Electronic and vibrational spectra of some rare earth trifluoromethanesulfonates crystals

The Raman and infrared spectra of some rare earth (dysprosium and terbium) trifluoromethanesulfonates crystals have been analyzed. Different vibrational frequencies of trifluoromethanesulfonate ions (CF3SO3-) are identified and assigned to different vibrations of the SO3 and CF3 groups. Electronic transitions of R3+ ions (R=Dy, Tb) in these salts have been assigned to transitions from the ground to different energy levels of the ground multiplet. The electronic energy levels of the rare earth ions are also determined theoretically with the help of single electron crystal field theory. They are found to yield results not only in good agreement with the observed spectral data but also in good conformity with those obtained previously from magnetic measurements.

Emergence of Noroviruses homologous to strains reported from Djibouti (horn of Africa), Brazil, Italy, Japan and USA among children in Kolkata, India

AIM

A total of 625 faecal specimens of diarrheic cases (n-313) and non diarrheic controls (n-312), were screened by RT-PCR to detect Noroviruses in children aged below 5 years in Kolkata, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Out of the 313 fecal specimens (cases) screened using CDC primer set, 10 (3.19%) showed amplification in reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for Norovirus. These included 5 of 260 (1.92%) from hospitalized and 5 of 53 (9.43%) from out patients departament (OPD) cases.

RESULTS

Nine (90%) of Norovirus positive cases belonged to genogroup GII and one specimen (10%) was positive for genogroup GI. Among the 312 non diarrheic controls 2 (0.63%) were positive for Norovirus GII. Partial RNA dependent RNA polymerase gene (RdRp) sequences corresponding to the six Norovirus GII positive samples showed homology to the sequences of Djibouti (horn of Africa), Brazil, Italy, Japan and US norovirus strains.

CONCLUSION

This study shows the detection of newly emerging Norovirus strains among diarrheic and non diarrheic children in Kolkata.

Insulin resistance and adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To estimate (1) the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR), by fasting glucose: insulin ratio (G:I<7.0) in adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), (2) to compare the clinical and biochemical parameters between insulin-resistant and non-insulin resistant groups.

DESIGN

Case series.

SETTING

Clinic based.

PARTICIPANTS

49 adolescent girls with complaints of oligomenorrhoea with hirsutism and or acne.

INTERVENTIONS

Forty-nine adolescent girls diagnosed to have PCOS (Rotterdam 2003 criteria) were studied. Body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference (AC), hirsutism (Ferriman Gallway score > or = 6), presence of acne, acanthosis nigricans (AN) were noted in each case. Serum testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured. Free androgen index (FAI) was calculated.

RESULTS

69.4% of these girls were found to have IR. There were no differences in age, BMI, AC, serum testosterone, FAI and fasting glucose levels between insulin resistant and non-insulin resistant girls. But there were significant differences in frequencies of hirsutism, acne, AN, and serum levels of SHBG and fasting insulin between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Adolescent girls with PCOS and IR are more hirsute and have more AN and lower SHBG and higher fasting insulin levels compared to non-insulin resistant girls.

(11)B and (195)Pt NMR study of heavy-fermion compound CePt(2)B(2)C

We report (11)B and (195)Pt NMR Knight shift K and spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T(1) in CePt(2)B(2)C in the range 4-315 K. The quadrupolar coupling constant, ν(Q) for boron nuclei is 790 ± 10 kHz. The change of hyperfine field, H(hf), is observed below 30 K in the K versus susceptibility, χ, plot. The calculated value of H(hf) at the (11)B ((195)Pt) is 0.156 (6.86) kOe/μ(B) in the range 30-300 K and ∼0 (0.22) kOe/μ(B) below 30 K. The 1/T(1) versus T curve shows some exotic behavior. The Ce 4f spin contribution to the nuclear relaxation rate (1/T(1f)) in each case is obtained by subtracting the T(1K)(-1) estimated from its La analog, i.e. LaPt(2)B(2)C. In the case of (11)B resonance, in the temperature range of 300-100 K, (1/T(1f)) is independent of T, suggesting a Curie-Weiss behavior of the imaginary part of the dynamic susceptibility. It then shows a slow but continuous increment in the range 100-70 K, indicating a signature of the development of short-range magnetic correlation among the Ce 4f spins. Below 70 K, this enhancement of 1/T(1f) is completely suppressed and it decreases sharply, indicating a suppression of the effect of magnetic correlation, due to the dominance of the Kondo effect over the RKKY interaction. 1/T(1f), follows ∼T(α), with an exponent α∼0.7 in the range 4-30 K for (195)Pt and in the range 8-30 K for (11)B resonance. This is a characteristics of a non-Fermi-liquid like behavior. However, in the case of (11)B, there is again a clear change in the slope of the 1/T(1f) versus T curve below 8 K, with the value of α = 1.0, as if the behavior of the conduction electrons approaches towards a Fermi liquid, when probed near the (11)B site.

Development of nanostructured CoFe-based alloys for high temperature magnetic applications

The effect of substituting Fe by Co on the crystallization, structural and magnetic behaviour of Fe(72-x)Co(x)Si4B20Nb4 (X = 10, 20, 36, 50 at%) and Co36Fe36Si(4-Y)Al(y)B20Nb4 (Y = 0, 1 at%) alloys prepared in the form of melt spun ribbons has been discussed. Alloys containing optimum content of cobalt = 36 at% showed consistent coercivity at elevated temperatures. This soft magnetic property was further improved with aluminium incorporation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that such enhancement in the properties was due to finer dispersions of (CoFe)SiAl nanoparticles in amorphous matrix. Nanocrystallisation also raised the Curie temperature of the aluminium contained alloy.

Anti-phospholipid antibodies as a cause of recurrent pregnancy loss: a study in Calcutta, India

This prospective, observational study was carried out in a teaching hospital in Calcutta, India. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) among women with recurrent miscarriages/late pregnancy loss when no other apparent causes were identified, in the study population. The women were put through a variety of investigations to determine the cause of miscarriage/pregnancy loss. Only those women who had a normal result for all the investigation went for the anti-phospholipid antibodies (APLA) test. The expelled products of conception/placenta were also sent for histopathological confirmation. A total of 445 women were studied over a 4-year period. A total of 155 women were offered a screening for APLA antibodies. Out of them, 43 women (27.7%) tested positive for APLA. Histopathological evidence was present in all the specimens. Interestingly, one woman had histopathological evidence of thrombosis, but her blood tests for the antibody were negative.

Decolorization of anaerobically digested molasses spent wash by Pseudomonas putida

The distillery wastewater (spent wash) contains dark-brown colored recalcitrant organic compounds that are not amenable to conventional biological treatment. The characteristic recalcitrance to decolorization is due to the presence of brown melanoidin polymers. In the present study, feasibility of using Pseudomonas putida strain U for decolorization of spent wash was demonstrated. Batch cultures of P. putida decolourized spent wash by 24%, 2- fold higher decolorization was achieved following immobilization in calcium alginate beads. Glucose concentration was critical for decolourization and improved color removal efficiency was obtained by periodic replenishment of glucose. Decolourization was also observed with lactose or whey as alternative carbon sources. The results of our study suggest that P. putida could be used for biological decolorization of molasses spent washes and that supplementation with whey (a by-product from cheese industry) can offer economical viability to the process.

A study on delivery and newborn care practices in a rural block of West Bengal

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural block of the State of West Bengal to generate area specific data on the proportion of home deliveries and certain newborn care practices prevalent in that area. The study was done through house-to-house survey among 165 mothers who delivered in last six months. 83.6% deliveries were conducted at home and untrained persons attended 36.3% deliveries. Bath within 24 hours of delivery was given to 17.58% newborns. Birthweight was not recorded in 38.18%. High proportion of newborns, 78.5%, was given prelacteal feeding. The health system should urgently address the deficiencies in the delivery and newborn care practices in the study area.

Efficacy of Heatsynch protocol for induction of estrus, synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination in yaks (Poephagus grunniens L.)

The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of induction of estrus, synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination in anestrous yaks using the Heatsynch protocol. In Experiment 1, 10 anestrous yaks were administered an analogue of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) followed by prostaglandin (PG)F2alpha 7 days later and then estradiol cyponate (ECP) 24 h after that. Ovulation was detected by rectal palpation at 2h intervals beginning at the initial signs of estrus. Blood samples were collected at 2h intervals beginning at the time of ECP injection up to 2h after the occurrence of ovulation for the determination of LH and progesterone. All the animals responded to the Heatsynch protocol with expression of estrus and synchronization of ovulation. The mean time interval from the ECP injection to ovulation was 59.4+/-2.62 h (range 50-72 h). The interval from the LH peak to ovulation was 30.2+/-2.3 h. The high degree of synchrony in ovulation could be attributed to the synchrony in the timing of LH peaks. In Experiment 2, 10 anestrous yaks were treated with the Heatsynch protocol (as in Experiment 1) and TAI was performed at 48 and 60 h after the ECP treatment. Concurrently, 16 cycling yaks were inseminated approximately 12 h after detection of spontaneous estrus. Pregnancy rates were similar in both groups, 40% for TAI and 43.75% for yaks inseminated following spontaneous estrus (p>0.05). From this study, two conclusions can be drawn. First, the Heatsynch protocol can be successfully used to induce and synchronize estrus in anestrous yaks and, second, ovulation following the Heatsynch protocol is synchronized adequately to permit the use of fixed time AI in this species.

Fibronectin-adherent monocytes express tissue factor and tissue factor pathway inhibitor whereas endotoxin-stimulated monocytes primarily express tissue factor: physiologic and pathologic implications

BACKGROUND

Monocytes are critical cells in initiating physiologic and/or pathologic tissue factor (TF)-induced intravascular and extravascular coagulation. Monocytes constitutively express small amounts of TF and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). Non-adherent lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes express significant amounts of TF; however, increased expression of TFPI by these cells is controversial. Further, whether fibronectin-adherent monocytes (mimicking conditions in the extravascular space) express sufficient TFPI to inhibit TF-procoagulant activity (PCA) is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To compare TF and TFPI expression by fibronectin-adherent and LPS-stimulated non-adherent monocytes.

METHODS

Monocytes were isolated from normal peripheral blood, adhered to fibronectin or stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) under non-adherent conditions and examined for expression of TF and TFPI using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), ELISA and factor X (FX) activation.

RESULTS

Under LPS-free conditions, the fibronectin-adherent monocyte TF mRNA, antigen and activity were markedly upregulated. Notably, cell and microparticle (MP)-associated TF and alternatively spliced TF (asTF) were all upregulated. TFPI mRNA and antigen were also upregulated in the fibronectin-adherent monocytes, which significantly inhibited TF-PCA. TFPI mRNAs for both alpha and beta forms were detected. The peak in TFPI activity occurred in tandem with the peak in TF-PCA. In contrast, LPS-stimulated monocytes, which expressed cell and MP-associated TF and asTF, demonstrated only minimal expression of TFPI as determined by mRNA, antigen or inhibition of TF activity.

CONCLUSION

Both LPS-stimulated and fibronectin-adherent monocytes demonstrate a procoagulant phenotype by expressing TF but only fibronectin-adherent monocytes express significant amounts of TFPI to control thrombin generation and fibrin formation in the context of extravascular space.

Mutations of human TMHS cause recessively inherited non-syndromic hearing loss

BACKGROUND

Approximately half the cases of prelingual hearing loss are caused by genetic factors. Identification of genes causing deafness is a crucial first step in understanding the normal function of these genes in the auditory system. Recently, a mutant allele of Tmhs was reported to be associated with deafness and circling behaviour in the hurry-scurry mouse. Tmhs encodes a predicted tetraspan protein of unknown function, which is expressed in inner ear hair cells. The human homologue of Tmhs is located on chromosome 6p.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the cause of deafness in four consanguineous families segregating recessive deafness linked to markers on chromosome 6p21.1-p22.3 defining a novel DFNB locus.

RESULTS

A novel locus for non-syndromic deafness DFNB67 was mapped in an interval of approximately 28.51 cM on human chromosome 6p21.1-p22.3. DNA sequence analysis of TMHS revealed a homozygous frameshift mutation (246delC) and a missense mutation (Y127C) in affected individuals of two families segregating non-syndromic deafness, one of which showed significant evidence of linkage to markers in the DFNB67 interval. The localisation of mTMHS in developing mouse inner ear hair cells was refined and found to be expressed briefly from E16.5 to P3.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings establish the importance of TMHS for normal sound transduction in humans.

Evaluation of fluorenhymustine as a rationally designed novel anticancer agent

AIM

To develop a rationally designed new nitrogen mustard namely Fluorenhymustine (compound 2), where N,N'-bis(2chloro-ethyl)amino group, the established anticancer functionality, is attached to the 2-ethyl fluorenone hydantoin moiety.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Starting from fluorenone hydantoin, a 3-step synthetic procedure was followed to obtain the title compound. 4-(4-Nitrobenzyl)pyridine was used to assess its chemical alkylating activity. Murine tumors (Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and Sarcoma-180 (S-180)) were used to assess its in vivo activity. Its cytotoxicity was determined in vitro in MCF-7 human breast tumor cell line, toxicity - in vivo in normal and EAC bearing mice. 3H-Thymidine and 3H-Uridine were employed to study its inhibitory effect on DNA and RNA synthesis respectively in S-180 tumor cells in vitro.

RESULTS

Alkylating activity of fluorenmustine exceeded that of N-di(2-chloroethyl)amine used as a standard alkylating compound. It has displayed an excellent and reproducible antitumor activity in vivo against EAC and S-180 comparable to that of 5-fluorouracil judging by the increase in median survival times of treated animals. It also significantly increased the life span of mice bearing advanced tumors for 6 days before the drug challenge. However in vitro screening in MCF-7 did not reveal any significant cytotoxicity. The compound did not adversely affect hematopoiesis at its optimum dose. Drug-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were also not detected. It inhibited the synthesis of DNA and RNA in S-180 tumor cells at 8 microM concentration.

CONCLUSION

Results indicated promising chemotherapeutic potential of Fluorenhymustine.