Vermicomposting of distillation waste of citronella plant (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt.) employing Eudrilus eugeniae

Laboratory experiment on vermicomposting of distillation waste of java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt.) was carried out employing Eudrilus eugeniae, in two seasonal trials, covering summer and winter periods. Two vermicomposting treatments were conducted in earthen pots, one with citronella plant waste only (CW) and the other, a mixture of citronella waste and cowdung in the proportion 5:1 (CW+CD). Vermicomposting of citronella waste resulted reduction in C/N ratio (83.5-87.7%), enhancement of ash content and a number of macro and micronutrients. The FT-IR spectroscopy of the vermicompost revealed the reduction in aliphatic and aromatic compound as well as increase in amide group after the 105 days stabilization process. The vermicompost output was significantly enhanced in CW+CD treatment than CW treatment. Even, nutrient content of the vermicompost was also higher in CW+CD treatment than CW alone indicating the positive role of cowdung in improvement of quantity and quality.

A pilot study on the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among clients of brothel-based female sex workers in Jessore, Bangladesh

The prevalence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections among clients of female sex workers (FSWs) was studied. A total of 156 condoms were collected from clients of 13 sex workers during three consecutive days. Condoms used by clients of FSWs were collected and DNA was extracted from the seminal fluid and used for the diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis by polymerase chain reaction. The prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis and T. vaginalis among clients of FSWs was 4.5% (7/156), 2.5% (4/156) and 7% (11/156), respectively.

Diversity of Bacillus thuringiensis in the rice field soils of different ecologies in India

Diversity of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in the rice field soils of different ecologies viz. the island (Port Blair), the Himalayan (Srinagar), brackish water (Mahe) and coastal mesophilic (Mangalore) habitats was analyzed by phenotypic characterization of 5, 66, 14 and 54 Bt isolates, respectively. The Bt isolates produced either monotypic (bipyramidal or spherical) or heterotypic (polymorphic-bipyramidal or bipyramidal-rhomboidal) crystals. The organisms were generally resistant to the penicillin group of antibiotics, tolerated 5-12% NaCl and 0.5M Na-acetate. The Bt isolates contained 1-5 plasmids of 0.89-58.61 kbp sizes. The plasmid profiles had no correlation with crystal morphology or salt tolerance of different bacteria. Each soil was inhabited by different types of Bt. Two Bt strains of Mangalore and one strain each of the other places were phenotypically similar. One Bt strain each of Port Blair and Srinagar was different from all other strains.

Calcined Mg-Fe-CO(3) LDH as an adsorbent for the removal of selenite

Mg-Fe-CO(3) layered double hydroxide (LDH) with a Mg/Fe molar ratio of 2.0 was synthesized by co-precipitation method and its calcined product (CLDH) was obtained by heating Mg/Fe-LDH at 500 degrees C. Sorption of SeO(2-)(3) on CLDHs was studied and the results indicate that the sorption capacity of CLDHs was higher than that of uncalcined LDHs. Isotherms for SeO(2-)(3) sorption by CLDHs were well described using the Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The thermodynamic parameters, viz. DeltaG*, DeltaH*, DeltaS* were calculated to predict the nature of adsorption. The negative and positive values of DeltaG* and DeltaH* indicate that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic in nature, respectively. The adsorption process followed first-order kinetics.

Preparation and characterization of Mg–Al hydrotalcite-like compounds containing cerium

Hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTlcs) containing Mg(2+), Al(3+), and Ce(3+) in the hydroxide layer and with carbonate as charge-balancing anion have been prepared by a co-precipitation (at constant pH) method. The Al/Ce ratio in the final product depends on the concentration in the initial solution. The crystallinity of the layered materials decreases with the increase in cerium content, probably, due to the distortions introduced by the large difference in the ionic radii of the cations. All the synthesized materials were characterized by XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy and TG/DTA. The textural properties were determined from low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of novel oxazolidinones bearing N-hydroxyacetamidine substituent

Novel oxazolidinone antibacterials containing N-hydroxyacetamidine moiety are synthesized with the diversity at C-5 terminus. These compounds have been evaluated against a panel of clinically relevant gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens. Most of the analogs in this series displayed activity superior to Linezolid and in vivo efficacies of selected oxazolidinones are also disclosed herein.

Anti-idiotype-mediated epitope spreading and diminished phagocytosis by a human monoclonal antibody recognizing late-stage apoptotic cells

Apoptotic cells are considered an important auto-antigenic source in diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A human monoclonal antibody demonstrating exquisite specificity towards late-stage apoptotic cells was generated from an SLE patient. Polyreactive recognition of ribonucleoproteins Ro52 and Ro60 was observed. The antibody significantly diminished the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and a concomitant decrease in transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) secretion was observed. Light and heavy chain sequencing revealed the antibody to be in essentially germline configuration. Elicited anti-idiotypic antibodies bound distinct self-antigens and showed augmented reactivity towards apoptotic cells as well. Thus, near-germline encoded antibodies recognizing antigens externalized during the process of apoptosis can mediate a variety of potentially pathogenic effects; decreases in the phagocytic uptake of dying cells would constitute a disease-perpetuating event and stimulation of the idiotypic network could lead to intermolecular epitope spreading, increasing the range of molecular targets..

Effect of heat treatment on the physico-chemical properties and catalytic activity of manganese nodules leached residue towards decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

The effect of calcination temperature on the physico-chemical characterization of manganese nodule leached residue (MNLR) and water-washed manganese nodule leached residue (WMNLR) has been investigated on the basis of chemical analysis, XRD, TG-DTA, FTIR, surface hydroxyl groups, surface oxygen, reducing and oxidizing sites, surface area. XRD and IR confirm the presence of amorphous iron oxyhydroxides, delta-MnO2, which are converted to alpha-Fe2O3 and gamma-Mn2O3 phases above 400 degrees C of calcination, respectively. A solid solution of Fe2O3 and Mn2O3 is formed above 700 degrees C. The surface area, surface hydroxyl group, surface oxygen, reducing and oxidizing sites increase with the increase in calcination temperature up to 400 degrees C and then decrease with further rise in calcination temperature up to 700 degrees C. The catalytic activity of the sample towards H2O2 decomposition shows the similar trend as surface properties. A suitable Mn(3+)Mn4+ couple favours H2O2 decomposition reaction. The activity has been correlated with various physico-chemical properties.

Treatment of primary localised cutaneous amyloidosis with cyclophosphamide

The study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of cyclophosphamide in primary localised cutaneous amyloidosis. Thirty-six patients of primary localised cutaneous amyloidosis were treated with cyclophosphamide 50 mg. tablets orally daily for a period of six months. Most of the patients following the therapy showed marked improvement in respect of itching, pigmentation and sizes of the popular lesions. Side effects of cyclophosphamide were very low.

Oxidative activation of acylguanidine prodrugs: intestinal presystemic activation in rats limits absorption and can be inhibited by co-administration of ketoconazole

1. The disposition of acyl prodrugs was studied to improve the delivery of a guanidine-containing parent compound with poor membrane permeability and poor absorption. 2. The prodrugs were evaluated in vitro and in vivo for conversion to drug. Prodrugs were evaluated for hydrolytic or oxidative bioactivation in intestinal homogenate and rat liver S9 or microsomes. The disposition of the prodrugs in vivo was monitored in bile duct-cannulated rats. 3. Compounds with n-alkylacyl groups were efficiently bioactivated, but were hydrolysed before absorption. 4. Hydrolytic bioactivation could be blocked in vitro by branching in the alkyl chain. These compounds showed modest improvements in absorption, despite favourable permeability. Experiments with liver microsomes demonstrated efficient NADPH-dependent oxidative bioactivation, which was proposed to occur through a CYP-mediated side chain oxidation followed by cyclization and release of parent compound. Ketoconazole co-administration yielded approximately a twofold increase in absorption. 5. The hydrolytically stable prodrugs were successful in increasing absorption of parent drug and were efficiently bioactivated, but they did not yield increased systemic levels of drug.

Studies on Mg/Fe Hydrotalcite-Like-Compound (HTlc)

A Mg/Fe hydrotalcite-like-compound (HTlc) was prepared and its affinity toward the removal of SeO(3)(2-) from an aqueous medium was studied as a function of pH, time, temperature, particle dose, and SeO(3)(2-) concentration. The fraction of SeO(3)(2-) removal increases with decrease in both pH and temperature. The adsorption data are fitted to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm in the temperature range 303-333 K, and the thermodynamic parameters viz. standard Gibbs' free energy change (DeltaG degrees ), enthalpy change (DeltaH degrees ), and entropy change (DeltaS degrees ) are calculated. The negative value of DeltaH degrees indicates that the adsorption process is exothermic. The apparent equilibrium constants (K(a)) are also calculated and found to decrease with increase in temperature.

A visual pigment expressed in both rod and cone photoreceptors

Rods and cones contain closely related but distinct G protein-coupled receptors, opsins, which have diverged to meet the differing requirements of night and day vision. Here, we provide evidence for an exception to that rule. Results from immunohistochemistry, spectrophotometry, and single-cell RT-PCR demonstrate that, in the tiger salamander, the green rods and blue-sensitive cones contain the same opsin. In contrast, the two cells express distinct G protein transducin alpha subunits: rod alpha transducin in green rods and cone alpha transducin in blue-sensitive cones. The different transducins do not appear to markedly affect photon sensitivity or response kinetics in the green rod and blue-sensitive cone. This suggests that neither the cell topology or the transducin is sufficient to differentiate the rod and the cone response.

A study of drug eruptions by provocative tests

Sixty cases of drug eruptions were observed during the period of one year. The incidence of drug eruption was 0.47% amongst all Dermatology O.P.D. attendances. Male to female ratio was 7:3. The highest number of cases were seen in the age group of 21-30 years. Fixed drug eruptions were the most frequent (58.3%), followed by urticaria and angioedema (20%). The drug sulphonamides (including co-trimoxazole) accounted for the highest number of eruptions (35%). The other drugs which were responsible for the eruptions, in order of frequency, were oxyphenbutazone, ampicillin, analgin, penicillin, tetracycline, ibuprofen, paracetamol, phenylbutazone, acetaminophen and phenobarbitone. The causative drug (s) were confirmed by provocation tests in 42 (70%) cases.

Status and distribution of golden langurs (Trachypithecus geei) in Assam, India

The distribution of golden langurs (Trachypithecus geei) is limited to a small area of western Assam in northeast India and Bhutan between the rivers Manas in the east, Sankosh in the west, and Brahmaputra in the south. It is one of the most seriously endangered primate species of India. A comparative analysis based on satellite images taken in 1988 and 1998 showed a 50% loss of original golden langur habitat. Data on population dynamics collected using line transect and total count methods are presented here. An average group size of 8.2 (range 4.0-22.0) individuals was recorded. A total of 1,064 individuals were counted living in 130 groups. The sex ratio was 1.9-2.5 adult females for each adult male. A low percentage of juveniles and infants suggests that the population is unstable. Most of the groups had only one adult male. Small group sizes, isolated distribution, proportionately few infants and juveniles, and degrading habitat are all causes of concern. Demographic trends indicate a decline in the golden langur population.

Salamander UV cone pigment: sequence, expression, and spectral properties

The visual pigment from the ultraviolet (UV) cone photoreceptor of the tiger salamander has been cloned, expressed, and characterized. The cDNA contains a full-length open reading frame encoding 347 amino acids. The phylogenetic analysis indicates that the highest sequence homology is to the visual pigments in the S group. The UV opsin was tagged at the carboxy-terminus with the sequence for the 1D4 epitope. This fusion opsin was expressed in COS-1 cells, regenerated with 11-cis retinal (A1) and immuno-purified, yielding a pigment with an absorbance maximum (lambdamax) of 356 nm which is blue shifted from the absorption of retinal itself. The transducin activation assay demonstrated that this pigment is able to activate rod transducin in a light-dependent manner. Regeneration with 11-cis 3,4-dehydroretinal (A2) yielded a pigment with a lambdamax of 360 nm, only 4 nm red shifted from that of the A1 pigment, while bovine rhodopsin generated with A2 showed a 16-nm red shift from the corresponding A1 pigment. These results demonstrate that the trend for a shorter wavelength pigment to have a smaller shift of lambdamax between the A1 and A2 pigments also fits UV pigments. We hypothesize that the small red shift with A2 could be due to a twist in the chromophore that essentially isolates the ring double bond(s) from conjugation with the rest of the polyene chain.

First care givers of mentally ill patients: a multicenter study

Pathways to psychiatric care were evaluated among three hundred and eighty four first-contact psychiatric patients from five socio-culturally different regions of India by a modified version of World Health Organization encounter form for 'pathways in psychiatric care'. Concerning first caregivers, out of 384 respondents 34.1% had chosen the psychiatrists, 29.4% the general practitioners and 26% had chosen faith healers and exorcists. Choice for the first caregiver was not influenced by gender differences, literacy status and family type. Mostly the subjects hailing from rural areas and those presenting with somatic symptoms chose psychiatrist as their first caregivers.

Profile of glaucoma in a major eye hospital in north India

PURPOSE

To study the clinical profile and distribution of various subtypes of glaucoma in a referral practice in North India.

METHOD

A retrospective analysis was done of 2425 patients who attended the glaucoma clinic in a tertiary eye-care centre for five years from January 1995 to December 1999. A detailed history was obtained and a thorough examination was performed, including gonioscopy, disc assessment, applanation tonometry and automated perimetry. Diurnal variation of IOP and provocative tests for glaucoma were done where applicable.

RESULT

Primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) was the most common glaucoma subtype. The primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) to the PACG ratio was 37:63. Chronic angle closure glaucoma (CACG) was the most common PACG subtype. The majority of CACG cases were relatively asymptomatic. Male dominance was seen for POAG, juvenile open angle glaucoma (JOAG), CACG, normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and secondary glaucomas. Female dominance was seen for ocular hypertension (OHT), acute or intermittent ACG and developmental glaucomas. The mean age in years at presentation was POAG:60.54 years (males 61.54 years, females 59.01 years) and PACG: 55.13 years (males 57.25 years, females 53.60). The three common secondary glaucomas were: glaucoma secondary to adherent leucoma, aphakic and pseudophakic glaucomas and traumatic glaucomas. Advanced glaucoma was detected in 42 to 53% of patients and bilateral blindness in 8 to 14% of patients in various subtypes.

CONCLUSION

Compared to Caucasians, glaucoma patients in North India seem to present nearly a decade earlier and the disease is more advanced at presentation. While PACG is the most commonly encountered glaucoma, NTG and exfoliative glaucoma are relatively rare.

A critical role for NF-kappa B in GATA3 expression and TH2 differentiation in allergic airway inflammation

The transcription factor GATA-3 is expressed in T helper 2 (TH2) but not TH1 cells and plays a critical role in TH2 differentiation and allergic airway inflammation in vivo. Mice that lack the p50 subunit of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) are unable to mount airway eosinophilic inflammation. We show here that this is not due to defects in TH2 cell recruitment but due to the inability of the p50-/- mice to produce interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-13: cytokines that play distinct roles in asthma pathogenesis. CD4+ T cells from p50-/- mice failed to induce Gata3 expression under TH2-differentiating conditions but showed unimpaired T-bet expression and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production under TH1-differentiating conditions. Inhibition of NF-kappa B activity prevented GATA-3 expression and TH2 cytokine production in developing, but not committed, TH2 cells. Our studies provide a molecular basis for the need for both T cell receptor and cytokine signaling for GATA-3 expression and, in turn, TH2 differentiation.

Evaluation of antidiarrhoeal profile of Jussiaea suffruticosa linn. extract in rats

The antidiarrhoeal potential of a methanol extract of the aerial parts of Jussiaea suffruticosa Linn. (MEJS) was studied with several experimental models of diarrhoea in rats. MEJS treated rats showed significant inhibitory activity against castor oil induced diarrhoea and PGE(2) induced enteropooling. It also showed a significant reduction in gastrointestinal motility following a charcoal meal in rats. The extract exhibited significant antidiarrhoeal potential at doses of 100,200 and 300 mg/kg in all the animal models and thus established the efficacy of MEJS as a potent antidiarrhoeal agent.

Anti-inflammatory evaluation of Ficus racemosa Linn. leaf extract

The anti-inflammatory activity of Ficus racemosa extract was evaluated on carrageenin, serotonin, histamine and dextran-induced rat hind paw oedema models. The extract at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg has been found to possess significant anti-inflammatory activity on the tested experimental models. The extract (400 mg/kg) exhibited maximum anti-inflammatory effect, that is 30.4, 32.2, 33.9 and 32.0% at the end of 3 h with carrageenin, serotonin, histamine, dextran-induced rat paw oedema, respectively. In a chronic test the extract (400 mg/kg) showed 41.5% reduction in granuloma weight. The effect produced by the extract was comparable to that of phenylbutazone, a prototype of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent.

Fluorescence properties of pyrylretinol

A fluorescent analog of retinol, 3,7-dimethyl-9-(1-pyryl)-2E,4E,6E,8E-nonatetr aene-1-ol (referred to as pyrylretinol, or 1) has been synthesized. The fluorescence properties (e.g. quantum yield, lifetime, steady-state anisotropy, and excitation/emission spectra) of this compound in various organic solvents and in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomes have been studied, and the results are compared with those obtained from 3-methyl-5-(1-pyryl)-2E,4E-pentadiene-1-ol (2), which has the same fused aromatic ring system but a much shorter acyclic chain. 1 and 2 form excimer in aqueous media and fluorescence anisotropies of both 1 and 2 in DMPC liposomes exhibit an abrupt decrease at approximately 21-23 degrees C, which coincides with the main phase transition temperature of DMPC liposomes, indicating that both compounds may be a useful membrane probe. In addition, the binding and quenching capability of pyrylretinol (1) to bovine serum albumin has been investigated. Pyrylretinol (1) binds with BSA with a binding constant of 3.6 x 10(4) M-1, although the value is somewhat lower than that obtained for retinol (3.06 x 10(5) M-1). Pyrylretinol (1) also quenches the BSA intrinsic fluorescence with the quenching rate constant of 1.67 x 10(13) M-1 s-1 and the value is lower than that obtained for retinol (4.06 x 10(13) M-1 s-1). The binding and quenching studies suggest that pyrylretinol (1) may serve as a useful fluorescence probe for structure/function studies of different retinoid binding proteins.

Ordering dynamics of heisenberg spins with torque: crossover, spin waves, and defects

We study the effect of a torque induced by the local molecular field on the phase ordering dynamics of the Heisenberg model when the total magnetization is conserved. The torque drives the zero-temperature ordering dynamics to a new fixed point, characterized by exponents z=2 and lambda approximately 5. This "torque-driven" fixed point is approached at times such that t>>g(2), where g is the strength of the torque. All physical quantities, like the domain size L(t) and the equal and unequal time correlation functions, obey a crossover scaling form over the entire range of g. An attempt to understand this crossover behavior from the approximate Gaussian closure scheme fails completely, implying that the dynamics at late times cannot be understood from the dynamics of defects alone. We provide convincing arguments that the spin configurations can be decomposed in terms of defects and spin waves which interact with each other even at late times. In the absence of the torque term, the spin waves decay faster, but even so we find that the Gaussian closure scheme is inconsistent. In the latter case the inconsistency may be remedied by including corrections to a simple Gaussian distribution. For completeness we include a discussion of the ordering dynamics at T(c), where the torque is shown to be relevant, with exponents z=4-varepsilon/2 and lambda=d (where varepsilon=6-d). We show to all orders in perturbation theory that lambda=d as a consequence of the conservation law.

Evaluation of antidiarrhoeal profile of Jussiaea suffruticosa linn. extract in rats

The antidiarrhoeal potential of a methanol extract of the aerial parts of Jussiaea suffruticosa Linn. (MEJS) was studied with several experimental models of diarrhoea in rats. MEJS treated rats showed significant inhibitory activity against castor oil induced diarrhoea and PGE(2) induced enteropooling. It also showed a significant reduction in gastrointestinal motility following a charcoal meal in rats. The extract exhibited significant antidiarrhoeal potential at doses of 100,200 and 300 mg/kg in all the animal models and thus established the efficacy of MEJS as a potent antidiarrhoeal agent.

Evaluation of anti-pyretic potential of Jussiaea suffruticosa L. extract in rats

A study was carried out to evaluate the anti-pyretic potential of the methanol extract of the aerial part of Jussiaea suffruticosa Linn. (MEJS) on normal body temperature and yeast-induced pyrexia in albino rats. Yeast suspension (10 ml/kg body wt.) increased rectal temperature after 19 hours of subcutaneous injection. The MEJS, at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body wt. p.o., showed significant reduction in normal body temperature and yeast-provoked elevated temperature in a dose-dependent manner. The effect also extended up to 5 hours after the drug administration. The anti-pyretic effect of MEJS was comparable to that of paracetamol (150 mg/kg body wt, p.o.), a standard anti-pyretic agent.

Studies on antidiarrhoeal activity of Punica granatum seed extract in rats

Methanol extract of Punica granatum seed was evaluated for antidiarrhoeal activity against different experimental models of diarrhoea in rats. P. granatum seed extract treated animals showed significant inhibitory activity against castrol-oil induced diarrhoea and PGE2 induced enteropooling in rats. The extract also showed a significant reduction in gastro-intestinal motility in charcoal meal test in rats. The results obtained established the efficacy of P. granatum seed extract as an antidiarrhoeal agent.

Studies on pyrylretinal analogues of bacteriorhodopsin

The retinal analogues 3-methyl-5-(1-pyryl)-2E,4E-pentadienal (1) and 3,7-dimethyl-9-(1-pyryl)-2E,4E,6E,8E-nonatetr aenal (2), which contain the tetra aromatic pyryl system, have been synthesized and characterized in order to examine the effect of the extended ring system on the binding capabilities and the function of bacteriorhodopsin (bR). The two bR mutants, E194Q and E204Q, known to have distinct proton-pumping patterns, were also examined so that the effect of the bulky ring system on the proton-pumping mechanism could be studied. Both retinals formed pigments with all three bacterioopsins, and these pigments were found to have absorption maxima in the range 498-516 nm. All the analogue pigments showed activity as proton pumps. The pigment formed from wild-type apoprotein bR with 1 (with the shortened polyene side chain) showed an M intermediate at 400 nm and exhibited fast proton release followed by proton uptake. Extending the polyene side chain to the length identical with retinal, analogue 2 with wild-type apoprotein gave a pigment that shows M and O intermediates at 435 nm and 650 nm, respectively. This pigment shows both fast and slow proton release at pH 7, suggesting that the pKa of the proton release group (in the M-state) is higher in this pigment compared to native bR. Hydrogen azide ions were found to accelerate the rise and decay of the O intermediate at neutral pH in pyryl 2 pigment. The pigments formed between 2 and E194Q and E204Q showed proton-pumping behavior similar to pigments formed with the native retinal, suggesting that the size of the chromophore ring does not alter the protein conformation at these sites.

Isomerization of all-trans-9- and 13-desmethylretinol by retinal pigment epithelial cells

Photoisomerization of 11-cis-retinal to all-trans-retinal triggers phototransduction in the retinal photoreceptor cells and causes ultimately the sensation of vision. 11-cis-Retinal is enzymatically regenerated through a complex set of reactions in adjacent retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE). In this study using all-trans-9-desmethylretinol (lacking the C(19) methyl group) and all-trans-13-desmethylretinol (lacking the C(20) methyl group), we explored the effects of C(19) and C(20) methyl group removals on isomerization of these retinols in RPE microsomes. The C(19) methyl group may be involved in the substrate activation, whereas the C(20) methyl group causes steric hindrance with a proton in position C(10) of 11-cis-retinol; thus, removal of this group could accelerate isomerization. We found that all-trans-9-desmethylretinol and all-trans-13-desmethylretinol are isomerized to their corresponding 11-cis-alcohols, although with lower efficiencies than isomerization of all-trans-retinol to 11-cis-retinol. These findings make the mechanism of isomerization through the C(19) methyl group unlikely, because in the case of 9-desmethylretinol, the isomerization would have to progress by proton abstraction from electron-rich olefinic C(9). The differences between all-trans-retinol, all-trans-9-desmethylretinol, and all-trans-13-desmethylretinol appear to be a consequence of the enzymatic properties, and binding affinities of the isomerization system, rather than differences in the chemical or thermodynamic properties of these compounds. This observation is also supported by quantum chemical calculations. It appears that both methyl groups are not essential for the isomerization reaction and are not likely involved in formation of a transition stage during the isomerization process.

Hepatoprotective activity of Ficus racemosa leaf extract on liver damage caused by carbon tetrachloride in rats

An extract of the leaves of Ficus racemosa Linn. (Moraceae) was evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in rats by inducing chronic liver damage by subcutaneous injection of 50% v/v carbon tetrachloride in liquid paraffin at a dose of 3 mL/kg on alternate days for a period of 4 weeks. The biochemical parameters SGOT, SGPT, serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase were estimated to assess the liver function. The activity of extract was also comparable to a standard liver tonic (Neutrosec).

The mutK gene of Vibrio cholerae: a new gene involved in DNA mismatch repair

A new gene, mutK, of Vibrio cholerae, encoding a 19-kDa protein which is involved in repairing mismatches in DNA via a presumably methyl-independent pathway, has been identified. The product of the mutK gene cloned in either high- or low-copy-number vectors can reduce the spontaneous mutation frequency of Escherichia coli mutS, mutL, mutU, and dam mutants. The spontaneous mutation frequency of a chromosomal mutK knockout mutant was almost identical to that of wild-type V. cholerae cells, indicating that when the methyl-directed mismatch repair is blocked, the repair potential of MutK becomes apparent. The complete nucleotide sequence of the mutK gene has been determined, and the deduced amino acid sequence showed three open reading frames (ORFs), of which the ORF3 represents the mutK gene product. The mutK gene product has no significant homology with any of the proteins deposited in the EMBL data bank. ORF2, located upstream of mutK, encodes a 14-kDa protein which has more than 70% homology with a hypothetical protein found only downstream of the E. coli vsr gene. ORF1, located farther upstream of mutK, has more than 80% homology with a major cold shock protein found in several bacteria. Downstream of mutK, a partial ORF having 60% homology with an RNA methyltransferase has been identified. The mutK gene has recently been positioned in the ordered cloned DNA map of the genome of the V. cholerae strain from which the gene was isolated (10).

Kinetic asymmetry as a key source of functional diversity in biochemical networks

From the analysis of the dynamic properties of various symmetric and asymmetric kinetic schemes, the present report demonstrates that all kinetic schemes, which can be hypothetically divided into two equal halves about an axis of mirror symmetry, are endowed with structural metastability under mass-closed conditions. In mass-closed symmetric schemes, absolute symmetry in reaction conditions in two halves is essential for the occurrence of ordered dynamic behaviour. Even an infinitesimal deviation from the symmetry relations instantaneously drives such systems from limit-cycles to turbulence. Reaction schemes with no axes of symmetry may exhibit a large variety of complex, structurally stable temporal order for wide ranges of values of system parameters and variables. Kinetic asymmetry, therefore, may confer to biochemical networks the functional diversity as well as stability against environmental perturbations.

Resurgent Vibrio cholerae O139: rearrangement of cholera toxin genetic elements and amplification of rrn operon

The unprecedented genesis of a novel non-O1 Vibrio cholerae strain belonging to serogroup O139, which caused an epidemic in late 1992 in the Indian subcontinent, and its subsequent displacement by El Tor O1 vibrios after 18 months initiated a renewed investigation of the aspects of the organism that are related to pathogenesis. The reappearance of V. cholerae O139 with altered antibiotic sensitivity compared to O139 Bengal (O139B) in late 1996 has complicated the epidemiological scenario of V. cholerae and has necessitated an examination of possible rearrangements in the genome underlying such rapid changes in the phenotypic traits. With a view to investigating whether the phenotypic changes that have occurred are associated with alteration in the genome, the genome of the resurgent V. cholerae O139 (O139R) strains were examined. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of NotI- and SfiI-digested genomic DNA of O139R isolates showed restriction fragment length polymorphism including in the cholera toxin (CTX) genetic element locus and with O139B isolates. Analyses of the organization of the CTX genetic elements in O139R strains showed that in contrast to two copies of the elements connected by two direct-repeat sequences (RS) in most of the genomes of O139B isolates, the genomes of all O139R strains examined, except strain AS192, have three such elements connected by a single RS. While the RS present in the upstream of the CTX genetic elements in the genome of O139R is of O139B origin, the RS connecting the cores of the elements has several new restriction sites and has lost the BglII site which is supposed to be conserved in all O1 strains and O139B. The endonuclease I-CeuI, which has sites only in the rrn operons in the genomes of all organisms examined so far, has 10 sites in the genomes of O139R strains, compared to 9 in the genomes of O139B strains. The recent isolates of V. cholerae O139 have thus gained one rrn operon. This variation in the number of rrn operons within a serogroup has not been reported for any other organism. The results presented in this report suggest that like the pathogenic El Tor O1 strains, the genomes of O139 strains are undergoing rapid alterations.

A comparative study of life events in depression and mania

This prospective study was aimed at a qualitative and quantitative analysis of life events in depression and mania and to find out any correlation between the severity of life events and magnitude of illness. Forty two patients with first episode mania and thirty patients with first episode depression, satisfied the DSM III R Diagnostic Criteria were interviewed using Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for depression, Modified Manic State Rating Scale for mania and a questionnaire concerning sociodemographic and clinical profile. Life events were experienced by 87% of depressives and 81% of manics. There was no difference in the quantitative and qualitative profile of life events except that desirable life events and events like major physical illness or injury were significantly higher in depressives. Financial loss/problems were the commonest events experienced by the two groups. There was no con-elation between the severity of life events and magnitude of illness. The implications of these findings are discussed in Indian context.

Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal: combined physical and genetic map and comparative analysis with the genome of V. cholerae O1

A combined physical and genetic map of the genome of strain SG24 of Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal, a novel non-O1 strain having epidemic potential, has been constructed by using the enzymes NotI, SfiI, and CeuI. The genome of SG24 is circular, and the genome size is about 3. 57 Mb. The linkages between 47 NotI and 32 SfiI fragments of V. cholerae SG24 genomic DNA were determined by combining two approaches: (i) identification of fragments produced by enzyme I in fragments produced by enzyme II by the method of fragment excision, redigestion, and end labeling and (ii) use of the linking clone libraries generated from the genome of classical O1 strain 569B. The linkages between nine CeuI fragments were determined primarily by analyses of partial fragments of the CeuI-digested genome. More than 80 cloned homologous and heterologous genes, including several operons, have been positioned on the physical map. The map of the SG24 genome represents the second map of a V. cholerae genome, and a comparison of this map with that of classical O1 strain 569B revealed considerable diversity in DNA restriction sites and allowed identification of hypervariable regions. Several genetic markers, including virulence determinant genes, are in different positions in the SG24 and 569B genomes.

Adsorption of Phosphate from Aqueous Solution Using Activated Red Mud

Adsorption of phosphate (PO3-4) from aqueous solution on activated red mud (ARM) was studied as a function of time, pH, temperature, concentration of adsorbent and adsorbate in acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer medium. The adsorption of phosphate follows Langmuir as well as Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The process efficiency was found to be 80-90% at room temperature. This can be extended to the treatment of industrial effluents containing phosphates like that from phosphatic fertilizer plants. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

Codon usage in highly expressed genes of Haemophillus influenzae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis: translational selection versus mutational bias

Biases in the codon usage and base compositions at three codon sites in different genes of A+T-rich Gram-negative bacterium Haemophillus influenzae and G+C-rich Gram-positive bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been examined to address the following questions: (1) whether the synonymous codon usage in organisms having highly skewed base compositions is totally dictated by the mutational bias as reported previously (Sharp, P.M., Devine, K.M., 1989. Codon usage and gene expression level in Dictyostelium discoideum: highly expressed genes do 'prefer' optimal codons. Nucleic Acids Res. 17, 5029-5039), or is also controlled by translational selection; (2) whether preference of G in the first codon positions by highly expressed genes, as reported in Escherichia coli (Gutierrez, G., Marquez, L., Marin, A., 1996. Preference for guanosine at first codon position in highly expressed Escherichia coli genes. A relationship with translational efficiency. Nucleic Acids Res. 24, 2525-2527), is true in other bacteria; and (3) whether the usage of bases in three codon positions is species-specific. Result presented here show that even in organisms with high mutational bias, translational selection plays an important role in dictating the synonymous codon usage, though the set of optimal codons is chosen in accordance with the mutational pressure. The frequencies of G-starting codons are positively correlated to the level of expression of genes, as estimated by their Codon Adaptation Index (CAI) values, in M. tuberculosis as well as in H. influenzae in spite of having an A+T-rich genome. The present study on the codon preferences of two organisms with oppositely skewed base compositions thus suggests that the preference of G-starting codons by highly expressed genes might be a general feature of bacteria, irrespective of their overall G+C contents. The ranges of variations in the frequencies of individual bases at the first and second codon positions of genes of both H. influenzae and M. tuberculosis are similar to those of E. coli, implying that though the composition of all three codon positions is governed by a selection-mutation balance, the mutational pressure has little influence in the choice of bases at the first two codon positions, even in organisms with highly biased base compositions.

Liposome encapsulated vitamin A compounds exhibit greater stability and diminished toxicity

Absorption and fluorescence studies of retinol (vitamin A alcohol) and retinol palmitate (vitamin A palmitate) intercalated in phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes show that these compounds are bound to the lipid bilayer. It is further found that retinol binds liposomes with greater affinity as compared to retinol palmitate. In addition, the delivery of liposome-incorporated retinoids to the blood has also been studied and it is found that these systems reduce blood viscosity and cause less lysis of red blood cells than retinoid compounds not complexed in liposomes.

Comorbidity in children with mental retardation

This study was conducted in the child psychiatry unit of a tertiary psychiatric hospital. 60 patients diagnosed to have mental retardation according to ICD-10 (WHO, 1992) criteria constituted the study sample. A psychiatric disorder was present in 56.17% of the cases, and a medical disease was present in 35.0%. Only 13.3% cases had both a psychiatric as well as medical illness. Patients with a psychiatric illness were found to have a lesser degree of retardation. The commonest psychiatric disorder observed was behavioural and emotional disorders, while the commonest medical illness found was epilepsy. Patients with a medical illness were found to have a negative family history for a mental illness, and were much younger at the first consultation compared to the patients with a psychiatric illness. The above findings have been discussed, with emphasis on issues like dual diagnosis and diagnostic overshadowing.