Bibliography of the Echinoderms of the Indian Ocean

Echinoderms from the point of view of their taxonomy and evolution form one of the most interesting groups of marine animals. Except for the R.I.M.S. “Investigator” collections reported on by various authors there has been no sustained work on this group in this country till detailed investigations were initiated recently by Mr. D.B. James of this Institute. In the course of extensive work carried out, he had taken considerable pains to collect a vast number of references to form a comprehensive bibliography which has been augmented with some of the references collected by Mr. R.S. Lal Mohan for Bulletin Nos. 4 and 11 issued by this Institute. There are in all 691 references listed in the present Bulletin covering all the classes of echinoderms and it is hoped that the availability of a consolidated bibliography like this would act as an incentive to interested workers to take up this group for study. The authors have done their best to make the list as comprehensive as possible. However, it would very much be appreciated if omissions and errors if any, are kindly brought to our notice

Bibliography of the Indian Ocean 1931 – 1961 - A supplement to the ‘Partial Bibliography’

This Bulletin is a continuation of Bulletin No. 4 issued from this Institute as a Supplement (for the 1900-1930 period) to the ‘Partial Bibliography of the Indian Ocean’ brought out by the U. S. Program in Biology in 1962. In spite of various handicaps my colleagues have managed to bring together as many relevant references as possible for the 1931-1961 period, which did not find a place in the ‘Partial Bibliography’. There are in all 2682 references of which the greater part comes under fishes (827), crustaceans (418) and molluscs (293). The preparation of the Bulletin was undertaken at my suggestion by Messrs. R. S. Lal Mohan, D.B. James and K.K. Appukuttan who completed the same without prejudice to their routine work. It is needless to say that they had sacrificed a great deal of their spare time for this purpose and gives me great pleasure to record my sincere thanks and appreciation for their high sense of responsibility, co-operative spirit and devotion to duty. My thanks are also due to other members of the staff who in various ways helped in the completion of the Bulletin

Bibliography of the Indian Ocean 1900-1930 –A Supplement to the ‘Partial Bibliography’

The first Bulletin of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute on the “Bibliography of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography of the Indian Ocean 1962-67” was issued in March 1968 to provide the scientific workers in this region with a reasonably comprehensive list of references relating to the area since the issue of “A Partial Bibliography of the Indian Ocean” by the U.S. Programme in Biology in June 1962. It is most gratifying that the Bulletin was very well received. More than anything else this has enabled the outside world to get a correct idea of the extent of work carried out in this country in general and in this Institute in particular in marine fisheries and oceanography during the last few years. The usefulness of the venture has encouraged us to go ahead with the programme of preparation of a supplement to the “Partial Bibliography” as indicated in the Forword of the first Bulletin. However, owing to various practical difficulties it was not possible to cover the period from 1900-1961 in one Supplement as announced earlier and therefore to avoid delay it was considered expedient to issue the present one for 1900-1930. The Supplement for the subsequent period, viz., 1931-1961, will be issued in due course

Mariculture potentials

The protected bays and lagoons of the island provide suitable sites for mariculture. Further there are many potential candidates for mariculture - food fishes, bait fishes, ornamental fishes, holothurians, turtles and sea weeds. Apart from the indigenous varieties of culturable species, fry of fast growing fishes and prawns can be transported from the mainland and cultured. But so far no serious attempts have been made to utilise the Mariculture potentials of islands

Two Sides of the Same Story: Alcohol Use and HIV Risk Taking in South India

This qualitative study examines the role of alcohol in sexual risk among male migrant workers and female sex workers in two South Indian states. Most men reported using alcohol for increased energy and courage prior to their sexual experiences and to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. Sex workers, on the other hand, often stated that they avoided alcohol prior to sex in order to stay alert and reduce the risk of violence. Both groups reported that drinking often increased male aggression and reduced condom use. Research is needed to examine the prevalence of these patterns as well as factors associated with sexual risk and violence, in order to develop targeted interventions for these groups. Future risk reduction programs may benefit from addressing safer ways of meeting the needs expressed by the participants. This may include strategies to defuse volatile situations, safe ways of improving the sexual experience, and interventions aimed at alleviating loneliness and isolation for migrants

First-in-Class Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase p38α: MAPK-Activated Protein Kinase-2 (MK2) Dual Signal Modulator with Anti-inflammatory and Endothelial-stabilizing Properties.

We previously identified a small molecule, UM101, predicted to bind to the substrate-binding groove of p38aMitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) near the binding site of its proinflammatory substrate, MAPK-activated protein kinase (MK2). UM101 exhibited anti-inflammatory, endothelial-stabilizing, and lung-protective effects. To overcome its limited aqueous solubility and p38a binding affinity, we designed an analog of UM101, GEn-1124, with improved aqueous solubility, stability, and p38a binding affinity. Compared with UM101, GEn-1124 has 18-fold greater p38a-binding affinity as measured by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), 11-fold greater aqueous solubility, enhanced barrier-stabilizing activity in thrombin-stimulated human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (hPAEC) in vitro, and greater lung protection in vivo GEn-1124 improved survival from 10% to 40% in murine acute lung injury (ALI) induced by combined exposure to intratracheal bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation and febrile-range hyperthermia (FRH) and from 0% to 50% in a mouse influenza pneumonia model. Gene expression analysis by RNASeq in TNFa-treated hPAEC showed that the gene-modifying effects of GEn-1124 were much more restricted to TNFa-inducible genes than the catalytic site p38 inhibitor, SB203580. Gene expression pathway analysis, confocal immunofluorescence analysis of p38aand MK2 subcellular trafficking, and SPR analysis of phosphorylated p38a:MK2 binding affinity supports a novel mechanism of action. GEn-1124 destabilizes the activated p38a:MK2 complex, dissociates nuclear export of MK2 and p38a, thereby promoting intranuclear retention and enhanced intranuclear signaling by phosphorylated p38a retention, and accelerated inactivation of p38-free cytosolic MK2 by unopposed phosphatases. Significance Statement We describe an analog of our first-in-class small molecule modulator of p38a/MK2 signaling targeted to a pocket near the ED substrate binding domain of p38a, which destabilizes the p38a:MK2 complex without blocking p38 catalytic activity or ablating downstream signaling. The result is a rebalancing of downstream pro- and anti-inflammatory signaling, yielding anti-inflammatory, endothelial-stabilizing, and lung-protective effects with therapeutic potential in ARDS

A bibliography of parasites and diseases of marine and freshwater fishes of India

With the increasing demand for fish as human food, aquaculture both in freshwater and salt water is rapidly developing over the world. In the developing countries, fishes are being raised as food. In many countries fish farming is a very important economic activity. The most recent branch, mariculture, has shown advances in raising fishes in brackish, estuarine and bay waters, in which marine, anadromous and catadromous fishes have successfully been grown and maintained

Stranding of Pseudorca crassidens at Calicut, Kerala

During the last few years a number of strandings of whales, dolphins, and porpoises have been detected and same have been reported along our coasts. The accidental capture of dolphins and the dugong in fishing operations have also been reported. These marine mammals are protected under the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, and trade in many of the marine mammals is also banned or controlled under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). The present studies were documenting a few strandings of lesser cetaceans (the false killer whale Pseudorca crassidens) from along our coast

Withanolides and related steroids

Since the isolation of the first withanolides in the mid-1960s, over 600 new members of this group of compounds have been described, with most from genera of the plant family Solanaceae. The basic structure of withaferin A, a C28 ergostane with a modified side chain forming a δ-lactone between carbons 22 and 26, was considered for many years the basic template for the withanolides. Nowadays, a considerable number of related structures are also considered part of the withanolide class; among them are those containing γ-lactones in the side chain that have come to be at least as common as the δ-lactones. The reduced versions (γ and δ-lactols) are also known. Further structural variations include modified skeletons (including C27 compounds), aromatic rings and additional rings, which may coexist in a single plant species. Seasonal and geographical variations have also been described in the concentration levels and types of withanolides that may occur, especially in the Jaborosa and Salpichroa genera, and biogenetic relationships among those withanolides may be inferred from the structural variations detected. Withania is the parent genus of the withanolides and a special section is devoted to the new structures isolated from species in this genus. Following this, all other new structures are grouped by structural types. Many withanolides have shown a variety of interesting biological activities ranging from antitumor, cytotoxic and potential cancer chemopreventive effects, to feeding deterrence for several insects as well as selective phytotoxicity towards monocotyledoneous and dicotyledoneous species. Trypanocidal, leishmanicidal, antibacterial, and antifungal activities have also been reported. A comprehensive description of the different activities and their significance has been included in this chapter. The final section is devoted to chemotaxonomic implications of withanolide distribution within the Solanaceae. Overall, this chapter covers the advances in the chemistry and biology of withanolides over the last 16 years.Fil: Misico, Rosana Isabel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos Aplicados a la Química Orgánica (i); ArgentinaFil: Nicotra, V.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Oberti, Juan Carlos María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Barboza, Gloria Estela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Gil, Roberto Ricardo. University Of Carnegie Mellon; Estados UnidosFil: Burton, Gerardo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos Aplicados a la Química Orgánica (i); Argentin

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.