What makes the Gangetic belt a fertile ground for gallbladder cancers?
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Cadmium↗
Biomedical subjects
S K Gupta
Publications and source records attributed to S K Gupta.
Comparative biomonitoring of leachates from hazardous solid waste of two industries using Allium test.
Hazardous industrial wastes are inevitable source of environmental pollution. Leachates from these wastes might contaminate the origins of potable water and affect human health. The study was carried out to determine the possible genotoxic effects of leachates from solid waste of a metal and dye industry using the Allium cepa chromosome aberrations assay. The 10% leachates were prepared from solid wastes obtained from both the industries and examined for the presence of heavy metal content and genotoxicity. To simulate the field and laboratory conditions, A. cepa bulbs were exposed through soil and aqueous medium for 48 h to 2.5-10% leachates. The results revealed that both metal waste leachate (MWL) and dye waste leachate (DWL) contained high concentrations of chromium, nickel and iron that significantly induced cytogenetic alterations. Significant inhibition of mitotic index (MI), inductions of chromosomal/mitotic aberrations (CA/MA) and micronuclei (MN) formation were found in all experimental groups exposed to MWL and DWL. The effects observed were concentration dependent and the frequency of aberrations was higher with treatment of MWL than DWL. The MI was severely inhibited at 10% aqueous exposure it was 4.59+/-0.69 (P<0.001) in MWL and almost half to that induced by DWL that was 8.62+/-0.69 (P<0.05). Significant frequency of CA/MA and MN induced by MWL was 14.21 (P<0.001) and 0.33 (P<0.001) whereas CA/MA and MN induced by DWL was 7.81 (P<0.001) and 0.13 (P<0.05) in the aqueous medium. The investigations inferred that abnormalities caused by MWL were higher than DWL both in soil and aqueous media. These toxic responses may have relied on raised heavy metal concentrations of metal-based than dye industrial wastes.
Chromosome Aberrations↗
Towards a resolution on the inherent methodological weakness of the "effective number of codons used by a gene".
Recently Anders Fuglsang provided a modified way for calculating N(c) when biased discrepancy is present in a gene [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 317 (2004) 957]. Instead of taking the average codon homozygosity for each synonymous family type (as proposed by Wright) [Gene 87 (1990) 23] Fuglsang considered codon homozygosity of each amino acid individually. Marsashi and Najafabadi [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 324 (2004) 1] in their recent article demonstrated that the readjustment for overestimation at the level of individual amino acids results in loss of considerable amount of information. Immediately after the publication of Marsashi and Najafabadi, Fuglsang proposed that codon homozygosities can be calculated based on the classical population genetics [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 327 (2005) 1]. Though Fuglsang's approach is a novel one, it fails when any of the amino acids are absent in a gene. However, the inherent cause of overestimation at the level of individual amino acids is still obscured in the literature. Here in this communication we have presented a general condition where effective number of codons is overestimated using Wright's formula and also we propose a new way to calculate N(c), which is independent of amino acid composition.
Algorithms↗
Studies on codon usage in Thermoplasma acidophilum and its possible implications on the occurrences of lateral gene transfer.
Codon usage studies have been carried out on the coding sequences of Thermoplasma acidophilum, which is an archaeon and grows at very low pH and high temperature. Overall codon usage data analysis indicates that all the four bases are almost equifrequent at the third position of codons, which is expected (since genomic GC % of this genome is about 46%). However, multivariate statistical analysis indicates that there are two major trends in the codon usage variation among the genes in this organism. In the first major trend it is observed that genes having G and C ending codons are clustered at one end while, A and T ending ones are clustered at the other end. We have also found a significant positive correlation between the expressivities of genes and GC contents at the synonymous third codon positions. In the second major trend, it is seen that the genes are clustered into three distinct parts. A comparative analyses of codon usage data of T. acidophilum and Sulfolobus solfataricus reveals that one of the three clusters of genes of T. acidophilum is very similar to a considerable number of S. solfataricus genes, suggesting possible occurrences of lateral gene transfer between these two microorganisms as reported by earlier workers.
Codon↗
Statistical analyses of coastal water quality for a port and harbour region in India.
A long-term study of temperature, pH, turbidity, suspended solid, salinity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand and ammonia nitrogen has been performed in a port and harbour region in India for four years from December 1996 to November 2000. Marine water quality results showed no regular trend. The mean monthly values of temperature, pH, turbidity, suspended solid, salinity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand and ammonia nitrogen were in the range of 22.64 +/- 0.4 to 29.05 +/- 1.37 degrees C; 7.65 +/- 0.04 to 7.81 +/- 0.13; 28.8 +/- 14.7 to 64.2 +/- 32.0 NTU; 283.5 +/- 81.8 to 356.0 +/- 159.7 mg/L; 29.78 +/- 7.18 to 29.78 +/- 1.04 ppt; 4.67 +/- 0.50 to 6.01 +/- 1.02 mg/L; 5.41 +/- 1.92 to 7.56 +/- 2.1 mg/L; and 0.25 +/- 0.07 to 0.63 +/- 0.49 mg/L, respectively. The results of correlation analysis showed that biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) was inversely correlated dissolved oxygen (DO) and poorly correlated with all other parameters. Turbidity and suspended solid were moderately correlated with each other while salinity was moderately correlated with other water quality parameters. In factor analysis, four factors were drawn out of the eight variables, which represented 74% of the variance of the original data. Factor I was related to suspended solid and turbidity. Factor II represented mainly temperature and DO showing inverse relation between these two. Factor III implied the degree of pollution at any monitoring station. Factor IV included pH and salinity. It could be concluded that the factor model represented almost all the variables.
Ammonia↗
Bioremediation of municipal sludge by vermitechnology and toxicity assessment by Allium cepa.
The aim of this study was to evaluate municipal sludge (MS) for its toxic potential by Allium cepa and also to understand the effect of vermicomposting on the reduction of toxicity, if any. Municipal sludge (MS) and vermicomposted sludge (VS) were evaluated. Elemental analysis of MS showed the presence of heavy metals. Morphological studies of A. cepa roots indicated coiled and wavy roots on exposure to MS but no root abnormality was reported in VS. Under genotoxic studies, inhibition in mitotic index was concentration dependent and the control values of 11.76 gradually reduced to 5.40 at 10% MS leachate whereas mitotic index was increased to 9.48 at 10% VS leachate. Exposure of leachate induced chromosomal aberrations, micronucleus formation and binucleate cells in a dose dependent manner. However, mitotic aberrations were observed significant at 10% MS leachate but they were insignificant at 10% VS leachate. The wet and dry weight of roots, root elongation and chlorophyll contents were reduced as the concentration of leachate increased but VS leachate did not produce considerable reduction. The wet and dry weight of A. cepa roots were 20.312 g and 3.250 g respectively and they were reduced to 10.82 g and 1.68 g respectively at 10% MS leachate but VS leachate showed an increase to 18.127 g and 2.53 g respectively. Total chlorophyll in control, 10% MS leachate and 10% VS leachate were 0.245 g, 0.162 g and 0.214 g respectively. It could be concluded that the MS was toxic to a remarkable extent but vermicomposting of sludge might be beneficial for bioremediation and recommended before land filling.
Animals↗
Role of mutational bias and natural selection on genome-wide nucleotide bias in prokaryotic organisms.
Correlations between genomic GC contents and amino acid frequencies were studied in the homologous sequences of 12 eubacterial genomes. Results show that amino acids encoded by GC-rich codons increases significantly with genomic GC contents, whereas opposite trend was observed in case of amino acids encoded by GC-poor codons. Further studies show all the amino acids do not change in the predicted direction according to their genomic GC pressure, suggesting that protein evolution is not entirely dictated by their nucleotide frequencies. Amino acid substitution matrix calculated among hydrophobic, amphipathic and hydrophilic amino acid groups' shows that amphipathic and hydrophilic amino acids are more frequently substituted by hydrophobic amino acids than from hydrophobic to hydrophilic or amphipathic amino acids. This indicates that nucleotide bias induces a directional changes in proteome composition in such a way that underwent strong changes in hydropathy values. In fact, significant increases in hydrophobicity values have also been observed with the increase of genomic GC contents. Correlations between GC contents and amino acid compositions in three different predicted protein secondary structures show that hydropathy values increases significantly with GC contents in aperiodic and helix structures whereas strand structure remains insensitive with the genomic GC levels. The relative importance of mutation and selection on the evolution of proteins have been discussed on the basis of these results.
Amino Acids↗
Study of EPR, optical properties and electrical conductivity of vanadyl doped Bi2O3.PbO.B2O3 glasses.
Heavy metal based oxide glasses having composition xBi(2)O(3).(0.30 - x)PbO.0.70B(2)O(3) have been prepared (0.00 < or = x < or = 0.15, mol%) containing 2.0mol% of V(2)O(5) by normal melt-quenching technique. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), optical spectra and dc conductivity of these glasses have been studied. Spin Hamiltonian parameters (SHP) of VO(2+) ions, dipolar hyperfine parameter, P and Fermi contact interaction parameter, K, molecular orbital coefficients (alpha(2) and gamma(2)) and optical band gap have been calculated. It is observed that in these glasses, the tetragonal nature of V(4+)O(6) complex increases with Bi(2)O(3) content. Increase in Bi(2)O(3):PbO ratio results in the contraction of 3d(xy) orbit of the unpaired electron in the vanadium ion, and the SHP are dependent on the theoretical optical basicity, Lambda(th). In present glasses, the conductivity (activation energy) first decreases (increases) with increase in mol% of Bi(2)O(3) content upto x = 0.08 and then shows a maxima (minima) at x = 0.10 and then starts decreasing (increasing) upto x < or = 0.15 with mol% of Bi(2)O(3) content.
Borates↗
Synonymous codon usage bias in 16 Staphylococcus aureus phages: implication in phage therapy.
To reveal the factors influencing architecture of protein-coding genes in staphylococcal phages, relative synonymous codon usage variation has been investigated in 920 protein-coding genes of 16 staphylococcal phages. As expected for AT rich genomes, there are predominantly A and T ending codons in all 16 phages. Both Nc plot and correspondence analysis on relative synonymous codon usage indicates that mutation bias influences codon usage variation in the 16 phages. Correspondence analysis also suggests that translational selection and gene length also influence the codon usage variation in the phages to some extent and codon usage in staphylococcal phages is phage-specific but not S. aureus-specific. Further analysis indicates that among 16 staphylococcal phages, 44AHJD, P68 and K may be extremely virulent in nature as most of their genes have high translation efficiency. If this is true, then above three phages may be useful for curing staphylococcal infections.
Animals↗
A multicenter phase II study of gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and cisplatin in chemonaïve advanced ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this multicenter phase II study were to evaluate the effects of gemcitabine-paclitaxel-cisplatin combination chemotherapy on response rate, survival, and toxicity in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AEOC). METHODS: Chemonaive AEOC patients with bidimensionally measurable disease or an elevated serum cancer antigen 125 level received cisplatin (70 mg/m(2)) on day 1 and paclitaxel (80 mg/m(2)) and gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2)) on days 1 and 8, every 3 weeks. RESULTS: Between October 2000 and September 2001, 46 patients were enrolled. Sixteen patients underwent debulking surgery prior to chemotherapy. In 45 evaluable patients, overall response rate was 64.4% (7 CR and 22 PR). Median time-to-progression was 13.4 months (95% CI, 9.6-17.4 months); median progression-free survival was 12.3 months (95% CI, 8.8-15.6 months); median overall survival was 26.0 months (95% CI, 18 months-not reached); and 1-year survival was 74% (95% CI, 60-88%). The relative dose intensities of gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and cisplatin were 81.4%, 80.2%, and 89.8%, respectively. Grade 3/4 neutropenia was the predominant hematologic toxicity observed (73.9% of patients) followed by grade 3/4 leukopenia (56.5%), anemia (45.7%), thrombocytopenia (23.9%), and febrile neutropenia/neutropenic sepsis (26.1%). The predominant grade 3 nonhematologic toxicities were alopecia (43.5%) and diarrhea (19.6%). Grade 4 nonhematologic toxicities were nausea/vomiting, constipation, and uremia (2.2% each). Two treatment-related deaths occurred (neutropenic sepsis and uremia). CONCLUSION: Gemcitabine-paclitaxel-cisplatin combination chemotherapy is active with manageable toxicity in chemonaive patients with advanced ovarian cancer and should be explored in larger phase III trials.
Adult↗
Decompressive surgery for acute subdural haematoma leading to contralateral extradural haematoma: a report of two cases and review of literature.
Development of a contralateral epidural haematoma during or immediately after cranial surgery is a well-described entity. However, in a case of acute subdural haematoma where the brain is usually tense, postoperative development of contralateral extradural haematoma is uncommon. We report two cases of contralateral extradural haematoma after decompressive surgery for acute subdural haematoma. We recommend routine postoperative CT immediately after cranial surgery for head trauma. This would help in timely detection and treatment of such a complication.
Adult↗
Comparative analysis of the base composition and codon usages in fourteen mycobacteriophage genomes.
To study the possible codon usage and base composition variation in the bacteriophages, fourteen mycobacteriophages were used as a model system here and both the parameters in all these phages and their plating bacteria, M. smegmatis had been determined and compared. As all the organisms are GC-rich, the GC contents at third codon positions were found in fact higher than the second codon positions as well as the first + second codon positions in all the organisms indicating that directional mutational pressure is strongly operative at the synonymous third codon positions. Nc plot indicates that codon usage variation in all these organisms are governed by the forces other than compositional constraints. Correspondence analysis suggests that: (i) there are codon usage variation among the genes and genomes of the fourteen mycobacteriophages and M. smegmatis, i.e., codon usage patterns in the mycobacteriophages is phage-specific but not the M. smegmatis-specific; (ii) synonymous codon usage patterns of Barnyard, Che8, Che9d, and Omega are more similar than the rest mycobacteriophages and M. smegmatis; (iii) codon usage bias in the mycobacteriophages are mainly determined by mutational pressure; and (iv) the genes of comparatively GC rich genomes are more biased than the GC poor genomes. Translational selection in determining the codon usage variation in highly expressed genes can be invoked from the predominant occurrences of C ending codons in the highly expressed genes. Cluster analysis based on codon usage data also shows that there are two distinct branches for the fourteen mycobacteriophages and there is codon usage variation even among the phages of each branch.
Bacteriophages↗
Treatment of petrochemical wastewater by rotating biological contactor.
A laboratory scale study has been conducted to assess the efficiency of rotating biological contactor (RBC) to treat the synthetic wastewater from a petrochemical industry producing acrylonitrile. The attached biomass was acclimatised by gradually increasing cyanide concentration from 5 to 40 mg l(-1) with simultaneous increase in the concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N). During acclimatization COD removal varied between 80-88 percent (%) while cyanide removal was more than 99%. The RBC was operated at varying hydraulic loading rates from 0.011 to 0.027 m3 m(-2) d(-1). The performance of the RBC was monitored for various parameters like COD, 5-day biochemical oxygen demand at 20-degree centigrade (degrees C) [BOD5], cyanide, ammonium nitrogen etc., for all hydraulic loadings. At all hydraulic loadings the cyanide removal remained more than 99%. The removals obtained in terms of percentage, for cyanide, COD, BOD5 and NH4+-N were greater than (>) 99, 95.2, 99.1 and 77, respectively at hydraulic loading of 0.011 m3 m(-2) d(-1). The effect of substrate/cyanide ratio on the performance of the process at five different ratios, 100/1, 80/1, 60/1, 40/1 and 20/1, showed more than 99% cyanide removal at ratio 20/1. The effect of COD/nitrogen (N) ratio was studied at four different ratios, 12/1, 10/1, 8/1 and 6/1, showed cyanide removal remained unaffected. The variation of biomass concentration within the system was also studied.
Bioreactors↗
Immunostimulatory cellular responses of cured Leishmania-infected patients and hamsters against the integral membrane proteins and non-membranous soluble proteins of a recent clinical isolate of Leishmania donovani.
Development of an effective immunoprophylactic agent for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has become imperative due to the increasing number of cases of drug resistance and relapse. Live and killed whole parasites as well as fractionated and recombinant preparations have been evaluated for vaccine potential. However, a successful vaccine against the disease has been elusive. Because protective immunity in human and experimental leishmaniasis is predominantly of the Th1 type, immunogens with Th1 stimulatory potential would make good vaccine candidates. In the present study, the integral membrane proteins (IMPs) and non-membranous soluble proteins (NSPs), purified from promastigotes of a recent field isolate, Leishmania donovani stain 2001, were evaluated for their ability to induce cellular responses in cured patients (n = 9), endemic controls (n = 5) of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and treated hamsters (n = 10). IMPs and NSPs induced significant proliferative responses (SI 6.3 +/- 4.1 and 5.6 +/- 2.3, respectively; P < 0.01) and IFN-gamma production (356.3 +/- 213.4 and 294.29 +/- 107.6 pg/ml, respectively) in lymphocytes isolated from cured VL patients. Significant lymphoproliferative responses against IMPs and NSPs were also noticed in cured Leishmania animals (SI 7.2 +/- 4.7 & 6.4 +/- 4.1, respectively; P < 0.01). In addition, significant NO production in response both IMPs and NSPs was also noticed in macrophages of hamsters and different cell lines (J774A-1 and THP1). These results suggest that protective, immunostimulatory molecules are present in the IMP and NSP fractions, which may be exploited for development of a subunit vaccine for VL.
Adolescent↗
Fine needle aspiration cytology of a non-ulcerated penile lump.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Aged↗
The development of the Indian vision function questionnaire: questionnaire content.
AIM: To elicit problem statements describing the consequences of vision impairment as a first step towards the development of a vision related quality of life instrument for use in India METHODS: 46 focus groups were conducted in three regions of India. Separate focus groups were held for men and women and according to disease categories: cataract (24), glaucoma (six), diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration (10), and "mixed low vision" (six). Facilitators followed a topic guide and sessions were audio taped and transcribed. Problem statements were extracted and coded and summarised into major problem domain areas. RESULTS: Nearly 5000 problem statements, an average of 15 statements per participant, were consolidated into 18 broad domain areas. The most important problem areas accounting for over 50% of all statements were ambulation, household or occupational activities, vision symptoms, and people recognition. A further quarter of statements related to difficulties with eating and drinking, psychological concerns, self care, reading, and watching television. Problem statements were similar across the disease groups, although rankings varied. CONCLUSIONS: The functional and psychological impacts described by visually impaired participants in India are similar to those reported in other population settings although the context and impact of problems vary.
Activities of Daily Living↗
The development of the Indian vision function questionnaire: field testing and psychometric evaluation.
OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate the acceptability, reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Indian vision function questionnaire (IND-VFQ). METHODS: Problem statements from previous qualitative studies were reduced to a 45 item interviewer administered questionnaire representing three a priori domains (general functioning, psychosocial impact, and visual symptoms) which was evaluated in patients with cataract (n = 420), glaucoma (n = 120), diabetic retinopathy, or age related macular degeneration (n = 120) and normal controls (n = 120). Standard methods were used for item reduction and to evaluate psychometric properties. RESULTS: Psychometric item reduction produced a 33 item questionnaire. Psychometric evaluation showed that two of the three scales (psychosocial impact and visual symptoms) had good acceptability, and that all three scales showed high internal consistency (alpha >0.80; item-total correlations 0.54-0.86) and test-retest reliability (>0.89). All three scales showed moderate evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Responsiveness, assessed in cataract patients (n = 120) before and after surgery, was good for all three scales (effect sizes >1). CONCLUSIONS: The IND-VFQ33 is a psychometrically sound measure of vision function addressing a gap in patient defined measures of vision function developed in populations living in low income countries.
Activities of Daily Living↗
Current estimates of blindness in India.
BACKGROUND: Evidence based planning has been the hallmark of the blindness control programme in India. A nationwide survey was undertaken in 1999-2001 to document the magnitude and causes of blindness. METHODS: One district each in 15 populous states was covered. 25 clusters were randomly selected in each district and all individuals aged 50 years and above were enumerated. Presenting and best corrected vision was recorded using retroilluminated logMAR tumbling E charts and detailed eye examination was offered. RESULTS: The response rate was 89.3%. Presenting vision <6/60, in the better eye, was observed in 8.5% (95% CI: 8.1 to 8.9). Age, sex, residence, literacy, and working status were associated with blindness. The highest risk was among those aged 70+ and the illiterate. Cataract was responsible for 62.4% of bilateral blindness. Prevalence of cataract blindness was 5.3% (95% CI: 4.97 to 5.62). Reduction in blindness prevalence among people aged 50 years and above was observed compared to earlier studies. CONCLUSION: Blindness control efforts seem to have played a part in arresting the increasing prevalence of blindness in India and there is hope that the goals of the "Vision 2020--right to sight" initiative can be achieved if there is strong political will and prioritised action.
Age Distribution↗