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Biomedical subjects

R Rajalakshmi

Publications and source records attributed to R Rajalakshmi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Laboratory Information Management Software for genotyping workflows: applications in high throughput crop genotyping.

BACKGROUND: With the advances in DNA sequencer-based technologies, it has become possible to automate several steps of the genotyping process leading to increased throughput. To efficiently handle the large amounts of genotypic data generated and help with quality control, there is a strong need for a software system that can help with the tracking of samples and capture and management of data at different steps of the process. Such systems, while serving to manage the workflow precisely, also encourage good laboratory practice by standardizing protocols, recording and annotating data from every step of the workflow. RESULTS: A laboratory information management system (LIMS) has been designed and implemented at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) that meets the requirements of a moderately high throughput molecular genotyping facility. The application is designed as modules and is simple to learn and use. The application leads the user through each step of the process from starting an experiment to the storing of output data from the genotype detection step with auto-binning of alleles; thus ensuring that every DNA sample is handled in an identical manner and all the necessary data are captured. The application keeps track of DNA samples and generated data. Data entry into the system is through the use of forms for file uploads. The LIMS provides functions to trace back to the electrophoresis gel files or sample source for any genotypic data and for repeating experiments. The LIMS is being presently used for the capture of high throughput SSR (simple-sequence repeat) genotyping data from the legume (chickpea, groundnut and pigeonpea) and cereal (sorghum and millets) crops of importance in the semi-arid tropics. CONCLUSION: A laboratory information management system is available that has been found useful in the management of microsatellite genotype data in a moderately high throughput genotyping laboratory. The application with source code is freely available for academic users and can be downloaded from http://www.icrisat.org/gt-bt/lims/lims.asp.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1989

Ascorbic acid concentration of human fetal tissues in relation to fetal size and gestational age.

1. Studies were carried out on the distribution of ascorbic acid in human fetal tissues with the progress of gestation. 2. Fetuses and stillborn babies varying in gestational age from 12 to 38 weeks were obtained from various Baroda hospitals. Ascorbic acid levels were determined in selected tissues: brain, adrenal, liver, kidney, lung, heart and placenta. 3. Ascorbic acid concentration in the brain was higher than that in the adrenal at all gestational ages, suggesting the importance of this vitamin in brain development. The concentrations of this vitamin in liver, kidney, lung and placenta were comparable, but that in the heart tended to be lower. In all the tissues, there was a fall in ascorbic acid during late gestation. However, the levels in tissues of stillborn babies were higher than those reported for adults.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed1987

Liver stores of vitamin A in human fetuses in relation to gestational age, fetal size and maternal nutritional status.

1. Studies were made on liver stores of retinol in aborted human fetuses and stillborn babies in relation to gestational age, fetal size and maternal retinol status. The mothers belonged to low- and high-income groups (LIG and HIG respectively) in urban Baroda. 2. Fetal weights were less than those reported by Widdowson (1968) for similar gestational ages and the deficits were greater in LIG. 3. The combined mean values (microgram/l) for maternal serum retinol for all gestational ages were 193 for LIG and 261 for HIG. They were found to decline in late pregnancy in the former but not significantly in the latter. 4. Fetal liver retinol concentrations were much lower than those reported for healthy Thai subjects by Montreewasuwat & Olson (1979) in early pregnancy but showed complete 'catch up' in late pregnancy for HIG and to a considerable extent for LIG. 5. Significant correlations were found between maternal serum retinol, fetal liver retinol and fetal growth. 6. These findings stress the importance of adequate vitamin A supplies during pregnancy to prevent vitamin A deficiency and intra-uterine growth retardation in the newborn.

Embryonic and Fetal Development↗
PubMed1987

Vitamin E status of the newborn in relation to gestational age, birth weight and maternal vitamin E status.

1. Studies were made on the vitamin E status of the newborn as judged by cord serum vitamin E and erythrocyte haemolysis in vitro in relation to gestational age, birth weight and maternal vitamin E status in subjects belonging to low (LIG)- and high (HIG)-income groups in urban Baroda. 2. In the case of full-term infants, the mean values for maternal serum vitamin E (mg/l) for LIG (n 73) and HIG (n 43) were 9.9 (SE 0.4) and 11.6 (SE 0.5). The corresponding values for cord serum vitamin E were 3.6 (SE 0.2) and 4.6 (SE 0.2) mg/l. 3. Serum vitamin E levels (mg/l) were lower in premature infants (2.3 (SE 0.2); n 20) and low-birth-weight full-term infants (2.9 (SE 0.2); n 25) than in full-term normal infants (4.2 (SE 0.1); n 91). This was associated with differences in maternal serum vitamin E levels (7.4 (SE 0.5), 8.2 (SE 0.5) and 11.1 (SE 0.3) respectively). The differences were more marked for LIG. 4. A negative correlation was found between serum vitamin E and erythrocyte haemolysis in vitro in the case of maternal blood but not in cord blood. 5. These results suggest that maternal vitamin E deficiency is one of the features associated with prematurity and intra-uterine growth retardation.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1987

Ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione concentration of human fetal tissues in relation to gestational age, fetal size and maternal nutritional status.

Studies were carried out on ascorbic acid and glutathione concentration in human fetal tissues with the progress of gestation. The glutathione concentration in human fetal liver and adrenal showed a decline during late gestation, the decline in the brain being earlier. This is consistent with the fall in ascorbic acid concentration in all tissues during late gestation. Glutathione concentration and glutathione/ascorbic acid ratio was significantly lower in the low income group than the high income group, confirming previous observations that state of nutrition may influence cellular glutathione.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1986

Virulence of tubercle bacilli isolated from patients with tuberculosis in Bangalore, India.

This is a study of the virulence of cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from pulmonary and extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis in patients living in or near Bangalore, India. The findings are as follows: 1. The percentage of cultures recovered from cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in Bangalore classified as being of low, moderate, and high virulence, was the same as that reported by Mitchison et al., in 1960 for isolates obtained from patients in Madras, India. 2. The distribution of the root index of virulence (RIV) of isolates from patients living in the city of Bangalore was significantly different (p less than 0.05) from that of isolates from patients living in rural Bangalore. 3. Even though the number of cultures classified as high virulent was significantly greater in isolates from patients with tuberculosis meningitis compared with those from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, the data show that 36% of the isolates from the meningitis group were classified as low virulent.

Humans↗
PubMed1984

Vitamin A status of the newborn in relation to gestational age, body weight, and maternal nutritional status.

Studies were made of the vitamin A status of newborn as judged by cord serum vitamin A in relation to gestational age, birth weight, and maternal vitamin A status in 130 + 79 mother-infant pairs belonging to low and high income groups in urban Baroda. The mean values for maternal serum vitamin A (microgram/dl, mean +/- SE) in the two groups were 21.8 +/- 0.59 (n = 130) and 29.3 +/- 0.80 (n = 79), respectively. The corresponding values for cord serum vitamin A were 13.8 +/- 0.40 and 19.6 +/- 0.64 for full-term infants and 7.5 +/- 0.44 and 12.9 +/- 0.80 for premature infants. Even for comparable levels of maternal serum vitamin A, differences were found between income groups regarding birth weight and cord serum vitamin A. Mothers of premature infants had lower levels of serum vitamin A than those of full-term infants suggesting maternal vitamin A status to be one of the correlates of prematurity. Significant correlations were found between cord serum vitamin A, maternal serum vitamin A, gestational age, and growth status. These studies suggest that a poor vitamin A status is one of the features associated with a higher prevalence of prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation found in poorly nourished populations. These findings stress the importance of satisfactory vitamin A supplies to pregnant and nursing mothers to prevent vitamin A deficiency and growth retardation in the progeny.

Birth Weight↗