MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF OLFACTORY NEURODEGENERATION

Olfactory sensory decline has been associated with normal aging as well as neurodegenerative disorders, yet the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The overall aim of this dissertation was to investigate the fundamental molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with olfactory neurodegeneration. This investigation uses an integrative approach, combining proteomics and gene expression analyses with cellular and tissuelevel characterization. Using these approaches, two model systems were investigated: 1) normally aging C57BL/6 mice of ages 1.5-, 6- and 20-months; and 2) a mouse model of elevated endogenous oxidative stress-associated neurodegeneration, namely, the Harlequin mutant mouse. The first specific aim was to test the hypothesis that oxidative stress is associated with aging of the olfactory system. Using proteomics, I demonstrated that olfactory aging was accompanied primarily by increased oxidative stress-, mitochondrial metabolism- and synaptic/transport-associated changes. The second specific aim was to test the hypothesis that the olfactory system accumulates oxidative stress-mediated macromolecular damage over time, predisposing it to neurodegeneration. Two types of protein oxidation, namely, carbonylation and nitration, accumulated with aging in the olfactory system. Protein and cellular targets of oxidative stress-associated damage were identified using redox proteomics coupled with immunohistochemical localization. The third specific aim was to test the hypothesis that elevated oxidative stress in the olfactory system results in apoptosis/neurodegeneration. The Harlequin mutant mouse was critically selected and validated as a model for studies of oxidative stress-associated olfactory neurodegeneration at both the cellular and molecular levels. The Harlequin mouse had decreased levels and altered distribution of apoptosis inducing factor protein in mature olfactory sensory neurons, increased oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis in the olfactory epithelium, and pronounced cytoskeletal disorganization. The molecular studies confirmed and extended our cellular data and identified several significantly regulated genes associated with elevated oxidative stress and apoptosis. This novel study, by combining contemporary proteomics and genomics with cellular and tissue-level analyses, has provided a road map for understanding fundamental molecular mechanisms of olfactory degeneration

Analysis of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Public Health Applications

Growing in frequency in both rural and urban parts of India, growing percentage of people at risk of diabetes, Indian population\u27s genetic susceptibility to diabetes risk factors related to the environment, Globalisation causing a decline in physical exercise Some of the challenges that the disease poses in India are low patient awareness of hypertension, undiagnosed hypertension due to a variety of factors such as low healthcare facilities and economic status, inadequate disease control, and an increasing incidence of complications related to hypertension. Although there are solutions, the healthcare team will need to work in tandem with the clinician who is battling the illness on an individual basis. This will prevent the patient from receiving the proper care, the clinician from being able to listen to the patient\u27s problems and find solutions, the patient from receiving the psychological support they need for a chronic illness, and the nation from suffering from economic hardship after the patient\u27s illness. The purpose of this study was to identify the services provided by pharmaceutical care and evaluate the barriers to pharmaceutical care in various settings in order to provide relevant recommendations

Comparative Analysis of Gear Efficiency for Portunus sanguinolentus Fishing along the Ramanathapuram Coast of Tamil Nadu, India

This study, which was conducted along the Ramanathapuram coast of Tamil Nadu, India, investigated the capture composition of a three-spot swimming crab (Portunus sanguinolentus) across various fishing gear from November 2019 to October 2020. The fishermen employed bottom-set gillnets, trammel nets, and trawl nets in 29 different fishing areas within a range of 1-50 nautical miles. The fishing vessels used included wooden boats, known as \u27Vallam,\u27 equipped with inboard engines, and FRP boats with outboard engines. Bottom-set gillnets, with mesh sizes of 80--100 mm, predominantly caught crabs, whereas trammel and trawl nets were primarily used to capture fish and cephalopods, with crabs being caught as bycatch. The size distribution of the collected P. sanguinolentus ranged from 26 to 87 mm in carapace length and 61 to 189 mm in carapace width. The mean size fell between 115 and 125 mm in width and 45 to 60 mm in length. Catch per unit effort analysis revealed that bottom-set gillnets contributed 82.77% of the catch, followed by 3.69% from trammel nets and 13.53% from trawl nets

Abstract WP301: Onset to Arrival Time in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients : Neuroscience Institute in Western India Experience

Objective: To evaluate factors that influence onset to arrival time of Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) patients at a Western Indian Neuroscience Institute. Introduction: Thrombolytic therapy for AIS is in the developing stages in India. In order to increase availability of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV rtPA) to AIS patients, it is essential to understand the current scenario and factors affecting onset to arrival time of AIS at Indian hospitals. Limited data is available regarding onset to arrival time and associated demographic, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of hospitalized AIS Indian patients. Methods: Vadodara Institute of Neurological Sciences (VINS) is a standalone Neurological Hospital situated in Vadodara, India. Prospective data (onset to arrival time, demographics and clinical features) was collected on AIS patients admitted to VINS from June 2014 to July 2016. Onset to arrival time was stratified into 5 groups: &lt; 3 hours, 3-4.5 hours, 4.5-6 hours, 6-24 hours and beyond 24 hours. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed on collected data based on whether they arrived early (&lt; 6 hours) or late (&gt; 6 hours). Results: Data was collected on 519 AIS patients of whom 55, 18, 32, 120 and 294 presented &lt; 3 hours, 3-4.5 hours, 4.5-6 hours, 6-24 hours and beyond 24 hours respectively. Thus, 105 and 414 patients belonged to early and late arrival groups respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that higher educational status (p=.002), history of prior stroke (p=.0009), coronary artery disease (p=.0001) and atrial fibrillation (p=.0009) was associated with early arrival to the hospital. No difference was noted between the two groups with reference to age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking, mean NIHSS, hemiparesis or any cortical signs. Conclusion: Patients presenting within the time window for IV rtPA (&lt;4.5 hours) and intraarterial thrombectomy (&lt; 6 hours) were 14% and 20% respectively in our cohort. Prior vascular events and higher educational status were associated with early arrival within the thrombolysis/thrombectomy treatment window for AIS. Grass-root level stroke education to communities with poor educational status can significantly enhance AIS thrombolysis treatment. </jats:p

Comparative analysis on heat transfer of various fin profile using solid works: A systematic review

Abstract Fins are widely used to enhance the amount of heat transfer by improving the rate of convection heat transfer. Fins are also known as extended surfaces, i.e., extrusions from the object surface. There are numerous kinds of fins, and based on the shape and size, the amount of heat transfer through the fins will differ. Heat transfer depends upon the geometry of the fin and depends upon a number of factors such as the nature of the fin surface, the ambient temperature; the velocity of the air, etc. In this present study, the systematic review is carried out by critically analyzing the different types of fin profile such as plain rectangular fin, wavy fin, circular pin fin, and rectangular pin fin to increase the fins efficiency. The outcome from this study reveals that the heat transferred by the fins is mainly dependent on the fins profile (type and shape), length, angle, and surface area. Alongside the orientation of the fins, porosity, thermo-geometry also affects the fins’ efficiency.</jats:p