Delhi 
Gluten allergy: enzyme structure, function and activity
(0)There are about fourteen million Indians who are affected by gluten allergy. The molecular mechanisms behind the problem are slowly being unravelled. Anuska Karmarkar reports recent Indian research on the structure, function and malfunctions of enzyme responsible for gluten allergy.
Matriliny and health in Meghalaya
In matrilineal communities, inheritance of property is through women. Women live in their maternal homes. Men who marry live in their wife’s home. How does all this translate into the health of women, their children and their husbands? Sanghamitra reports recent research.
Chronic Kidney Disease: interstate disparities in India
Chronic kidney disease is surging in India. National statistics show that it has now gone above more than 130 million cases. But what the statistics hide is that the morbidity and mortality due to chronic kidney disease is not evenly distributed in all states. Aritha Chandrasekhar reports –
Predicting probiotic persistence: personalising prescriptions
Sometimes, prescriptions of probiotic bacteria do not have the intended results. In some, the bacteria colonise the gut, while in some others the prescription fails. Why? Researchers from IIIT Delhi and AIIMS Delhi have come up with answers, reports Gayathri from Sastra Deemed University, Thanjavur.
Pigeon pea problem: solution with soybean
Indian researchers discover how to save pigeon pea crops from the monsoon variability. To reduce chances of loss to farmers due to diseases and pests, and market variability, here are some tips from six years of research. Sanghamitra reports.
Potato Peels and Pea Pods
Cellulases, enzymes that break down cellulose, are in high demand. But the supply is limited. Indian researchers have now come up with new sources and cheap raw materials to produce cellulases at an industrial scale. K. Yashkamal reports.
Predicting Induced Seismicity
Akshat Goel, an economist, teams up with Denise Gorse, a computer scientist, to compare machine learning models designed to predict seismicity in a gas field in the Netherlands. The work may provide clues for predicting seismicity in some parts of India too. Read on for more.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A new therapeutic target
The causative mechanism behind inflammatory bowel disorder is not yet known. The therapeutic strategy to counter the inflammatory response targeted the pathway that was recognised earlier. But there is another pathway that influences inflammation. Soumen Basak’s lab at NII pry apart the role of the two pathways in inflammation. Alvina Deka reports:
Treating Hyperpigmentation: Targeting Fatty Acid Synthesis
Hyperpigmentation, where parts of the skin are darker, pose psycho-social difficulties for some. Indian scientists trace the causative roots of the problem to fatty acid metabolism. Their results point at possible therapeutic interventions. Tanya Jain reports:
AdipoRon Ameliorates Alzheimer’s: clues from diabetes research
Adiponectin, a signalling molecule from adipose tissues, has been implicated in insulin resistant cases of diabetes. AdipoRon, adiponectin receptor agonist, alleviates the symptoms. If not managed properly, diabetic patients develop Alzheimer’s disease. Can Adiporon reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s too? Neha Jawla reports recent findings from the National Institute of Immunology.
