33%), 46-60 years 113(15.56%) and >60years 110 (15.15%). A total of 4663 drugs were prescribed. 435(9.32%) were analgesics. 208 (47.81%) Paracetamol, 66 (15.17%) Tramadol, 62(14.25%) Aceclofenac, 51 (11.72%) Diclofenac, 46 (10.57%) Ibuprofen and 2(0.45%) Buprenorphine were prescribed. 301 (69.20%) Oral drugs and 134 (30.80%) Injectable were prescribed. 108 (24.83%) Numbers of Fixed dose combinations. 0.60 of analgesics were prescribed per prescription. 381 (87.59%) analgesics were prescribed from National Essential Medicine list 2015. 369 (84.83%) drugs were prescribed by brand names.Conclusions: The main purpose of undergraduate medical curriculum is to develop the requisite diagnostic and therapeutic skills of a basic doctor. Such type of drug utilization studies is set with the objective to encourage rational prescribing, and to identify good and bad prescribing practices.
Knowledge, attitude and practice toward adverse drug reaction reporting among practicing clinicians at a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Todar Toshan L. , Agrawal Manju , Hishikar Rajesh , Jha Anuja , Maheshwari Basant , Joshi Usha
Published: March 2017

Background: Pharmacovigilance has evolved as an important tool for dealing with Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) both in pre-marketing and post-marketing scenario. Underreporting of ADRs at our Adverse drug reaction Monitoring Centre (AMC) led us to conduct this study to assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of the practicing clinicians at our tertiary care Pt. J.N.M. Medical College associated Dr. B.R.A.M. Hospital, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India, towards ADRs reporting.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using pretested questionnaires consisting of 29 questions related to KAP of the practicing clinicians at Pt. J.N.M. Medical College associated Dr. B.R.A.M.  Hospital, Raipur towards ADRs reporting. The percentage of responders for each question was calculated. All statistical analysis was performed in Microsoft Office Excel 2007.Results: Out of 135 questionnaires distributed only 100 were considered for analysis, so the overall response rate was 74.07%. We calculated the result from the 100 responders. Overall 77% responders were aware of existence of ADR monitoring system in India, while only 40% were aware of its existence at their hospital. Only 8% responders had reported ADRs to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre and 10% to the Adverse drug reaction Monitoring Centre (AMC) at their hospital. Lack of knowledge about where, how and whom to report ADRs, lack of time, inability to decide what to report (known or unknown ADRs) and unavailability of ADR reporting form were the important factors discouraging them reporting ADRs.Conclusions: Creating awareness regarding ADR reporting through CMEs among practicing clinicians and early sensitization at medical undergraduate level for medical students may improve the current ADR reporting rate.
Effect of anti-epileptic drugs on cognitive functions: a prospective study in individuals with newly diagnosed complex partial seizure and generalized tonic clonic seizure
Authors: Rai Jayant , Yadav Preeti P. , Verma Richa , Chaudhari Mayur
Published: March 2017

Background: Epilepsy, the third most common neurologic disorder, deteriorates cognitive functions of the patients. Approximately 1% of the world’s population is suffering from epilepsy. Opinions regarding impact of anti-epileptic drugs on cognition are divided. So, this study was designed to assess the impact of anti-epileptic drugs on cognitive performance of patients with complex partial seizure and generalized tonic clonic seizure in Department of Medicine, at Government Medical College, Surat, Gujarat, India.Methods: In present study, cognitive functions were assessed in 50 patients of newly diagnosed complex partial seizure and generalized tonic clonic seizure coming to the Department of Medicine, Surat. The cognitive functions were evaluated by Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE)-III, which assessed memory, attention, fluency, language and visuo-spatial abilities. Follow-up was done after six months of baseline.Results: Baseline and Follow-up data from 50 patients were analysed. Patient treated with anti-epileptic drugs showed significant improvement in memory, attention, language and visuo-spatial abilities whereas improvement in fluency was not significant. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test were used to analyse the data. For statistical analysis of data SPSS 19.0 software was used.Conclusions: The available data indicate that the anti-epileptic drugs on short-term administration do not adversely affect cognitive function in patients with newly diagnosed CPS and GTCS. Importantly, the data suggest that the effects exerted by AEDs could depend on factors linked to patient characteristics and individual susceptibility and to comment on those factors further studies are needed.
A study to compare the efficacy of methotrexate alone vs. methotrexate plus pioglitazone in the management of plaque-type psoriasis
Authors: D. Shabeer , Bhandare Basavaraj , V. Satyanarayana , Krishnan Pavithra
Published: March 2017

Background: Psoriasis is a common skin condition affecting a huge segment of global population. So far, the treatment has been confined to drugs like methotrexate, cyclosporine and oral retinoids which are highly toxic for long term usage and requires a novel drug that is safer.Methods: Cases of plaque type psoriasis are divided into two arms and treated with methotrexate monotherapy in group A and methotrexate plus pioglitazone combination therapy in group B. The outcome of the study is analyzed using PASI score and DLQI scoring systems.Results: Group A and Group B showed significant reduction in the PASI and DLQI scores. Group B was better in terms of efficacy (p<0.05) when compared to Group A. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of DLQI scoring. Both groups had similar side effect profile.Conclusions: Pioglitazone which acts by sensitizing the cells to insulin poses no risk of hypoglycemia. It is more specific for the treatment of psoriasis as it targets the keratinocytes. Present study suggests a possible role as an adjuvant in the treatment of psoriasis, and could pave way for low dose methotrexate and thereby reducing the potential side effects.