Impact of degradation on nitrogen transformation in a forest ecosystem of India

A study was performed selecting one protected forest and an adjacent degraded forest ecosystem to quantify the impact of forest degradation on soil inorganic nitrogen, fine root production, nitrification, N-mineralization and microbial biomass N. There were marked seasonal variations of all the parameters in the upper 0-10 and lower 10-20 cm depths. The seasonal trend of net nitrification and net N-mineralization was reverse of that for inorganic nitrogen and microbial biomass N. Net nitrification, net N-mineralization and fine root biomass values were highest in both forests during rainy season. On contrary, inorganic nitrogen and microbial biomass N were highest during summer season.There was a marked impact of forest degradation on inorganic nitrogen, fine root production nitrification, N-mineralization and microbial biomass observed. Soil properties also varied with soil depth. Fine root biomass, nitrification, N-mineralization and microbial biomass N decreased significantly in higher soil depth. Degradation causes decline in mean seasonal fine root biomass in upper layer and in lower depth by 37% and 27%, respectively. The mean seasonal net nitrification and N-mineralization in upper depth decreased by 42% and 37%, respectively and in lower depth by 42.21% and 39% respectively. Similarly microbial biomass N also decreased by 31.16% in upper layer 33.19% in lower layer.

Biotechnological advances in mango (Mangifera indica L.) and their future implication in crop improvement: a review

Biotechnology can complement conventional breeding and expedite the mango improvement programmes. Studies involving in vitro culture and selection, micropropagation, embryo rescue, genetic transformation, marker-assisted characterization and DNA fingerprinting, etc. are underway at different centers worldwide. In vitro culture and somatic embryogenesis of several different genotypes have been achieved. The nucellus excised from immature fruitlets is the appropriate explant for induction of embryogenic cultures. High frequency somatic embryogenesis has been achieved in some genotypes; however, some abnormalities can occur during somatic embryo germination. Embryo rescue from young and dropped fruitlets can improve the hybridization success in a limited flowering season. Protocols for protoplast culture and regeneration have also been developed. In vitro selections for antibiotic tolerance and fungal toxin resistance have been very promising for germplasm screening. Genetic transformation using Agrobacterium tumefaciens has been reported. Genes that are involved with fruit ripening have been cloned and there have been attempts to deliver these genes into plants. DNA fingerprinting and studies on genetic diversity of mango cultivars and Mangifera species are also being conducted at several research stations. The purpose of this review is to focus upon contemporary information on biotechnological advances made in mango. It also describes some ways of overcoming the problems encountered during in vitro propagation of mango.

A profile of HIV infection / AIDS related knowledge among female students of Kanpur district, India

INTRODUCTION

HIV/AIDS, a social disease took pandemic form within a short span of time affecting 40 million people through the globe. Adults of the developing countries are the main victim of the disease contributing to 95% of the total world's HIV infection and 90% death. In the absence of effective cure to this disease, it can be very easily prevented by IEC activities regarding behavioural changes.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the level of correct knowledge about HIV/AIDS and the misconceptions associated with it among girl students of Kanpur district.

MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

This is a baseline cross-sectional, questionnaire based study conducted among female students of technical and non-technical institutions of Kanpur district UP in 2001.

RESULTS

Though the causative agent and correct mode of acquiring infection was not known to most of the students yet significant proportion had adequate knowledge about the vulnerable age group that is youth as stated by (72.90%) of the respondents. Knowledge regarding correct modes of transmission of infections (82.78%), high risk groups (82.88%) and common symptoms of disease (80.11%) was satisfactory.

DISCUSSION

The finding of the present study was satisfactory and consistent with previous research findings. In paradox to their knowledge, deeply rooted misconception related to transmission of infection also surfaced and was more prevalent in technical than non technical students. These misconceptions need to be corrected to prevent the spread of the infection.

CONCLUSION

The knowledge of the study group was quite satisfactory for most of the variables like vulnerable age, modes of transmission, sexual and behavioural practices and common symptoms of the disease. However, misconceptions were also very high and almost equally present in technical and non-technical students. Though, as already stated, the technical students had better knowledge than non-technical ones.

Emergence of primary teeth in children of Sunsari district of Eastern Nepal

This study assessed the timing and eruption sequence of primary teeth in children of Sunsari district of Eastern Nepal and compared the eruption pattern of males & females between various, ethnic groups.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study, included 501 subjects, aged 3 months to 60 months selected by simple random sampling method. The determinant variables such as age, gender, ethnicity, and eruption of teeth were recorded.

RESULTS

This study provides a model data on emergence of primary teeth and number of deciduous teeth in these children. This is a first study of its kind in Nepal. The findings of this study will help as a reference data for optimal use in clinical, academic, and research activities, especially for children of Eastern Nepal.

Challenging and Changing Gender Attitudes among Young Men in Mumbai, India

This article presents findings from a pilot intervention in 2005-6 to promote gender equity among young men from low-income communities in Mumbai, India. The project involved formative work on gender, sexuality and masculinity, and educational activities with 126 young men, aged 18-29, over a six-month period. The programme of activities was called Yari-dosti, which is Hindi for friendship or bonding among men, and was adapted from a Brazilian intervention. Pre- and post-intervention surveys, including measures of attitudes towards gender norms using the Gender Equitable Men (GEM) Scale and other key outcomes, qualitative interviews with 31 participants, monitoring and observations were used as evaluation tools. Almost all the young men actively participated in the activities and appreciated the intervention. It was often the first time they had had the opportunity to discuss and reflect on these issues. The interviews showed that attitudes towards gender and sexuality, as reported behaviour in relationships, had often changed. A survey two months later also showed a significant decrease in support for inequitable gender norms and sexual harassment of girls and women. The results suggest that the pilot was successful in reaching and engaging young men to critically discuss gender dynamics and health risk, and in shifting key gender-related attitudes.

3D-QSAR CoMFA study on indenopyrazole derivatives as cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) inhibitors

Cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) have appeared as an important drug targets over the years with diverse therapeutic potentials. With the objective of designing new chemical entities with enhanced inhibitory potencies against CDK 2 (CDK2) and CDK 4 (CDK4), the 3D-QSAR CoMFA study carried out on indenopyrazole derivatives as inhibitors of these kinases is presented here. The developed model showed a strong correlative and predictive capability having a cross validated correlation co-efficient of 0.747 for CDK4 and 0.755 for CDK2 inhibitions. The conventional and predictive correlation co-efficients were, respectively, found to be 0.913 and 0.760 for CDK4, 0.941 and 0.765 for CDK2. The models could be employed to design ligands with enhanced inhibitory potencies and/or to predict the potencies of analogues to guide synthesis.

The retrograde nail for distal femoral fractures in the elderly: high failure rate of the condyle screw and nut

Displaced distal femoral fractures in elderly patients benefit from surgical fixation. We describe the use of a retrograde femoral nail to treat these fractures. The implant has a special condyle screw and nut that allows for manual compression of the fracture when there is an additional inter-condylar split. We present our results when using this implant to treat 16 patients over a 13-month period. The mean patient age was 78 years (range, 65-96 years). All 16 patients were available at the time of final follow up and proceeded to union at an average time of 11 weeks (range, 10-14 weeks). Twenty-six condyle screw and nuts were used. Ten out of 26 condyle screws in 10 out of 16 patients failed by disengaging at a mean time of 10 weeks (range, 8-12 weeks). Our union rate was unaffected by the nut and bolt disengaging. This would suggest that the condylar compression generated by the nut and bolt may not be critical for union.

Hypohiderotic ectodermal dysplasia

We report a case of a six years age girl who presented to our out patients department with the history and findings suggestive of recurrent respiratory tract infections. She was also noticed to have: non homogeneous hyperpigmented patches on the face since three months of age, sparse hair on the scalp and eyebrows, conical peg like teeth and delayed dentition, prominent and low set ears, perpetually flexed third toe bilaterally. Axillary skin biopsy showed adenexal structures and eccrine glands in subcutaneous fat which were reduced in number. The diagnosis made was: Anhydrotic/Hypohidrotic type of ectodermal dysplasia.

Treatment of Oropharyngeal Cancer in Renal Transplant Recipients Without Cessation of Immunosuppressive Therapy

INTRODUCTION

Renal transplantation and immunosuppression are associated with an increased incidence of malignancy. Reduction or cessation of immunosuppressive therapy has been advocated in these cases to prevent tumor progression and recurrence. We evaluated the outcome of treatment of oropharyngeal cancer (OC) after renal transplantation without cessation of immunosuppressive therapy.

METHODS

The database of patients with OC after renal transplantation was analyzed with respect to age, sex, type of immunosuppression, interval between transplantation and diagnosis of cancer, as well as method of treatment and survival.

RESULTS

Thirty one (2.06%) renal transplant recipients developed malignancy including 6 (20%) with OC. Lingual cancer was seen in three, and one each showed an isolated tonsillar lymphoma, a parotid carcinoma, or a carcinoma of the larynx with only the last having had two other malignancies in the past. Three subjects were on immunosuppression with azathioprine and prednisolone, and the others were prescribed cyclosporine and prednisolone. Average time from transplantation to diagnosis of OC was 106 months. The interval was the shortest (2 years) for tonsillar lymphoma in an 18-year-old patient who received cyclosporine and showed features of left follicular tonsillitis. The patient with advanced carcinoma of the larynx did not receive any treatment and succumbed within 3 months. The dose of cyclosporine was reduced in the lymphoma case but immunosuppression was not altered in the other patients. All subjects were treated with a standard protocol. During a mean follow-up of 33 months, one had local recurrence of parotid carcinoma and the others showed well functioning renal grafts.

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive treatment of OC after renal transplantation without withdrawing the immunosuppression prolonged the life of these patients with functioning grafts.

Toll-like receptors in Borrelia burgdorferi-induced inflammation

Lyme arthritis, the most common manifestation of late Lyme disease, has been associated with the presence of Borellia burgdorferi in the joint. However, it is still unclear whether the pathogen itself is able to elicit such a sustained inflammatory response, or whether an aberrant immunological reaction of the host is the main driving force. Borrelia antigens, including lipoproteins, flagellin and DNA, are ligands of Toll-like receptors, and can thus elicit a strong stimulation of host cells, such as neutrophils, mononuclear cells and resident tissue cells. Understanding the molecular basis of the signalling events caused by Borrelia lipoproteins will lead to a greater understanding of inflammation in Lyme arthritis and, hopefully, new treatment strategies for chronic antibiotic-resistant disease.

Does Paget's disease exist in India?: A series of 21 patients

OBJECTIVE

Paget's disease of bone has been described as a few case reports from India. The aim of the present study is to document the existence of Paget's disease (PD) in India.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We describe demography, clinical manifestations, biochemical and radiological profile and the treatment outcome of 21 patients of PD.

RESULTS

Mean (+/-SD) age of these patients at presentation was 49.2 +/- 17.6 years and the male to female ratio was 2.5:1. Common clinical manifestations included backache, headache and bone pains. Others were fracture, joint pain, deafness, gait ataxia, visual impairment and difficulty in biting. Two patients presented with hydrocephalus and one had recurrent paraparesis. Fifteen (71.4%) patients had polyostotic and six (28.6%) had monoostotic Paget's disease. More commonly involved bones were skull and spine (61.9%) followed by pelvis (38.1%), femur (33.3%), tibia (9%) and ulna (9%). Mean (+/-SD) serum alkaline phosphatase at diagnosis was 1514 +/- 1168 IU/L and nine months after treatment with bisphosphonates decreased to 454 +/- 406 IU/ L(P<0.03).

CONCLUSION

This illustrates that Paget's disease does exist in India and a high index of suspicion is required to clinch the diagnosis.

Nuclear effects in neutrino induced coherent pion production at K2K and MiniBooNE

The coherent pion production induced by neutrinos in nuclei is studied using a delta hole model in the local density approximation taking into account the renormalization of Delta properties in a nuclear medium. The pion absorption effects are included in an eikonal approximation. These effects give a large reduction in the total cross section. The numerical results for the total cross section are found to be consistent with recent experimental results from the K2K and MiniBooNE Collaborations and other older experiments in the intermediate energy region.

Parasagittal Ependymoma Mimicking Falcine Meningioma

Parasagittal Ependymoma Mimicking Falcine Meningioma

AXR4 Is Required for Localization of the Auxin Influx Facilitator AUX1

The AUX1 and PIN auxin influx and efflux facilitators are key regulators of root growth and development. For root gravitropism to occur, AUX1 and PIN2 must transport auxin via the lateral root cap to elongating epidermal cells. Genetic studies suggest that AXR4 functions in the same pathway as AUX1. Here we show that AXR4 is a previously unidentified accessory protein of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that regulates localization of AUX1 but not of PIN proteins. Loss of AXR4 resulted in abnormal accumulation of AUX1 in the ER of epidermal cells, indicating that the axr4 agravitropic phenotype is caused by defective AUX1 trafficking in the root epidermis.

Preoperative embolization of a large vaginal leiomyoma: Report of a case and review of the literature

Leiomyoma of the vagina is a very rare tumour of the lower urogenital tract. These slow-growing masses may be asymptomatic or present with pain, dyspareunia or urinary symptoms. Rarely, these tumours may present with life-threatening haemorrhage. These hypervascular tumours are treated by surgical excision. Preoperative embolization therefore may aid in devascularization of these tumours before surgical excision. We present the MRI features of a case of vaginal leiomyoma, which was managed by preoperative embolization and was then excised in toto. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report where preoperative embolization was performed before excision of a vaginal leiomyoma with minimal peroperative blood loss.

Ectopic expression of alkaline phosphatase in proximal tubular brush border membrane of human renal cell carcinoma

The present study was conducted to find out any alteration in the expression and activity of alkaline phosphatase in the brush border membrane (BBM) from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in comparison to normal renal BBM. The specific activity of alkaline phosphatase was drastically reduced in homogenate as well as BBM from RCC kidney when compared to ALP activity in BBM of normal kidney. Kinetic studies revealed that diminished activity of alkaline phosphatase in BBM isolated from RCC was fraternized with decrease in maximal velocity (V(max)) and increase in affinity constant (K(m)) of the enzyme. SDS-PAGE studies showed that the BBM proteins having molecular weights ranging from 95 to 170 kDa were poorly expressed in RCC BBM in relative to normal kidney BBM. Incubation of SDS-PAGE gel with BCIP/NBT dye clearly showed that the expression of ALP in tumor renal BBM was markedly reduced as compared to normal kidney. Further, Western blot analysis using anti-alkaline phosphatase antibody also confirmed the reduced expression of ALP in tumor renal BBM. Lipid composition in reference to phospholipids, glycolipids and cholesterol in tumor renal BBM was altered to that of normal renal BBM, indicating alteration in membrane fluidity of tumor renal BBM.

Pre- & post-treatment evaluation of immunological features in Indian visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients with HIV co-infection

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

The risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection in patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar in endemic areas has posed a major challenge in control programmes. We undertook this study to identify the high risk groups vulnerable to Leishmania-HIV co-infection in VL endemic State of Bihar, India. Further, immunological responses were also evaluated in these patients before and after treatment for VL to see the immune impairment associated with CD4 T cell count.

METHODS

A total of 1511 subjects attending Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre (VCTC) at Patna, Bihar were included in this study. VL was confirmed by splenic or bone marrow aspirates testing for parasite. HIV states was confirmed by two kits. Immunological parameters (CD4, CD8, IFN-gamma, IL-4) were studied in co-infection patients.

RESULTS

Of the 280 (18.53%) HIV-positive individuals, eight were diagnosed serologically and pathologically as VL patients co-infected with HIV. The humoral and cellular immune responses were evaluated in 18 Indian VL patients with (n = 8) or without HIV (n = 10) and 10 HIV seropositive subjects. Among the eight confirmed cases of VL, false negative direct agglutination test (DAT) result was observed in two who had HIV co-infection (sensitivity 80%), while none in 10 other VL cases who were HIV negative (sensitivity 100%). A very low CD4 cell count was observed in VL cases that had HIV co-infection compared to HIV negative VL or controls. All VL cases with or without HIV infection had lower Th1/Th2 ratio compared to controls. VL patients with or without HIV infection responded well to anti-leishmanial/anti-retroviral therapy with considerable degree of immunological reconstitution.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION

A different immune response was noticed in patients with co-infection of HIV and Leishmania. Anti-leishmanial drug treatment led to improvement in immunological response in co-infected patients. Further studies need to be done to see the effect of combined therapy for VL and HIV on immunological parameters in these patients.

Differential expression patterns of recombination-activating genes in individual mature B cells in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

BACKGROUND

Re-expression of the recombination-activating genes (RAG) in peripheral B cells may be relevant in the development of autoreactive antibodies in autoimmune diseases. The presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) as a hallmark of oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (o-JIA, early-onset type) indicates a breakdown in immunological tolerance.

AIM

To examine the expression of RAG genes in peripheral blood mature B lymphocytes in patients with o-JIA.

METHODS

777 memory B cells from peripheral blood, CD19+ CD27+ CD5+ or CD19+ CD27+ CD5-, isolated from three ANA+ children with o-JIA and three healthy age-matched children, were examined for the expression of RAG1 and RAG2 mRNA. mRNA transcripts of activation-induced cytidine deaminase and immunoglobulin G were searched to further determine their developmental stage.

RESULTS

mRNA was present for any of the two RAG genes in the B cells of children with JIA and controls. However, the predominance of RAG1 or RAG2 was different. A significantly decreased frequency of RAG2-expressing memory B cells in both CD5+ and CD5- populations was noted in children with JIA (p<0.001), whereas the number of RAG1-expressing B cells was slightly increased. The coordinate expression of both the RAG genes was a rare event, similar in the CD5+ populations (1% in controls, 2% in children with JIA), but different among the CD5- compartments (5% v 0%; p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

These results argue for a reduced coordinate RAG expression in the peripheral CD5- memory B cells of patients with o-JIA. Thus, it was hypothesised that impaired receptor revision contributes to autoimmune pathogenesis in JIA.

Usefulness of the direct agglutination test in the early detection of subclinical Leishmania donovani infection: a community-based study

The value of a direct agglutination test (DAT) in the detection of subclinical infections with Leishmania donovani has recently been investigated in the Indian state of Bihar, after the sensitivity and specificity of the test had been determined. When used to screen sera from 108 parasitologically confirmed cases of visceral leishmaniasis, 50 patients with active, non-leishmanial infection, and 641 healthy controls living close to, or distant from, an endemic area, the test was found to be 91.7% sensitive and 100% specific if a titre of 1:800 was used as the threshold for seropositivity. During a longitudinal clinical study in a rural, VL-endemic area of the Indian state of Bihar, the test was used, with 1:800 set as the threshold titre, to determine the baseline prevalence of infection with L. donovani among villagers who, though showing no symptoms of VL, had recently been febrile for at least 2 weeks. The 234 subjects of this study were either VL-case contacts [i.e. members of households in which there were active or cured VL cases (N=78)] or the members of control households with no cases or history of the disease (N=156). The results of DAT at the start of the study indicated that 49 (20.9%) of the subjects--29 (37.2%) of the VL-case contacts and 20 (12.8%) of the other subjects--were seropositive and therefore probably had subclinical infections with L. donovani. During the subsequent 9 months of follow-up, however, only eight of the subjects found seropositive at the start of the study--seven (24.1%) of the seropositive case contacts but only one (5.0%) of the other seropositives--developed symptomatic VL, all by month 6 of the follow-up. Compared with their neighbours, therefore, individuals who shared households with active or cured cases of VL appeared at greater risk not only of L. donovani infection (indicating focal transmission) but also of developing symptomatic disease once infected. Curiously, among the seropositive case contacts, those from the households that harboured active cases of VL at the baseline survey were less likely to develop symptomatic VL during the 9 months of follow-up than those from households that harboured only cured cases (18.8% v. 30.8%). The wide-spread use of DAT could allow the detection and early treatment of latent L. donovani infections and so contribute to the elimination of VL, at least as a public-health problem, from India.

Lithogenesis: induction of renal calcifications by nanobacteria

Nanobacteria have been isolated from kidney stones and it has been suggested that they may act as a nucleus for the initiation of the renal stones. In the present study, we examine their role in biocrystallization and their in vivo effects on kidney pathology. Calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) assay was carried out in the presence of nanobacteria to study biocrystallization. Wistar rats were given an intravenous injection of nanobacteria and the kidneys were examined for pathological changes. The COM assay showed accelerated biocrystallization of (14)C-oxalate in the presence of nanobacteria, indicating them to be efficient candidates for biomineralization. Histopathological studies revealed bacteria induced renal tubular calcifications and various manifestations of infection. Our studies confirm that nanobacteria may be involved in the pathogenesis of renal tubular calcification.