Camptothecin (CPT), a topoisomerase I poison, is an important drug for the treatment of solid tumors in the clinic. Nitric oxide (·NO), a physiological signaling molecule, is involved in many cellular functions, including cell proliferation, survival and death. We have previously shown that ·NO plays a significant role in the detoxification of etoposide (VP-16), a topoisomerase II poison in vitro and in human melanoma cells. ·NO/·NO-derived species are reported to modulate activity of several important cellular proteins. As topoisomerases contain a number of free sulfhydryl groups which may be targets of ·NO/·NO-derived species, we have investigated the roles of ·NO/·NO-derived species in the stability and activity of topo I. Here we show that ·NO/·NO-derived species induces a significant down-regulation of topoisomerase I protein via the ubiquitin/26S proteasome pathway in human colon (HT-29) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines. Importantly, ·NO treatment induced a significant resistance to CPT only in MCF-7 cells. This resistance to CPT did not result from loss of topoisomerase I activity as there were no differences in topoisomerase I-induced DNA cleavage in vitro or in tumor cells, but resulted from the stabilization/induction of bcl2 protein. This up-regulation of bcl2 protein in MCF-7 cells was wtp53 dependent as pifithrine-α, a small molecule inhibitor of wtp53 function, completely reversed CPT resistance, suggesting that wtp53 and bcl2 proteins played important roles in CPT resistance. Because tumors in vivo are heterogeneous and contaminated by infiltrating macrophages, ·NO-induced down-regulation of topoisomerase I protein combined with bcl2 protein stabilization could render certain tumors highly resistant to CPT and drugs derived from it in the clinic.

The world is suffering from the Coronavirus pandemic and is undergoing some drastic changes in day to day lives. The survey was conducted to analyze the situation of Pharmacy students in India. What are the types of challenges being faced by them during this lockdown due to the Pandemic COVID-19 and how are they getting adapted to the situations? A cross sectional survey was conducted via snowball sampling technique in which 226 participants submitted their response. The chief issue of concern to students was the change in the study pattern which has made the process much difficult for both the faculties and students. Online examination was also be reported as a point of concern. The normal life that we used to have is not acceptable in today’s scenario, hence, the institutions have to make the students more comfortable and adaptable towards the online studies and make the most out of it.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

IntROduCtIOnPTL is defined as labour occurring after 20 weeks but before 37 completed weeks of gestation [1]. The incidence of PTL remains constant over recent years, varying from 5%-10% in different populations [2]. In India, the incidence of preterm birth is approximately 13% [3]. It is the most common cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality.Prediction of PTL is important, so that women can be moved to a higher center for safe confinement as nursery care is of utmost importance for the preterm neonate.Preterm labour is difficult to predict. At present there is no standard parameter for prediction of PTL. There has been considerable interest in means of identifying women at risk of delivering prematurely by clinical symptoms and signs, biochemical markers and cervical length by digital examination and ultrasound. To achieve this goal, a risk scoring system, biochemical markers derived from different body fluids, tissues and radiological parameters like cervical length have been used.The risk scoring system based on demographic characteristics like socioeconomic status, antenatal care, maternal age, nutrition, smoking, drug abuse, alcohol, physical work, genetic predisposition, uterine malformations, previous surgery on cervix, short cervix, preterm premature rupture of membranes, multiple pregnancy is not reliable. In primi gravida, this scoring system cannot be used as there is no past obstetric history.A shortened or open cervix between 24 and 28 weeks indicates an elevated risk for PTL [4]. A shortened cervical length detected by TVS below the 10th percentile for gestational age, increased the risk of PTL prior to 35 weeks by 6 folds [5]. A review of 35 studies using sonographically assessed cervical length to predict preterm delivery in asymptomatic women found sensitivities ranging from 68% to 100% and specificities from 44% to 79% with wide variations in their predictive values [6]. A more recent meta-analysis of 28 studies assessing cervical length (<15 mm) in symptomatic women with threatened PTL found sensitivities ranging from 53% to 67% and specificities ranging from 89% to 92% for delivery within one week [7]. Due to limitations in ultrasound availability and operator expertise, cervical length alone cannot be reliably utilized to predict preterm labour or used as a routine screening tool [8]. Therefore, the current evidence and practice do not allow the development of a consensus on use of TVS alone for prediction of preterm labour.Various body fluids, tissues have been used for prediction of preterm labour like blood, urine, saliva, amniotic fluid, and cervical secretion. In cervical secretion foetal Fibronectin (fFN) and phosphorylated insulin-