Optimizing lipase activity, enantioselectivity, and stability with medium engineering and immobilization for beta-blocker synthesis

Lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia showed poor activity and moderate enantioselectivity (E) in pure aqueous systems for hydrolysis of a racemic mixture (+/-)-1-chloro-2-acetoxy-3-(1-naphthyloxy)-propane, which is a potential intermediate for beta-blocker synthesis. However, addition of polar organic solvents to the reaction can change both the activity and the enantioselectivity for this chiral reaction significantly. It was observed, in general, that the activity increases and the enantioselectivity decreases with the increase in the polarity of the organic solvent added to the medium. Among the six solvents chosen (i.e., dimethylsulfoxide [DMSO], 1, 4-dioxane, dimethylformamide [DMF], acetone, 1-propanol, and tetrahydrofuran [THF]), maximum activity and minimum enantioselectivity was obtained with DMSO, whereas minimum activity and maximum enantioselectivity was obtained with THF as the cosolvents. In the subsequent studies, native or polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified lipase was immobilized by entrapping in Caalginate gel beads. In a fixed-bed continuous reactor containing these catalyst beads, the enzyme was found to be at least three times more enantioselective than the native form in a batch reactor. This fixed-bed reactor with the beads could be operated with high concentration of acetone (33% v/v) for about 1 month without a significant loss of enzyme activity and enantioselectivity.

Keeping chewing tobacco in the cheek pouch overnight (night quid) increases risk of cheek carcinoma

Chewing Chewable Indian Tobacco (CIT) is a popular addiction in India. Some of the addicts keep the bolus of chewed tobacco tucked in the gingivo-labial sulcus (cheek pouch) overnight. This is known as the habit of the night quid. To assess the influence of night quid on the development of oral cancer we carried out this case control observational study in the Out Patient Department of Surgery, Sir Sunder Lai Hospital, Varanasi, India. A total of 105 consecutive oral cancer patients (epidermoid carcinoma) and 71 sex- and age-matched CIT addicts of the same duration of addiction were investigated for the habit of the night quid. The habit increased the risk of development of cheek carcinoma significantly at Odd's Ratio of 12.5. Simply giving up the habit of night quid could help in the reduction of oral cancer in CIT addicts.

Epidemiological correlates between consumption of Indian chewing tobacco and oral cancer

The problem of cancer is universal; the only variation occurs in the type, site or other clinicoepidemiological parameters. Peculiarly enough, oral cancers caused by chewing tobacco are common in India and some parts of the Indian sub-continent. Oral cancers caused by other carcinogens are not common in these areas. The present study shows a significant association (P less than 0.001) between the use of Indian chewing tobacco and oral cancer. Number of quids, mean quantity of tobacco and mean duration of keeping the quids in the mouth had direct dose and effect relationships in causation of oral cancer. A dose of 10 gms of chewing tobacco for about 26 years was observed to have produced cancerous lesions in the buccal cavity.

Antibody response to sheep erythrocytes in Indian native vis-à-vis imported breeds of chickens

1. A total of 433 birds (7 weeks old) of both sexes belonging to Indian native breeds, including, Aseel, Kadakanath, Naked Neck and Frizzle fowl along with the imported breeds Dahlem Red, White Leghorn, Synthetic dam line broiler (SDL) and Naked Neck broiler were utilised to test the primary antibody response to sheep erythrocytes by haemagglutination test. The effect of genotype (breed), sex and their interactions on antibody response were also studied. 2. The results revealed the presence of natural antibodies in all groups under study. 3. All groups except broilers showed the highest HA titre on day 5 post immunisation, which gradually declined until the end of the experiment (19th day post immunisation). In broilers, the peak HA titre was observed on day 12. 4. Dahlem Red showed the highest response throughout. The lowest antibody response was recorded for broilers except on day 19 post immunisation when it exceeded the White Leghorn value. 5. Amongst the native Indian breeds, the Naked neck had the highest titre on day 5 post immunisation but the Aseel titre was highest on days 12 and 19. 6. Males tended to have higher titres than females in Aseel, Kadakanath, Naked Neck, White Leghorn and Naked Neck broilers whereas Frizzle, Dahlem Red and SDL broilers showed the converse. 7. Statistical analysis revealed significant variation in HA response among the various genetic groups on different days post immunisation. The apparent differences between sexes were not significant. However, interactions between breed and sex were significant on day 5 and 19 post immunisation.

A clinico-epidemiological study of cognitive function status of community-dwelling elderly

BACKGROUND

Cognitive decline and dementia are an important problem affecting quality-of-life in elderly and their caregivers. There is regional variation in prevalence of cognitive decline as well as risk factors from region to region.

AIM

The aim was to determine the prevalence of dementia and cognitive decline and its various risk factors in the elderly population of more than 60 years in Eastern Uttar Pradesh (India).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A camp-based study was conducted on rural population of Chiraigaon block of Varanasi district from February 2007 to May 2007. Block has 80 villages, of which 11 villages were randomly selected. Eleven camps were organized for elderly people in 11 randomly selected villages on predetermined dates. A total of 728 elderly persons of age >60 years were examined, interviewed and data thus collected was analyzed. Elderly who got Hindi-mini-mental state examination (HMSE) score developed by Ganguli based on the Indo-US Cross-National Dementia Epidemiology Study) score ≤23 were evaluated further and in those with confirmed cognitive and functional impairment, diagnosis of dementia was assigned according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorder fourth edition criteria after ruling out any psychiatric illness or delirium. Based on International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnostic criteria sub-categorization of dementia was done.

RESULTS

Mean, median and 10(th) percentile of HMSE of the study population were 23.4, 24 and 17, respectively. About 14.6% elderly had scored <17. 42.9% of rural elderly population had HMSE score <23, 70.6% <27 and 27.7% between 23 and 27. Literate people had statistically significant higher mean HMSE score (26.1 ± 3.9) than illiterate people (22.9 ± 4.9). Other risk factors were female gender, malnutrition, and obesity. Prevalence of dementia was 2.74%; in male 2.70% and in female 2.80%. Most common type of dementia was Alzheimer (male 1.5%, female 1.5%) followed by vascular (male 1.2%, female 0.6%) and others 0.6% (male 0%, female 0.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Study showed that a very high percentage of rural elderly attending health camps had poor cognitive function score; though the prevalence of dementia was relatively low. Alzheimer dementia was most common, followed by vascular dementia, which was predominant in males. Illiteracy, age, and under-nutrition were the most important risk factors for poor cognitive function. Our study suggest that cut-off of HMSE score should be 17 (10(th) percentile) for illiterate population.

Selection for egg production on part records : Part 1: Evaluation of short term response to selection

Responses from four generations of index selection for egg production to 280 days of age in four White Leghorn populations have been presented. A pedigreed randombred population derived from one of the lines was reared with the selected lines to measure the environmental trend. The magnitude of total as well as average response although varying from population to population was positive in all the lines studied. Close correspondence between predicted and realized gains indicated that natural selection, genotype environmental interactions and environmental fluctuations were unimportant during the course of selection. Realized heritabilities agreed fairly well with the estimated heritabilities in at least three out of four populations studied. Probable reasons for variable and insufficient response were investigated.

Correlation of nutritional parameters of gallbladder cancer patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly fatal disease with poor prognosis and 5-year survival <5%. Weight loss and nutritional deterioration are associated with adverse outcomes in terms of cancer prognosis. Protein-calorie malnutrition is the single most common secondary diagnosis in a patient with cancer, and is a direct consequence of the anorexia of malignancy and altered host metabolism induced by the tumor. The present study of nutritional assessment is of particular interest for it helps in better understanding the extent of malnutrition in patients of GBC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A case-control study was designed comprising of 153 cases of GBC and 153 controls of gallstone disease (GSD). To assess the nutritional status of the GBC patients, anthropometric measurements such as height, weight, mid arm circumference, and skinfold thickness were recorded together with the biochemical parameters and their nutrient intake.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed that GBC influences the nutritional status of the patients. Forty-three percent of GBC patients were malnourished with low body mass index (BMI). A significant reduction in all the anthropometric measures was observed for GBC patients compared to those with GSD. GBC patients had significantly low hemoglobin and serum albumin levels compared to the control group. The hemoglobin levels in case and control groups were 10.87 g/dl (+/-1.81 SD) and 11.62 g/dl (+/-1.89 SD), respectively (P < 0.001). Intake of almost all the nutrients was far below the recommendations of Indian Council of Medical Research. GBC patients had anorexia and weight loss.

Epidemiology of gastro-intestinal and respiratory tract diseases in rural areas of Varanasi (India)

The pattern of gastro-intestinal (GIT) and Respiratory tract (RTI) diseases in rural areas of the Varanasi district, U.P. (India) was studied from the outpatient (OPD) attendance between July 1985 to June 1986. Out of a total of new patients, 19.71% had respiratory diseases in contrast to 27.9% with GIT disease. A decreasing trend was observed in attendance rates as age advanced. The difference in age distribution of males and females was statistically significant. The attendance rates for GIT diseases were higher in female (29.16%) than in males (25.16%) whereas in RTI, the rates were higher in males (19.39%) than in females (18.77%). The attendance rate was found to be higher in rainy season (23.59%) followed by summer (14.50%). Diarrhoea (15.44%) and upper (URTI) respiratory tract infection (19.93%) occupied the major recorded episodes.

Factors affecting direct and correlated responses in a White Leghorn population under long-term selection for egg number

1. Data on 13,773 pullets, the progeny of 30 to 50 sires and about 135 to 220 dams per generation of a strain of White Leghorn under long-term selection for part period egg production over 16 generations, were examined. 2. Realised genetic gain per generation was highly significant for egg production (2.55 eggs), egg weight (-0.51 g), age at sexual maturity (-2.30 d) and 40 week body weight (-11.73 g). 3. The significant genetic response of 4.46 to 4.72 eggs per generation was realised in the first 8 generations only, which was accompanied by a marked decline in egg weight (-1.67 and -0.79 g per generation) and in age at sexual maturity (-4.63 and -6.39 d per generation). The 20 and 40 week body weights showed significant improvement in the last 4 generations. 4. Realised heritabilities were much lower in the last 8 than in the first 8 generation. 5. The additive genetic variance for most traits, except 20 week body weight and genetic covariances of egg production with egg weight and age at sexual maturity, declined significantly. 6. Natural selection did not seem to play any major role. No appreciable change in fitness traits was observed in the selected line. 7. The time trends were non-significant for all the traits in the control line, indicating its stability over generations.

Improvements in Essential Newborn Care and Newborn Resuscitation Services Following a Capacity Building and Quality Improvement Program in Three Districts of Uttar Pradesh, India

Background

Neonatal death remains a global challenge contributing to 45% of underfive deaths. With rising institutional delivery, to accelerate decline in neonatal mortality rate (NMR) improvement in the quality of perinatal care requires attention.

Objectives

This implementation research targeted improving service delivery readiness for quality of newborn care at public health facilities in three districts of Uttar Pradesh, India, with high NMR.

Materials and Methods

This before-after study assessed the facility readiness and quality of newborn services at 42 health facilities. The changes in 26 signal functions for routine and emergency obstetric and newborn care were tracked.

Results

There was marked improvement in newborn service availability: skilled birth attendants (51%), resuscitation (30%), and kangaroo mother care (27%) at these facilities. A multifold rise in newborn resuscitation efforts and documentation (n = 4431 vs. n = 144 in preintervention period) with high success rate (98.6%) was observed. There was also improvement in obstetric care services including partograph use (31%) and active management of third stage of labor (46%). However, several infrastructural indicators (electricity, water supply, toilets, and sanitation) remained unchanged.

Conclusion

Overall improvements were observed in the majority of the signal functions for perinatal care and newborn resuscitation efforts. There was a limited impact on the infrastructural and supervision components.

Selection for egg production on part records : Part 2. Correlated response to selection

Response in the selected and the correlated traits from five generations of index selection (I.D.S. method) for egg production to 40 weeks of age in four White Leghorn populations have been presented. The correlated traits measured included: Age at first egg, egg weight, body weight and also derived traits such as egg mass, survivors' rate of lay, efficiency index and ratio of egg weight to body weight. Response realized for the selected trait was significant in three out of the four selected lines. Predicted and realized genetic gains were comparable in magnitude for most of the traits studied. The significance of these findings in selection experiments is discussed.

Selection response for part period egg number and egg mass in chickens - a comparison

Two sublines from each of four flocks of White Leghorn were subjected to two cycles of selection for part year egg number and part year egg mass. A family index (combined selection) was the selection criterion for each of the two traits. The generation means of an unselected pedigreed randombred control, bred and maintained along with the selected sub-lines, were used for correcting short term environmental trends. The sublines selected for a common selection criterion were considered as replicates. The control corrected generation means, when averaged over replicates, gave the mean direct and correlated responses for the selected and different unselected traits. The average genetic change per generation was 2.16 eggs in egg number selected sublines and 146 g of egg mass in egg mass selected sublines. The direct response marginally exceeded the correlated response for both part period egg number and egg mass seen in the corresponding sublines. Except for egg weight the correlated responses for different unselected traits were in the same direction in both egg number and egg mass selected sublines. While the egg weight in egg number lines did not change, its response was positive in egg mass selected lines. A comparison between the lines revealed that the egg mass selected lines matured later and laid heavier but slightly less numerous eggs than the egg number selected sub-lines.

Efficiency of one- and two-stage selection indexes for improvement of net economic merit in White Leghorns

The effects of varying intensities of selection at first and second stages, for a given final intensity, on the efficiency of two-stage index selection are described. Data collected on four White Leghorn strains for part and residual egg number, body weights at 20 and 40 weeks and egg weight at 39 to 40 weeks were utilised. Four of the five traits were used in the first stage and all five traits were used in the second stage for the construction of two-stage selection indexes. The index that utilised all five traits had the maximum efficiency for one-stage selection. The relative efficiency of the two-stage index increased with increase in proportion selected at the first stage. A practical breeding schedule that adds the advantage of reduced generation interval by utilising a two-stage index selection is suggested for egg type chickens.

A review of association of dietary factors in gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the prominent malignancy of hepato-biliary tract, being the fifth most common carcinoma for gastrointestinal tract in United States. Epidemiological studies world wide have implicated dietary factors in the development of gallbladder cancer. The ecological evidences indicate considerable geographic variation in the incidence of gallbladder cancer. However the variations in GBC incidence of different populations might be partly determined by their dietary variations. Higher intake of energy and carbohydrate possibly increase the risk of gallbladder cancer. Obesity plays an important role in the causation of GBC. Adequate intake of fruits and vegetables probably reduce the risk of GBC. This nutritional preventive effect against GBC could be attributed to high content of vitamins, carotenes and fibers. They can not be too emphatically stated as the sole determinants of GBC. It is apparently clear that a variety of essential nutrients can significantly modify the carcinogenic process. Furthermore, an attempt has been made to establish an association between dietary factors and the occurrence of gallbladder cancer.

Study of infant and childhood mortality in an ICDS block of eastern U.P

Information on births and deaths was collected in 11 randomly selected AWW areas of Barhaj Mahen ICDS project area in Eastern U.P. by an independent survey team in 1988-89. The findings revealed that the births and deaths were under-reported to the tune of 36.6 and 13.9 percent respectively, by AWWs. The different demographic indicators generated from the data were as follows, CBR and CDR were 30.3 and 7.1 per 1000 population. Neonatal mortality rate, IMR, and MMR were 58.3, 74.7 and 6.5 per 1000 live births. 0-6 yr mortality was 16.3 per 1000 children and constituted 37.5% of the total deaths. ARI, diarrhoea and fever were the major causes of mortality in 0-6 yr old children accounting for 25.9, 22.3 and 14.8% respectively. The findings indicated that there was underreporting in adult mortalities despite the independent investigation, and a reduction in infant and childhood mortality possibly due to the beneficial effect of ICDS services.

Health and Fitness of Postmenopausal Women in Urban versus Rural Gurugram: A Cross-Sectional Study

Context

Throughout that process of menopause, a slew of health and fitness problems arise, all of which have a major effect on a woman's standard of living. Health-related physical fitness has been described as an individual's cardiac fitness (aerobic capacity), musculoskeletal fitness, and body composition.

Aim

To investigate and compare the health and fitness of postmenopausal women in rural and urban Gurugram.

Settings and Design

The postmenopausal women of Gurugram, both urban (n = 175) and rural (n = 175), who attended the outpatient department of SGT Hospital in the urban area and a house-to-house survey in the rural area, were the subjects of a cross-sectional survey that was carried out using interviews and a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Levels of physical activity (PA) were assessed using the International PA Questionnaire (short form). The evaluation of body composition, which was the following step, included determining one's body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio. Six-minute Walk Distance Test was used to assess cardiopulmonary fitness. Through chair squat tests, sit-and-reach tests, and grip tests, researchers were able to measure the lower limb strength, flexibility, and upper limb strength of participants.

Results

The mean age of subjects was 53.61 ± 5.08 years. Most commonly reported health problems were hypertension (31.3%), hyperlipidemia (21.2%), and diabetes (13.4%). Odds of urban women developing hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and myocardial infarction (MI) were found to be 0.61, 0.42, and 0.96 times higher than rural women. There was a statistically significant difference for the squat test, grip test, body composition parameters, and aerobic capacity; however, no statistically significant difference was seen for sit-and-reach test (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

The current research shows that postmenopausal women living in metropolitan areas may face higher health risks since they are more prone to develop hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and MI. Furthermore, all fitness metrics - aside from flexibility - were higher for rural women. The results of the current study highlight the urgent need for health promotion initiatives to enhance the health and fitness of urban postmenopausal women.

Prevalence of ascariasis and ancylostomiasis in families: a collaborative inquiry

A collaborative survey was carried out to estimate the prevalence of ascariasis and ancylostomiasis in random samples of 200 families in each of 3 different communities: a city slum (CS), an industrial township (IT), a farming village community (FVC). Stool examination was done by Kato's qualitative thick smear method. Ascariasis was prevalent in all the three communities; the percentage of families with multiple members infected varied from 50 to 91 per cent; the percentage of members infected within such a family varied from 48 to 74 per cent; the infection was highly prevalent (41-78%) in all age groups excepts adults in the IT. From 8 to 11 per cent of persons with ascariasis were negative on stool examination but passed worms after medication. Ancylostomiasis was arevelent mainly in the FVC and to a less extent in the IT; the percentage of families with multiple members infected was 83 per cent in the FVC and 17 per cent in the IT; the percentage of members infected within such a family was 54 per cent in the FVC and 58 per cent in the IT. All the persons surveyed received a single 10 mg/kg dose of pyrantel pamoate (Combantrin*, Pfizer) which was well tolerated.

Prevalence of HIV among low and high risk population of eastern part of northern India

A total of 7,904 persons visiting University Hospital of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, were screened for HIV antibody by ELISA and/or rapid test. The overall seroprevalence of HIV (3.17%) in this area was higher than that of Uttar Pradesh and India as a whole. The seroprevalence of HIV/AIDS among the high risk group (HRG) (6.42%) being significantly higher than low risk group (LRG) (0.37%). In the LRG, the prevalence among medical and surgical patients; and ANC (antenatal cases) was 1.17% and 0.14%, respectively. However, HIV infection was not detected in HCWs (healthcare workers), BHU students and foreigners. Among HRG, CSWs (commercial sex workers) had the highest prevalence (14.0%) and STD (sexually transmitted diseases) patients, the lowest prevalence (1.99%). The STD patients had significantly lower prevalence rate as compared to others in HRG. Majority of the HIV positive were found to be within the age group 15-44 years, with heterosexual mode as the main route of transmission. Seven HIV positive children were of 2-5 yr old age group. Majority of seropositive women (62.52%) were working in a low income jobs and were mainly infected by their spouses who was mostly migrating labourers of lower socioeconomic group and with less than primary level of education. Married females, being mainly the spouses of HIV positive males had the highest seropositivity (60.25%). These population people were directly transmitting the infection from the metropolitan cities to the rural areas of this region. Prevalence of HIV-2 was negligible as compared to HIV-1, the actual reason is yet to be explored.