Machine Learning Approach to Study Social Determinants of Chronic Illness in India: A Comparative Analysis.

Background: Several studies on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have been carried out worldwide, the basis of most of which is the identification of risk factors-modifiable (or behavioral) and metabolic. Majority of the NCDs are due to sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, and behavior, which can be prevented to a great extent. Thus, it is a health challenge and a necessity to identify such factors of NCDs.

Iodine Status, Thyroid Disorder and Feto-Maternal Outcome among the Tribal Pregnant Women of Eastern Himalayas.

Introduction: Iodine deficiency and thyroid disorder during pregnancy have adverse effects on fetal and neonatal outcomes.

Objective: To assess iodine status and thyroid functioning during pregnancy and to evaluate the feto-maternal outcome.

Methods: Urinary iodine content (UIC) is determined by arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry method and thyroid hormone analysis was carried out by chemiluminescence assay.

Epidemiology, Genotyping, Mutational and Phylogenetic Analysis of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in North-east India.

Background/objective: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem globally. Northeast India is home to indigenous tribes with different ethnicity and high rates of drug abuse and HIV infection. The study was designed to estimate the burden of HBV infection across various spectrums of liver diseases from this region.

Production of pharmaceutical active recombinant globular adiponectin as a secretory protein in Withania Somnifera hairy root culture.

Among various in vitro plant culture systems, hairy root systems seem to be one of the most appealing methods of recombinant protein production due to their advantages in combining both whole-plant cultivation and suspension cell culture platform. This is a report on production and secretion of a recombinant pharmaceutically active protein from hairy roots cultures of Withania somnifera to improve the economic potential of this plant for the production pharmaceutical compounds. In this study, we selected and synthesized a codon-optimized globular adiponectin (gAd) gene with a calreticulin signal peptide and cloned the sequence into a plant expression binary vector containing a nptII gene as a selectable marker gene.

Genetic Polymorphisms Along with Dietary and Environmental Factors Enhance the Susceptibility to Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Nagaland of Northeast India.

This study investigated the association of seven widely known DNA repair gene polymorphisms (hOGG1 Ser326Cys, XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC1 Arg280His, XRCC1 Arg399Gln, XPC Val499Ala, XPD Lys751Gln and ERCC1 Cys8092Ala) with dietary and environmental factors for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) susceptibility in Nagaland of Northeast India. The genotypes were determined in 128 NPC patients and 180 healthy controls by PCR-RFLP. XRCC1 Arg280His, XPC Val499Ala and ERCC1 Cys8092Ala were found to be associated with NPC risk.

Combinatorial therapeutic approach for treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the common type of cancer in humans. A combinatorial approach has been done by using paclitaxel (PTX), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and ascorbic acid (AA) loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) for its treatment. SLN were made by high-speed homogenization and ultrasonication technique and they were used alone and in combination to check their efficacy against OSCC induced animal model.

Alteration in the expression of MGMT and RUNX3 due to non-CpG promoter methylation and their correlation with different risk factors in esophageal cancer patients.

Promoter methylation reflects in the inactivation of different genes like O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase DNA repair gene and runt-related transcription factor 3, a known tumor suppressor gene in various cancers such as esophageal cancer. The promoter methylation was evaluated for O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase and runt-related transcription factor 3 in CpG, CHH, and CHG context (where H is A, T, or C) by next-generation sequencing. The methylation status was correlated with quantitative messenger RNA expression.

Molecular characterization of classical swine fever virus isolates from India during 2012-14.

Classical swine fever is a highly contagious and economically important viral disease of pigs. Outbreaks of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) were recorded in different places in the Kamrup district of Assam in India between the years 2012 and 2014. The nucleotide sequences of the 10 CSFV isolates were analyzed based on the partial nucleotide sequences of the E2, 5'NTR and NS5B genes.

Association of mRNA expression of toll-like receptor 2 and 3 with hepatitis B viral load in chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

During Hepatitis B virus infection, the pathogen sensors Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a role in innate immunity system. The study aimed to investigate mRNA expression levels of TLR2 and TLR3 in Hepatitis B virus (HBV) mediated chronic hepatitis B (CHB), cirrhosis (CIRR), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to correlate viral load with severity of these diseases and expression of TLRs. A total of 180 HBV DNA positive samples were selected for the study.

Expression of Epstein Barr Virus Encoded EBNA1 and LMP1 Oncoproteins in Nasopharyngeal Carcinomas from Northeast India.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a malignancy arising from the epithelial lining of the nasopharynx, is distinct from others cancers in terms of its epidemiologic features. It is rare in most parts of the world except for a few regions with populations of Mongoloid origin.

Objectives: To study the expression pattern of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) encoded oncoproteins EBNA1 and LMP1 in different histological types of NPC and to correlate expression patterns with sex, age and histological types.

A comprehensive view of the web-resources related to sericulture.

Recent progress in the field of sequencing and analysis has led to a tremendous spike in data and the development of data science tools. One of the outcomes of this scientific progress is development of numerous databases which are gaining popularity in all disciplines of biology including sericulture. As economically important organism, silkworms are studied extensively for their numerous applications in the field of textiles, biomaterials, biomimetics, etc.

Association of toll-like receptor 2 ∆22 and risk for gastric cancer considering main effects and interactions with smoking: a matched case-control study from Mizoram, India.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are evolutionary conserved cell surface receptors of the innate immune system. Smoking has significant immunological effects which are mediated via TLRs on various receptor-mediated innate response pathways. Polymorphisms of TLR genes are associated with susceptibility toward various malignancies.

Amoxicillin functionalized gold nanoparticles reverts MRSA resistance.

In this study, we have described the biosynthesis of biocompatible gold nanoparticles (GNPs) from aqueous extract of the aerial parts of a pteridophyte, "Adiantum philippense" by microwave irradiation and its surface functionalization with broad spectrum beta lactam antibiotic, amoxicillin (Amox). The functionalization of amoxicillin on GNPs (GNP-Amox) was carried out via electrostatic interaction of protonated amino group and thioether moiety mediated attractive forces. The synthesized GNPs and GNP-Amox were physicochemically characterized.

Polymorphisms in Heat Shock Proteins A1B and A1L (HOM) as Risk Factors for Oesophageal Carcinoma in Northeast India.

Background: To investigate polymorphisms in heat shock proteins A1B and A1L (HOM) and associated risk of oesophageal carcinoma in Northeast India.

Materials And Methods: The study includes oesophageal cancer (ECA) patients attending general outpatient department (OPD) and endoscopic unit of Gauhati Medical College. Patients were diagnosed based on endoscopic and histopathological findings.

Gut bacterial diversity of the tribes of India and comparison with the worldwide data.

The gut bacteria exert phenotypic traits to the host but the factors which determine the gut bacterial profile (GBP) is poorly understood. This study aimed to understand the effect of ethnicity and geography on GBP of Mongoloid and Proto-Australoid tribes of India. Fecal bacterial diversity was studied in fifteen tribal populations representing four geographic regions (Assam, Telangana, Manipur and Sikkim) by DGGE followed by NGS analysis on Illumina MiSeq platform.

Molecular epidemiology of HBV infection in chronic hepatitis B virus infected patients in northeast India.

The present study aimed to evaluate the molecular epidemiology of HBV in chronic HBV infected cases from northeast India (NEI), since scanty data are available from the region which has a predominant ethnically distinct tribal population. A total of 523 clinically diagnosed index chronic HBV infected cases and 172 asymptomatic patients (based on family screening) were enrolled with informed consent. Patients were stratified based on serology, imaging, pathology, and clinical data and grouped as chronic HBV and cirrhotic cohorts.

Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis A virus infection in Northeast India.

The present study was undertaken to screen the molecular epidemiology of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) in Northeast India (NEI) who are ethnically distinct, tribal dominated and of lower socio-economic status with almost no information available from NEI on these aspects. Briefly, 3 ml blood was collected from 324 random liver disease cases with jaundice, receiving care at Central Hospital, N.F.

Prognostic relevance of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression in patients with gall bladder disease and carcinoma.

Background: Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) has been stated as an Indian disease, with the highest number of cases being reported from certain districts of northeast India, which has an ethnically distinct population. Unfortunately there are no scientific reports on the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of the disease from this region.

Aim: The present study evaluated the role of differential expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in the development of gall bladder anomalies.

Enhanced resistance to blister blight in transgenic tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] O. Kuntze) by overexpression of class I chitinase gene from potato (Solanum tuberosum).

Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world. A crop loss of up to 43 % has been reported due to blister blight disease of tea caused by a fungus, Exobasidium vexans. Thus, it directly affects the tea industry qualitatively and quantitatively.

Bacterial dynamics during yearlong spontaneous fermentation for production of ngari, a dry fermented fish product of Northeast India.

Ngari is the most popular traditionally processed non-salted fish product, prepared from sun-dried small cyprinid fish Puntius sophore (Ham.) in Manipur state of Northeast India. The microbial involvement in ngari production remained uncertain due to its low moisture content and yearlong incubation in anaerobically sealed earthen pots without any significant change in total microbial count.

Genetic polymorphism and amino acid sequence variation in Plasmodium falciparum GLURP R2 repeat region in Assam, India, at an interval of five years.

Background: The R2 repeat region of GLURP has been reported as a good genetic marker for Plasmodium falciparum genotyping. Proper knowledge of the extent and nature of P. falciparum genetic diversity using highly immunogenic R2 repeat region in malaria-endemic areas is a crucial element to understand various aspects related to immunity acquisition and disease pathogenesis.

CYP2E1 genetic polymorphism with dietary, tobacco, alcohol habits, H. pylori infection status and susceptibility to stomach cancer in Mizoram, India.

Background: The incidence of stomach cancer in India is highest in the state of Mizoram. In this population based matched case-control study, we evaluated the relationship between CYP450 2E1 RsaI polymorphism and risk of stomach cancer taking into considering various important dietary habits along with tobacco, alcohol consumption and H. pylori infection status.

Anticoagulation activity of salivary gland extract of oriental blackfly Simulium indicum.

Objective: To study the morphology of the salivary gland of the female blackfly of the species Simulium indicum (S. indicum) along with protein profile and anticoagulant activity of the salivary gland extract.

Methods: Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to analyze the protein profile of the salivary gland extract (SGE) and anticoagulant activities against thrombin, and the extrinsic and intrinsic coagulation pathways were found in S.

Detection & characterization of necrotoxin producing Escherichia coli (NTEC) from patients with urinary tract infection (UTI).

Background & Objectives: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a serious health problem affecting millions of people each year. Although appreciable work on various aspects of UTI including aetiology per se has been done, information on the emerging pathogens like necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli (NTEC) is largely lacking in India. In the present study E.

p53 codon 72 polymorphism interactions with dietary and tobacco related habits and risk of stomach cancer in Mizoram, India.

Background: This study was carried out to investigate the interaction of p53 codon 72 polymorphism, dietary and tobacco habits with reference to risk of stomach cancer in Mizoram, India. A total of 105 histologically confirmed stomach cancer cases and 210 age, sex and ethnicity matched healthy population controls were included in this study.

Materials And Methods: The p53 codon 72 polymorphism was detected by PCR-RFLP and sequencing.