Neonatal mortality in India's rural poor: Findings of a household survey and verbal autopsy study in Rajasthan, Bihar and Odisha.

In 2011, Save the Children India launched a project for the disadvantaged population of Rajasthan, Bihar and Odisha. As a baseline activity, neonatal deaths during January-December 2012 were investigated using modified verbal autopsy tool in six sub-district-level administrative units (blocks) adopting 30-cluster sample survey approach. Our study reported a total of 189 neonatal deaths of which 50% occurred at home and 39% happened on Day 1.

Adenosine deaminase activity in normal pregnancy and pregnancy associated disorders.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an enzyme of purine salvage pathway and has two important isoenzymes ADA1 and ADA2. The activity of ADA has been changed in diseases characterized by altered cell-mediated immunity. It was observed that total serum ADA activity was decreased during normal pregnancy compared with non-pregnant women.

Relation of oxidative stress, zinc and alkaline phosphatase in protein energy malnutrition.

Objective: To determine serum zinc (Zn), total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and albumin in protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and to analyse the appropriateness of using low weight-for-age for detecting childhood under-nutrition.

Methods: This study comprised 455 children (355 malnourished and 100 normal). They were classified according to the Nutrition Subcommittee of Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Z-Score Classification and Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure.

Sputum adenosine deaminase and alkaline phosphatase activity in pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objective: The aim was to determine adenosine deaminase (ADA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in sputum for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Methods: This study comprised of 64 subjects (33 pulmonary tuberculosis and 31 lung cancer). The ADA and ALP activity was measured in sputum and serum.

Elevated adenosine deaminase activity in overweight and obese Indian subjects.

Objective: To determine adenosine deaminase activity in overweight and obese Indian subjects.

Methods: This study comprised of 100 subjects. The body mass index (BMI) of subjects was calculated and adenosine deaminase activity was determined in their fasting blood sample.

Sodium selenate effect on Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942: appearance of novel enzymatic reaction, ATP:selenate adenylyltransferase, and variation in antioxidant enzyme activities.

Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 was grown with SO(4) (2-) or S(2)O(3) (2-) sulfur source with varying concentration of SeO(4) (2-). Up to 150 muM, SeO(4) (2-) was growth supportive and above this it was inhibitory. Selenate is believed to induce ROS production, and to counter, the cells produce increasing amounts of ROS quenching enzymes.

Evidence-based National Vaccine Policy.

India has over a century old tradition of development and production of vaccines. The Government rightly adopted self-sufficiency in vaccine production and self-reliance in vaccine technology as its policy objectives in 1986. However, in the absence of a full-fledged vaccine policy, there have been concerns related to demand and supply, manufacture vs.

Alkaline phosphatase: Distinguishing between tuberculous and nontuberculous pleural effusion.

Objectives: To evaluate the value of pleural fluid alkaline phosphatase and pleural fluid/serum alkaline phosphatase ratio for the purpose of differentiating tuberculous from nontuberculous pleural effusion.

Materials And Methods: A total of 60 indoor patients, admitted to our hospital, having pleural effusion and suffering from varying etiologies, were included in this study. According to the final diagnosis, these 60 patients were divided into two groups: Tuberculous (30) and nontuberculous (30) pleural effusion.

Serum zinc and malondialdehyde concentrations and their relation to total antioxidant capacity in protein energy malnutrition.

The aim of present study was to assess the association between serum zinc and oxidant/antioxidant status in children with protein energy malnutrition. Serum zinc, total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde were measured spectrophotometrically in 100 children (6 mo to 5 y); out of these, 50 children were malnourished and 50 children served as controls. Serum zinc levels were found to be significantly low in the malnourished (p<0.

Catalytic and regulatory properties of sulphur metabolizing enzymes in cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942.

Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 was able to grow with several S sources. The sulphur metabolizing enzymes viz. ATP sulphurylase, cysteine synthase, thiosulphate reductase and L- and D-cysteine desulphydrases were regulated by sulphur sources, particularly by sulphur amino acids and organic sulphate esters.