Household cooking fuel and gallbladder cancer risk: a multi-centre case-control study in India

PURPOSE

Gallbladder cancers (GBC), unique to certain geographical regions, are lethal digestive tract cancers, disproportionately affecting women, with limited information on risk factors.

METHODS

We evaluated the association between household cooking fuel and GBC risk in a hospital-based case-control study conducted in the North-East and East Indian states of Assam and Bihar. We explored the potential mediation by diet, fire-vents, 'daily exposure duration' and parity (among women). We recruited biopsy-confirmed GBC (n = 214) men and women aged 30-69 years between 2019 and 2021, and controls frequency-matched by age, sex and region (n = 166). Information about cooking fuel, lifestyle, personal and family history, female reproductive factors, socio-demographics, and anthropometrics was collected. We tested associations using multivariable logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

All participants (73.4% women) were categorised based on predominant cooking fuel use. Group-1: LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) users in the previous 20 years and above without concurrent biomass use (26.15%); Group-2: LPG users in the previous 20 years and above with concurrent secondary biomass use (15.9%); Group-3: Biomass users for ≥ 20 years (57.95%). Compared to group-1, accounting for confounders, GBC risk was higher in group-2 [OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.00-4.07] and group-3 [OR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.08-3.73] (p-trend:0.020). These associations strengthened among women that attenuated with high daily consumption of fruits-vegetables but not with fire-vents, 'daily exposure duration' or parity.

CONCLUSION

Biomass burning was associated with a high-risk for GBC and should be considered as a modifiable risk factor for GBC. Clean cooking fuel can potentially mitigate, and a healthy diet can partially reduce the risk among women.

Effect of flaring of natural gas in oil fields of Assam on rice cultivation

Assam (India) is endowed with natural resources like oil, coal and natural gas. The crude oil, one of the most precious natural resources, is found in the districts of upper Assam. During the process of extraction of crude oil, low-pressure natural gas is burnt in the air. Most of the oil wells in upper Assam are located near rice fields and therefore, rice crop grown near the oil wells is exposed to light uninterruptedly causing grain sterility resulting significant loss in grain yield. To identify promising varieties for these areas, we studied the effect of flare on rice varieties with different photoperiod sensitivity. The high light intensity and increased light hours were the factors responsible for substantial loss in grain yield near the flare resulting from delay in flower initiation, reduction of panicle length, having less number of grains per panicle and more grain sterility. To prevent significant loss in yield, photoperiod-sensitive traditional and improved rice varieties should not be grown up to the distance of 80 and 100 m, respectively from the boundary wall of the flare pit. Modern weakly-photoperiod sensitive varieties like Ranjti and Mahsuri can be grown 40 m away from the wall while modern photoperiod insensitive variety like Jaya, can be cultivated 20 m away from the wall without significant loss in yield.

Synthesis, absolute stereochemistry and molecular design of the new antifungal and antibacterial antibiotic produced by Streptomyces sp.201

The absolute stereochemistry of the new antifungal and antibacterial antibiotic produced by Streptomyces sp.201 has been established by achieving the total synthesis of the product. A series of analogues have also been synthesized by changing the side chain and their bioactivity assessed against different microbial strains. Among them, 1e (R = C8H17) was found to be the most potent with MIC of 8 microg/mL against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 12 microg/mL against Escherichia coli and 16 microg/mL against Bacillus subtilis 6 microg/mL against Proteus vulgaris. This was followed by 1b (R = C5H11) with MIC of 10-20 microg/mL range and 1d (R = C7H15) with MIC of 14-24 g/mL, whereas 1a (R = C4H9) and 1f (R = C18H35) were found to be completely inactive. Besides, 1c (R = C6H13) showed certain extent of antibacterial activity in the range of 24-50 microg/mL. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was very sensitive to 1e (R = C8H17) with MIC of 8 microg/mL. Antifungal activity of analogues 1d (R = C7H15) and 1e, (R = C8H17) against Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani were found promising with MFCs in the 15-18 microg/mL range.

[Selenium plasma concentration level in children with food allergy]

Selenium (Se) is an essential component of many mammalian enzymes and therefore plays an important role in different metabolic processes. Se deficiency occurs in inadequate diet consumption as well as in some digestive tract and allergic diseases. In this research we showed that Se plasma concentration levels in healthy children was 71.8 mg/l, whereas in those with food allergy 54.1 mg/l (with smaller intestinal villus atrophy) or 50.4 mg/l (with greater intestinal villus atrophy). Obtained results indicate that children with food allergy display higher risk of Se deficiency. Antioxidative and immunomodulatory action of Se, connecting with promising literature data of Se supplementation, promote us to state, that this trace element could be used for accessory food allergies treatment.

[Influence of gluten free diet on bone mineral density (BMD) in children with celiac disease]

In children with celiac disease (CD) bone metabolism and mineralization are frequently disturbed. The present study aimed to assess the influence of gluten free diet (GFD) on bone mineral density (BMD) in 73 children with CD, mean age of 12.4 +/- 0.4 years and mean body mass index (BMI) 17.9 +/- 0.4 kg/m2 (mean +/- SEM). Diagnosis of CD was established according to ESPEGAN criteria. Compliance to the GFD was verified on the basis of interview and by estimation of antiendomysial antibodies (IgAEmA/IgGEmA) in blood serum. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Plasma calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, alkaline phosphatase (AP) and its bone fraction (BAP) were estimated before BMD measurement. All children were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of 33 children where gluten free diet was strictly respected for 11.7 +/- 0.6 years. The second group (Group B) comprised 40 children without strictly respected GFD. Children who strictly followed GFD showed statistically higher BMI, AP-spine BMD and total body BMD in comparison with children without GFD (BMI 19 +/- 0.52 kg/m2 vs 17.3 +/- 0.4 kg/m2; p < 0.01, AP-spine BMD 0.951 +/- 0.04 g/cm2 vs 0.767 + 0.03 g/cm2; p < 0.005, Total Body BMD 1.013 +/- 0.02 g/cm2 vs 0.933 +/- 0.01 g/cm2; p < 0.05) respectively. No significant differences were found in plasma Ca, P, AP, BAP between both groups. A statistically significant positive correlation (p < 0.001) was found between duration of GFD and AP-spine BMD and total body BMD, respectively. A statistically significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) was also found between duration of GFD and BMI.

CONCLUSION

Long-term GFD significantly improves BMD and BMI in children with CD.

Uptake and processing of biofilm and free-cell vaccines of Aeromonas hydrophila in indian major carps and common carp following oral vaccination--antigen localization by a monoclonal antibody

Uptake and processing of biofilm (BF) and free-cell (FC) vaccines of Aeromonas hydrophila were studied in the Indian major carps catla Catla catla, and rohu Labeo rohita and in the common carp Cyprinus carpio following a single dose oral vaccination of 10(11) CFU g(-1) fish. Fish were sampled at 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 h and at 2, 3, 5 and 10 d following vaccination and antigen localization was studied in the gut, kidney and spleen employing monoclonal antibody based immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase. The general pattern of antigen localization was similar in catla, rohu and common carp. Initially, both the BF and FC antigens were localized in the gut lumen, followed by their uptake by intraepithelial vacuoles and macrophages. Antigen administered orally was also seen in the spleen and kidney. Both BF and FC antigens were detected in the gut lumen of carp within 30 min following oral delivery. However, BF antigen remained in the lumen of the hindgut for 48 h compared to 6 h in the case of FC antigen. In the early stages, BF antigen was localized in the gut epithelial vacuoles while FC antigen was associated with the small macrophages of the hindgut. Antigen localization in spleen and kidney was observed at 3 h and persisted even up to 10 d following oral delivery. In general, there was a distinct difference between BF and FC vaccines in the duration of retention and quantity of uptake in the gut, kidney and spleen.

[Serum prolactin concentration in children with celiac disease]

The study encompassed 62 children aged 4-15 years: 51 with a confirmed diagnosis of celiac disease and 11 suspected of having celiac disease (during diagnostic studies). The control group included 30 healthy children aged 4-15 years. Serum prolactin concentration was measured using radioimmunoassay (RIA) kits. Serum prolactin concentrations were significantly higher in children with celiac disease not following a gluten-free diet than in the control group. Children with serious mucosal lesions revealed by small bowel mucosal biopsies had the highest serum prolactin concentrations. Of these children, 36% gad values higher than 15 ng/ml. Differences between children with celiac disease complying with a gluten-free diet and the control group were not significant.